Can Thiago do something different? That’s one question ahead of the huge Premier League clash between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday.
1) Will Liverpool actually score a goal at Anfield?
Four games against Southampton, Manchester United, Burnley and Brighton at Anfield; no goals for Liverpool. Seventy-two shots, just 11 on target; no goals for Liverpool.
Not the best time to be playing Manchester City, who haven’t conceded in their last six, just once in their last nine, twice in 13 and haven’t shipped two goals in the same game since November 21 – so long ago that Jose Mourinho was a genius not a has-been.
Liverpool’s profligacy at home is made more bizarre by their free-scoring antics away from Anfield, where they’ve scored 19 in their last six. Maybe stick them on the team bus, drive round the block a few times and play ‘Blue Moon’ rather than ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’?
2) Who will cover Gundogan’s late runs?
Pep Guardiola has lauded Ilkay Gundogan’s “sense of goal” in his transition from Man City dogsbody to undroppable creator.
“It is not just knowing the right time to arrive at the box, it is the right second,” said Guardiola, who must be feeling confident in his midfielder’s chances of adding to his seven Premier League goals this season against Liverpool.
A midfield including Thiago Alcantara and Georginio Wijnaldum is an enviable one for lots of reasons, but they’re not a pair renowned for their steel. In fact, the less tackling and tracking Thiago in particular has to do, the better; he’s a red card waiting to happen.
James Milner has played alongside them in the last four and he, of the three, will be most likely to follow, pick up and stop Gundogan. But then who tracks Bernardo Silva? Or Phil Foden? Or Riyad Mahrez?
Ozan Kabak could hold the answer…
3) Will Kabak make the difference for Liverpool?
Liverpool signed Kabak and Ben Davies on deadline day, not because Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have done badly at centre-back, but because they desperately need one or both of them back in midfield.
The new signings surely won’t both start against City and given Kabak’s reputation and greater experience of big games, he’s more likely to get the nod.
It’s very difficult to tell whether Schalke were sh*t despite having a brilliant centre-back in Kabak, or whether Kabak is actually just a bit sh*t. Klopp is convinced it’s the former and against City we’re likely to get a pretty good early indication.
He’ll do very well to be as good as Fabinho in truth, but the potential problem with not having the Brazilian at the back is far outweighed by the positive difference he will make to the balance of the team from midfield.
4) Can Thiago do something different?
Thiago has never contributed significantly in terms of goals and assists. His worth is in controlling the flow of the game and opening up space for his teammates rather than making tangible contributions.
He’s a joy to watch: the drops of the shoulder, the no-look passes and the way he glides across the pitch. But he’s under real scrutiny at Liverpool right now. He’s lost the same number of games (4) in 11 appearances for them as he did in 39 for Bayern last season.
In the Premier League, Klopp’s side averages 1.3 points per game and 1.1 goals per game with Thiago in the side and 2.1 PPG and 2.4 GPG without him.
Those that suggest he’s been one of Liverpool’s best players in recent games aren’t wrong; the team’s poor form isn’t down to his own struggles. He’s doing what he’s always done. The problem is that what he does is the antithesis of what has made Liverpool great.
He’s a Guardiola player playing in a Klopp team and to thrive at Anfield he will have to change his game or the whole team will. With the punchy, quick attacking ethos so well embedded, the former would be easier. He’s got to pass it quicker, longer and look for Mohamed Salah whenever he gets on the ball.
Liverpool have beaten City in the past by spreading panic and overwhelming them. Metronomic passing plays right into their hands. They won’t beat them at their own game.
5) Can Salah get in behind the full-back?
What has recently been a problem position for Manchester City hasn’t been an issue in recent times. Whether it’s Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko or Aymeric Laporte playing at left-back, they’ve been solid.
But Salah – who returned to form with two stunning goals against West Ham before quickly falling back out of it against Brighton – will provide a far sterner test than any of their recent opponents. City have played just one top-half opponent in their last six and Jack Grealish plays on the opposite side for Aston Villa.
Liverpool need to stretch the game and test that high City line. With Sadio Mane a doubt it will be down to Salah to do so.
Will Ford is on Twitter
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