With the International break behind us, fans will look to get back to their regular dose of weekend football. While El Clasico may the stand-out fixture, Premier League enthusiasts will definitely keep at least one eye on the Manchester City – Liverpool fixture.
Among the higher profile fixtures of this weekend’s Premier League action, Jurgen Klopp takes his men to Manchester to face the current league leaders. Focus would automatically be zoomed in on this Liverpool side for whom the media are waiting to write exaggerated reports, irrespective of how the result goes for them. For Manuel Pellegrini’s men, they will have an idea of how Arsenal will fair against Everton in an earlier game on that day but should be going for the win regardless of that result.
Both teams haven’t been in the best of form recently, placing close to each other on the form guide standings. Having lost/dropped points from the previous round of fixtures, Pellegrini and Klopp will be looking to get back on the right track.
With the international break behind them, the game calls upon relatively well rested players. Daniel Sturridge was rumoured to give Klopp a hopeful boost with a late fitness test but the rumours seem more unlikely as the match approaches. City too have several high profile names missing from their squad. The likes of Silva, Aguero and Nasri will most likely be watching from the stands while Kompany places in the same grey area as Sturridge does.
This match isn’t high profile just for the names and the stage that is involved: for those who enjoy two quality managers locking horns , the game is posed for an entertaining tactical battle.
For now, we shift focus to the Talent Radar players from the two squads. In build up to the game on Saturday, we can a combined XI from both the teams made up of just players who qualify for the Talent Radar category. A heads up: loaned out players have been taken into consideration as well.
Defense: Ryan Fulton is given yet another Talent Radar call up for a combined XI and will present himself as the last line of defense for this team. To offer help, a four man defense is placed before him comprising of Ryan McLaughlin, Emre Can, Jason Denayer and Joe Gomez.
Midfield: The midfield sees a very English theme that would make Roy Hodgson happy (if you can tell). 18 year old Jordan Rossiter takes the central role flanked by the duo of Patrick Roberts and Jordon Ibe. Lazar Markovic slots into the number 10 role to provide the necessary link between the midfield and attack.
Forwards: An all-City strikeforce of Raheem Sterling and Kelechi Inheanacho is tasked with providing the goals for this exciting line-up.
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