Liverpool head to Manchester Metropolis on Saturday for a conflict between the Premier League’s prime two groups, hoping to show they’re as soon as once more real title contenders.
The Reds have been Metropolis’s most constant challengers throughout a dominant period for Pep Guardiola’s males.
Liverpool’s first title for 30 years in 2019/20 was the one time Metropolis have didn’t develop into champions of England up to now six seasons.
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Liverpool – Manchester Metropolis
In 2018/19 and 2021/22, they edged out Jurgen Klopp’s facet by a single level in thrilling title races.
However it was Arsenal who pushed Metropolis shut final season as Liverpool sank to fifth after coming agonisingly near an unprecedented quadruple of trophies the earlier yr.
Klopp has christened his rejuvenated squad “Liverpool 2.0” however admits there’s a lengthy option to go earlier than his new-look group reaches the stellar ranges of his earlier sides at Anfield.
Liverpool path Metropolis by a single level on the prime of the Premier League desk, having misplaced simply as soon as in 12 Premier League video games this season, in extremely controversial trend at Tottenham in September.
“We determined final yr we needed to change rather a lot,” mentioned Klopp. “We’re in the intervening time stepping into the suitable path and that’s actually vital.”
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Nevertheless, they nonetheless must show they’ll once more match the relentless Metropolis machine over the gruelling lengthy haul of 38 video games.
Anfield seems to have been restored as a fortress round which the foundations of a title tilt might be constructed — Liverpool have gained all 9 video games in all competitions at house this season, scoring 27 targets within the course of.
However Klopp’s males have gained solely two of their six away league video games to date and face the final word problem on the Etihad.
Metropolis have gained 23 matches in a row at house in all competitions relationship again to December final yr.
‘Twists and turns’
“Once we come again there’s a very massive one away and we are going to see if we’re prepared for that check,” Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk mentioned forward of the worldwide break.
“General this season we’ve got been doing properly however the season isn’t determined in November and there may very well be so many twists and turns, everyone knows that.”
The Dutchman’s return to prime kind has performed a significant half in Liverpool’s revival.
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However it’s a midfield overhaul that has added contemporary vitality and zest to a facet that regarded to have handed its greatest.
Dominik Szoboszlai has been a revelation since his transfer from RB Leipzig, whereas Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have proven flashes of promise.
Up entrance, solely Metropolis’s Erling Haaland has scored extra targets than Mohamed Salah’s 10 within the Premier League.
However the Egyptian has been ably supported by a potent array of attacking expertise together with Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo.
The one obtrusive requirement stays a extra defensive-minded choice on the base of midfield.
Liverpool tabled a British-record bid for Moises Caicedo solely to be rejected by the Ecuadoran in favour of a transfer to Chelsea in August.
Japan captain Wataru Endo was a less expensive choice however is but to earn Klopp’s belief, making simply two Premier League begins to date.
It was for journeys like these to the Etihad that Liverpool craved Caicedo’s vitality and aggression — and not using a participant of that profile, Metropolis may probably minimize unfastened.
However ought to Liverpool achieve deploying their very own weapons to finish the champions’ invincibility on house soil, it is going to be troublesome for Klopp to quash discuss of one other title bid.
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“It’s important to hold going with all the opposite groups till March or April,” mentioned the German.
“If we’re nonetheless there then we are able to begin speaking. Till you then struggle your method via probably the most troublesome league on the planet.”
© Agence France-Presse