With Liverpool taking on Manchester City in a huge clash this weekend, plenty of predictions have been flying in for the match, including a clear verdict from Alan Shearer
Former footballer Alan Shearer attends the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, 1st Leg match between Newcastle United and FC Barcelona
Alan Shearer has predicted Liverpool's clash with Manchester City(Image: (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Alan Shearer has backed Liverpool to make the most of a "red-hot" atmosphere when the team takes on Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend.
The Reds come into the clash unbeaten across all competitions this season, with Andoni Iraola hoping to build on a somewhat positive start to the campaign, but with the knowledge that performances and results will need to be more consistent moving forward.
While the match against Man City was always going to be a huge test for the head coach, one that his team hasn't faced as yet under his guidance, it is now against the backdrop of something much bigger than any ordinary encounter between the sides.
During the international break, there was an announcement from the Premier League that revealed Man City had been found guilty of all but one of the charges brought against the club, which included allegations of reporting inaccurate financial information, breaches of financial rules, and non-compliance with the investigation process.
READ MORE: Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher agree on how Jurgen Klopp would handle Man City showdown
While the verdict is awaiting the outcome of an appeal lodged by the club, which is standing by its claim that it is innocent and that no wrongdoing was committed, it has created plenty of noise surrounding it and the recent success it has had.
Considering the impact that it has had on Liverpool over the years, with a few Premier League title challenges that went close but not quite all the way, there have been discussions surrounding what the verdict means for the Reds.
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That all plays into a huge match between the two teams on Sunday, with an Anfield atmosphere that is likely to be on top form, akin to some of the best the stadium has ever seen.
With predictions flooding in, former striker Shearer has given his thoughts on how the game will go, telling Metro: "This is a huge game. Liverpool are coming into this one with a few injuries off the back of the international break, but City have injury doubts with Haaland as well after he came off for Norway [he has since been declared fit and available].
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer(Image: Zed Jameson/PA Wire)
"I don’t think City have got a great record there at Anfield. So, I’m going to go home win for Liverpool in what will be a red-hot atmosphere.
"You can just imagine how the fans will be at Anfield. I know all eyes are going to be on the game for obvious reasons. I said it would be red hot, it will be white hot, I think, in terms of how they’re going to react to the situation that City are going through off the pitch. It’s going to be a cracking game, and cracking atmosphere."
A win for Liverpool would be huge for Iraola to help establish himself with the Reds, ahead of an important run of nine fixtures before the November international break.
However, it's an encounter that will need to see the manager and players deal with the occasion at Anfield, as much as the tactics and match preparations that come with such a gargantuan fixture.
It remains to be seen whether that positive result will follow for Liverpool, in what will be an afternoon filled with drama and the eyes of the world on Merseyside.