**Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City tomorrow is the biggest match between the two clubs since they last competed for the Premier League title under Jurgen Klopp.**
Man City’s financial cheating powder keg exploded last month when the Premier League confirmed the club’s owners were found guilty of rigging their books to compete with Europe’s biggest clubs.
Liverpool have the chance to move within three points of City with a win at Anfield, but given the heightened emotions that are certain to dictate the ebb and flow of the game, it has the potential to go badly wrong for the Reds.
Whatever is true about Man City’s financial integrity behind the scenes, their players are certain to be furious about the situation and will want to make a statement of their own.
It’s auspicious that the first game since the verdict was released by the Premier League will be at Anfield. The home crowd will do their best to make their feelings known about the trophies and memories denied to them by City’s wrongdoing.
Liverpool are on nine points this season, while Man City have already accumulated 15, leading the Premier League on points per game, albeit Arsenal are on 15 as well, having played a game more after their 2-1 win over Leeds United on Saturday.
Liverpool are nursing a number of injuries, so the team that Andoni Iraola picks will be interesting.
That aside, this is the first major challenge of Iraola’s tenure as Liverpool boss, with his penchant for beating the big teams something that he will now be tested on.
It’s a pity that a three-week international break precedes this game, as I am sure that Iraola would have loved to have more time to prep for City.
His aggressive man-to-man style of pressing will come under major stress against a team that has some of the best press-resistant players to count.
My prediction is a Liverpool win. Anfield and the pressure off the pitch will prove too much for Manchester City.