This Sunday Manchester City will take on Liverpool at Anfield. It will be a tough test for Pep Guardiola’s struggling side as they take Arne Slot’s high-flying outfit. City will enter the match on a 6-game winless run. Liverpool, on the other hand, is flying. They sit top of the Premier League table with an 8-point lead over the world champions. But as ridiculous as it sounds perhaps the trip to Anfield may be the ideal setting for City to come back to life.
Tests don’t come much tougher for Manchester City than playing Liverpool at Anfield. It is a venue where Pep Guardiola’s side have typically struggled. They have only won once at the venue under Guardiola. For whatever reason City just don’t play well at the venue. Whether it’s the atmosphere, the quality of Liverpool’s team or a mental demon, Manchester City just fail to reach their usual high standards at Anfield.
But they have no choice but to get over it on Sunday. Manchester City’s season isn’t on life support but they are struggling right now. There are holes everywhere you look in Pep Guardiola’s side. Defensively they are conceding goals at an alarming rate. 17 goals conceded in their past 6 games is deplorable. Their midfield looks old and slow. Up front, it’s Erling Haaland or bust for the world champions. All of those ingredients have seen City slip well below the expected standards of Pep Guardiola and his team.
But taking on red-hot Liverpool could be the ideal situation for Manchester City to snap out of their funk. They have to be at their best on Sunday. If they aren’t they could be in all sorts of trouble. There is no choice but for Pep Guardiola’s side to step up on Sunday. It has been some time since Manchester City have entered a game with their backs against the wall. But strangely, it could be the scenario that is required for the Premier League champions to stand up and lift themselves out of their slump.
Speaking during his pre-game press conference Liverpool manager Arne Slot is expecting Manchester City to snap out of their slump some time soon. He hopes that comes after Sunday’s fixture. He said: “*They are still a very, very, very good team and one of the reasons I think Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world – or one of the best, but I think the best – is that he always comes up with solutions for his problems. His problem now might be that Rodri is out but we all, know, at least I think, that he will come with a soluup tion and their ,run of form will go up again – hopefully after Sunday.*”
Manchester City will enter Sunday’s match with their backs against the wall. They will face an in form Liverpool at a venue they traditionally don’t play well at. But it could be the ideal setting for Pep Guardiola’s side to return to life. They may have to if they are to turn their recent fortunes around and get something out of Sunday’s massive fixture. It’s time for the world champions to snap out for their funk. Sunday’s match may be the ideal setting for them to do just that.