Premier League: England’s Top Two Get Ready to Rumble

Manchester City vs Liverpool

They have been the top two sides in the Premier League for the past two years – in Manchester City’s case even longer.

When they meet, indeed when they play, Premier League highlights are rarely far away.

This weekend should be no different, even without fans and with key personnel missing on both sides.

But can one side lay down a firm marker in the early stages of the new campaign?

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Serie A

Talking Points

Manchester City are struggling in attack but still winning most of their games, Liverpool are short in numbers in central defence but have won every game since their supposed irreplaceable lynchpin was injured.

City are unbeaten in eight games since embarrassingly conceding five at home to Leicester City, while Liverpool haven’t lost in six since shipping seven goals in a mauling at Aston Villa.

So, even with a supposed shortage in key areas, the country’s top two clubs will have plenty to offer when they meet at the Etihad Stadium.

This SBOTOP observer believe the best player in the Premier League for almost a decade now has been Argentine maestro and the club’s all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero. At best, he will make the bench this weekend but that is unlikely and he will certainly not be match-fit.

Likewise, his usual replacement Gabriel Jesus enjoyed a brief cameo in City’s midweek Champions League win but may struggle to sustain 90 minutes.

Benjamin Mendy and unsung midfield cog Fernandinho remain out.

In the visiting camp, Virgil van Dijk – the league’s best defender over the past two seasons – is recovering from surgery although his favoured replacement amongst many, Joel Matip, an unused substitute in Liverpool’s midweek cruise at Atalanta, may be more likely to be ready for a full 90 minutes.

Naby Keita is available after returning in that Champions League triumph but new signing Thiago Alcantara is still sidelined.

Squad strength means those losses can be overcome though and who will cope better may well prevail, not just in this clash but over the course of the 2020/21 season.

Believe it or not, considering they are two well matched sides, City have won their last three home league games against Liverpool by an aggregate score of 11-1.

Liverpool are holding a 5-point advantage against Manchester City in the Premier League table — Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal against West Ham United

However, their yet to convince defence will have to keep Mohamed Salah quiet. The Egyptian has scored 80 Premier League goals in 115 games since his Liverpool debut in 2017, nine more than any other top-flight player during that period.

If City can win back-to-back league games for the first time this season, they will lay down an important marker in the title race.

If Liverpool win, it could prove as crucial as it did when they defeated City at Anfield almost a year ago to the day.

History

Both last season’s matches were compelling for different reasons – even if only one really mattered.

Liverpool’s 3-1 success at Anfield a year ago this weekend effectively ended the title race as the Merseysiders opened up a nine-point gap that only increased as the campaign progressed.

In the return fixture, the first since Liverpool were confirmed as champions, City thrashed them 4-0 with a display which was all too lacking when it mattered in 2019/20.

This fixture may not have been pivotal last season but it was in early January last year when a goal from now Bayern Munich man Leroy Sane won a thrilling encounter and, ultimately, proving crucial in the outcome of the 2018/19 title race.

In fact, if you include last season’s curtain raiser at Wembley, City have had the edge over Liverpool winning three and drawing one of their last five encounters.

Overall, Liverpool have won 105 of their clashes with 57 City successes and 53 draws.

Betting Tip

	Manchester City vs Liverpool	Manchester City Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 2.35
	November 9, 00:30 (GMT+8)

Well no-one expects another 4-0 romp but if you are that confident of a big home success, that correct score will pay out @ 50.00.

So often a favoured score in matches between big clubs is 1-1 and that is on offer with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds @ 7.20 – attractive odds.

With Asian Handicap betting, City -0.75 @ 2.35 are odds you will rarely find on Pep Guardiola’s men, likewise Liverpool +0.25 @ 2.20.

Bizarrely, in comparison to Asian Handicap odds, 1X2 offers City @ 2.03 and Liverpool @ 3.45 – again, you won’t find that very often in recent seasons.