C10 | THE STRAITS TIMES | THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019 |

GAO NING PROMOTED TO S’PORE TABLE TENNIS MEN’S COACH C7

BigMatch CITY’S TITLE EVEN IF LIVERPOOL WIN 5-0 Even if Liverpool were to beat Manchester City 5-0, I would still have Guardiola’s men down as my title favourites. I know Klopp doesn’t believe SOLID IN DEFENCE, Liverpool’s lack of title-winning experience counts against them but I’m not so sure. City know how to close out a season and they’re capable of doing it.

CLINICAL IN ATTACK STAN COLLYMORE, former Liverpool striker, on why he tips ’’Manchester City to retain their title.

SHOCK IF CITY BEAT REDS This might sound silly, but I would be shocked if City won this game. They look all over the place at the back. I just can’t see how they can stop the best team in Europe. It could be It may include tinkering with his gate of late, must be clinical: they Liverpool from scoring goals. As the game goes on, Guardiola must get Man City to a genuine belief, because after Liv- team with a surprise selection al- have had 37 shots in their last three erpool lost 5-0 at the Etihad Sta- though, as he said before victory at meetings with Liverpool and I just don’t see how Liverpool don’t go on to win it. execute game plan to perfection, dium last season, they beat City Southampton ended a losing run, scored just one. three times. his answer to adversity is working The other half of the job falls to Silva and Fernandinho will be key Maybe he is hoping Jurgen Klopp harder and executing better. Fernandinho, another who started will be susceptible to death by flat- The principles stay the same. neither the Crystal Palace nor Richard Jolly tery. Maybe Unai Emery thought Guardiola’s are based around domi- Leicester defeats, to halt Liver- , former Arsenal , on why he can’t see the same when he said Liverpool nance of the ball and, with or with- pool’s counter-attacks, whether by ’’City beating leaders Liverpool. could be “Invincibles”, and his Arse- out , midfield is the fair or foul means. The Champions League final is on nal lost 5-1 at . one department where City defi- Yet as City conceded more goals June 1. The English Yet the more significant game nitely boast the superior personnel. in December than Liverpool have CONFIDENT IT’S LIVERPOOL’S TITLE final, if is right, is on plan will come on the pitch. City will have more of the ball but, all season, it still requires better de- City has all the ingredients and experience to Jan 3. The Manchester City man- Klopp’s blueprint against Guardi- as their three losses to Liverpool fending when the back four are ager has claimed the title race is ola has been clear, with pressing last season came with 64, 66 and 68 called upon. City’s shortcomings overtake Liverpool. But, at this time, I think if “over and finished” if his side drop high up the pitch and quick breaks per cent of possession respectively, have been exposed in the last Liverpool win that game, I don’t see anyone points tonight. to catch the City manager’s teams that guarantees nothing. month. Now they must find Liver- catching them. They’re so good and they’re doing it Perhaps it is realism, perhaps on the counter-attack. But, as Liver- So there are a couple of key ele- pool’s to defend their crown. with a lot of confidence. I think that’s key. rhetoric. As Guardiola seeks to ex- pool do not need to win, Klopp may ments as to how they use the ball, act revenge on the side who ended defend deeper than usual, as he did and they both revolve around the [email protected] City’s unbeaten start last season by in April’s Champions League quar- same man: can thread securing a role reversal, his strategy ter-final, second-leg tie. passes through the Liverpool de- SEE ALSO C9 will revolve around the tactical. So the onus lies with Guardiola to fence? Can Silva emerge MARIO MELCHIOT, former Chelsea defender, tipping Liverpool First, however, he has concen- disrupt a rearguard so resilient it unchecked in the box to meet the MAN CITY V LIVERPOOL ’’to win their first league title since 1990. trated on the psychological. has been breached only eight times cutbacks from the wingers? Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, The Catalan has called Liverpool this term. Then City, who have been profli- tomorrow, 4am

Match points: Manchester City v Liverpool

Key battles

Sergio Aguero v Aguero looked to have rediscovered his sharpness when he scored at Southampton. While Pep Guardiola sometimes benches him for bigger games, his record at the Etihad, 16 goals in 14 league matches last year, ought to count in his favour. Van Dijk was majestic in subduing Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He is looking to make it a double this week.

Raheem Sterling v Sterling has not scored in nine games against Liverpool since leaving Anfield, but was excellent against Southampton. He will probably move back to the right to incorporate Leroy Sane, pitting the Englishman against Robertson, who was superb at the Etihad last season and drew admiring comments from Jose Mourinho last month.

Oleksandr Zinchenko v With injured and suspended, the third-choice left-back Zinchenko will start, unless Guardiola plays out of position. The Ukrainian was at fault for Southampton’s on Sunday and Jurgen Klopp might be tempted to shift Salah to the right to try and expose a converted winger’s defensive deficiencies.

Key statistics Guardiola’s Klopp hoodoo Goal machine v best defence Troubled backline Points taken

Wins Draws Losses Overall 5 2 8 Home Away Germany 4 – 4 35 19 2 2 65% 5 England 1 10 9 88 Europe (Man City) – – 2

Pep Guardiola has lost more games against Percentage of home Premier League Away goals conceded Games since City kept a clean sheet More points Points both teams Jurgen Klopp than against other managers. goals scored by City this season. by Liverpool this season, in all competitions, conceding 15 Liverpool took than took in 2018, the most They had 61 home goals last term, the lowest in the league during a run of ve wins, two draws City in December. in English football. 58 per cent of their 106 total. ahead of City (7). and three losses.

TEXT: RICHARD JOLLY PHOTOS: REUTERS

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