Key events
10 minutes: Rick Harris gets in touch: “Looking at the City team I have the overwhelming feeling that Pep will park the bus and hope they can score a goal at half-time. I haven't seen the betting odds, but I assume 0-0 must be strongly supported. These games are often promoted to the rafters, but they rarely work. Let's hope I'm wrong.”
Sitting with this bumper, you are parking the Arkansas Chug-a-Bug, a cartoon car.
8 minutes: Gravenberch tries to pass. Then Robertson gallops and his pass up the middle finds many receivers, perhaps too many. City hastily cleared. Ake slows down the game, citing a hand injury.
6 minutes: All Liverpool? Yes, until now. And nothing like the accumulation of patients under Slot. We're back and rocking in the purest heavy metal style.
5 minutes: City destroyed, Gundogan loses control, ball to Gakpo. He intervenes and Ortega saves. There is offside but City looked weak again.
4 minutes: Ake raps about Salah. Kelleher had given the ball directly to Salah.
2 minutes: TO Liverpool promise attack. Salah throws the ball towards the goal, but there are no receivers. He and Trent Alexander-Arnold had made space quite easily.
We're going to Anfield
1 minute: Rico Lewis is on the right, turning ahead of Kyle Walker. Foden skates through some red shirts early, but the ball comes back to Kelleher.
A big, manly but distant hug between Arne and Pep. Arne had the biggest smile. The draw has meant that Liverpool will attack the Kop in the first half. Old school stuff.
OK, the teams are aligned.and Anfield resounds with song. City fans boo You'll never walk alone. It sounds a heady mix of atmosphere.
Guardiola on the loss of Ederson for Ortega.
“No. We just wanted to change something. Eddy (Ederson) has saved us many goals. He has saved one on one many, many times, but today I decided to choose Stefan (Ortega). They are both incredibly excellent goalkeepers, they are both incredible with their feet and in one-on-one situations. Since he arrived we have had two incredible goalkeepers.”
“Basically, the players (who are starters) are fitter. That's the reason. In the starting eleven I could have changed a few more players. I know what Rubén (Días) can give us in terms of leadership, but the other teams are about having more rhythm and more in the legs.”
Max Sanderson gets in touch: “I have to say that all this talk about Pep's imminent doomsday hasn't sat well with me at all. “One factor that has been overlooked is Phil Foden, who has obviously had a quiet year so far, but if he can find the pockets today it could push City to turn their season around.”
Some highlights from that remarkable Sky interview with Guardiola:
“You can't imagine how much they pay me! It comes with my salary. If I don't want that pressure, I quit, I go home and I don't have this weight on my shoulders. “All managers have that.”
“How are you in your thoughts when the opponent hits you in the face. That is being stable.”
“I always use this as an example: Romelu Lukaku, two minutes from the end of the Champions League final. In the small area in the middle with a header. He shoots Ederson's knee. And we won the Champions League. What a legend Pep is! What a team, personality, character!”
I want to be honest: the club needs this period. To realize what we have done and build for the future. It is very important. Sometimes you have to lose. I don't like. But it will be good for the club.”
“But knowing the reality and the team, we cannot set objectives to win the first divisionChampions League, FA Cups. It is unnecessary when in the last six games we have not been able to win any.”
“If Liverpool win, I would shake their hand. If Arsenal win with Mikel Arteta, I would be very happy for him. Believe me, truly and honestly. But I don't like not competing because the players I have are injured. But it is what it is. It is life.”
Arne Slot has been speaking to the BBC: “I think what we expect is what is always expected from City. They like to control the ball and possession. Maybe the difference between this (and normal) is (the lack of) extremes. We will have to wait to see in the first minutes if they have changed anything in terms of formation.
“Today a little bit of everything. We would both like to have the ball. If you're careless (in a game like this) you don't stand a chance. You have to be the best in all aspects of your game. We have to live up to everything.”
“I still had a decision to make. Five defenders for four positions in a month like this is far from ideal. The injuries won't take a week. Dom played very well last week. We have four attackers available. Harvey Elliott will be back and he can help us.”
Jack Grealish, back on the benchMeanwhile, he just says “Happy football-darts-mas” on Sky. Oh dear.
Extensive interview that Pep gave to Sky. To say he seems a little nervous may be an understatement.
José gets in touch: “I just wanted to comment that in South America and southern Spain Diaz and Dias are pronounced the same way but in the rest of Spain Diaz is pronounced like “Diath”. So we would say “Diath” for the Liverpool player and Dias for the city of manchester player.”
For Liverpool: Conor Bradley had his Mbappé moment but was also injured, so Trent Alexander-Arnold returned in time. Joe Gomez replaces Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai replaces Curtis Jones in midfield.
For city: Did Ederson go down, with Scott Carson on the bench too? Kyle Walker survives but Joso Gvardiol is also out. Rubén Días is back. De Bruyne remains on the bench. Jack Grealish will also ride pine.
The teams are here:
Liverpool: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Gómez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, NunezGakpo, Diaz. Substitutes: Jaros, Davies, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Elliott, Quansah, Morton, Nyoni.
Manchester City XI: Ortega, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Lewis, Gundogan, Nunes, Silva, Foden, Haaland. Substitutes: Ederson, Carson, Grealish, Doku, De Bruyne, Gvardiol, Savinho, O'Reilly, McAtee
“I no longer sleep as well as when I won all the games. I am the same person for four Premier Leagues in a row and in that situation I have the same doubts. Now I want to be closer to the players, because I know they are suffering, I know they are thinking: 'Oh God, how could we not win that game against Feyenoord?' Or: “Why didn't we score when we had the chance to score against Spurs?” They are suffering. What can I do, blame them? At all.”
Lots of trailers for this game.
Early team news
Liverpool
Subs Jaros, Davies, Bradley, Gomez, Quansah, Endo, Elliott, Morton, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Nyoni
Doubtful Bradley (biceps femoris)
Wounded Konaté (knee, unknown), Alisson (hamstring, December 7), Jota (ribs, December 7), Chiesa (muscle, December 7), Tsimikas (ankle, unknown)
Suspended None
Shape WWDWWW Top scorer Salat 10
city of manchester
Subs Carson, Ortega, Wilson-Ebrand, McAtee, Perrone, Savinho, O'Reilly, Gündogan, Simpson-Pusey, Nunes, Aké
Doubtful Stones (unknown), Doku (hamstring)
Wounded Bobb (leg, January 1), Rodri (knee, June 1), Kovacic (unknown, December 21)
Suspended None
Shape WWLLLL Top scorer Haaland 12
Preamble
Well, this is huge. Certain games early in the season (and this is still quite early) generate too much expectation, but with city of manchester staggering – and moving – and Liverpool flying, this is a great game. Could the difference between the two be 11 whole points? They would be shadows of 2019-20, when Liverpool burst into the Premier League. All eyes are on Pep Guardiola, who took the doubts too far the other night, and whose media appearances since Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Feyenoord have had the appearance of a tormented man. Arne Slot has taken on the role of laid-back entertainer, making jokes about Mo Salah when so many others are being catastrophic, and his team seems capable of making several changes. Meanwhile, City seem unable to even play games. However, they can't afford to lose this and great teams will always find a way. Now is the time for you to stand up and be counted.
Kick-off is at 4pm UK time. Join me.
