Liverpool’s trip to Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime could set the tone for what will be a busy six weeks or so for Jurgen Klopp.
A first victory at the Etihad in the Premier League since 2015 will take them top of the table but a visit to the champions surely represents the toughest away-day of the calendar for Klopp and his players.
Ahead of Saturday’s big game, the ECHO’s LFC writers pick their starting frontline as Klopp’s players go in search of a statement victory in Manchester.
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‘Nunez and Diaz pace could be key on the counter’
Paul Gorst: With two of Klopp’s South American quartet playing in his forward line, there will be plenty of thinking to do around what he does here.
Mohamed Salah, fresh from his four-goal haul for Egypt over the international break, will be stationed, as ever, on the right side of the trio but the inclusions of both Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez is less clear.
Diaz’s two goals against Brazil in that 2-1 win last week served as something of a cleansing moment for he and his family as his emotional father watched on in the crowd just days after being released from nearly a fortnight-long ordeal as a hostage in Colombia.
The quick-fire double secured los Cafeteros a big win against Alisson Becker’s Selecao and left his father, Luis Manuel, in tears in the crowd as he celebrated with his family and friends. As a result, Diaz might be ready to truly kick-start his campaign as he looks to move past a harrowing period for his family. He will surely be full of confidence this weekend.
Nunez has been in good form for Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay also and the club have learned their lesson from September’s international break when they were only able to return their four players back to Merseyside on Thursday morning before their Saturday lunchtime. Special provisions have been made to get them back sooner ahead of Saturday’s match. That could be key.
Diogo Jota could be an option either centrally or on the left for Klopp at the Etihad given his workmanlike qualities and ability to poach a goal from very little while Cody Gakpo’s skill in keeping the ball in threatening areas is something to consider also. The Netherlands international is able to drop into midfield also if the engine room is being overworked but the speed and skill of Diaz and Nunez on the counter-attack could cause real problems for a City side who will look to push up and seize the initiative at home.
My front three: Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
‘In-form Jota has to start as South American travels dictate decision’
Theo Squires: Gone are the days when picking Liverpool’s front three was the easiest decision in the world.
Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane – a trio that Pep Guardiola feared so much and all tormented Man City on multiple occasions. But with it eight years since the Reds last won a Premier League at the Etihad, it’s time for new terrifying triumvirate to emerge.
Even if he hadn’t returned an eye-catching four goals for Egypt during the November international break, Salah is, as always, one of the first names on Jurgen Klopp’s teamsheet on the right-hand side. But the identity of the remaining two forwards is difficult to decipher.
Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz both scored in famous wins for Uruguay and Colombia respectively during the international break, with the former netting in a 2-0 victory away at world champions Argentina and the latter registering a brace in a 2-1 victory over Brazil. Yet the pair will both be in action again in South America in the early hours of Wednesday morning when this article is first published.
They both offer the electrifying pace that can tear City apart, but it would be a gamble to start both for an early kick-off on Saturday after their international exploits. It should be a case of one or the other.
In the past, you would expect Cody Gakpo to get the nod leading the line, having emerged as Firmino’s long-term successor. He can drop deeper, creating space for Salah and, if selected, Diaz to cause havoc in the final third. But he is still feeling his way back from an ankle injury and not hit top form this season.
In contrast, Diogo Jota has to start. He’s actually started all five of Liverpool’s Premier League matches with Man City that he’s been available for since joining the club in 2020, and has returned a goal and assist in his last two trips to the Etihad. He’s also in form at the moment, boasting five goals from eight appearances since his red card against Tottenham Hotspur.
He’s also well-rested after being left unused for Portugal against Iceland on Sunday, with his last appearance seeing him register an assist while completing the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein last Thursday.
But is Jota out on the left or down the middle? Considering Nunez is also in form, I’m tempted to unleash the chaos upfront with the Portuguese on the flanks. Alongside Salah, the trio are Liverpool’s leading goalscorers this season with 27 goals combined, though the condition of the South Americans after international duty has to be taken into consideration heading into a dreaded Saturday 12.30pm kick-off..
There will be goals at the Etihad, no doubt about that. And this prolific front three are perhaps the players best-placed to deliver them for Klopp’s men.
My front three: Salah, Nunez, Jota.
18 remarkable minutes show why Nunez is key
Joe Rimmer: The last time Liverpool made the trip to the Etihad Stadium, Darwin Nunez wasn’t deemed fit enough to start.
Having missed the international break with a cut on his foot, Nunez hadn’t sufficiently recovered – or trained – enough to be considered for selection. Instead he took his place on the bench and by the time he emerged with 20 minutes remaining, Pep Guardiola’s side were 3-1 up and coasting.
It was a shame for Liverpool because City know more than most what an impact Nunez can make.
Indeed, the Uruguayan announced himself as a Liverpool player with a goal in the Community Shield against City in August 2022. He’d register an assist and was unlucky not to score in a League Cup defeat at the Etihad last December.
But at Anfield in November, when Mohamed Salah’s goal was the difference between the two sides, he really showed what he was capable of in an 18-minute cameo that ran City ragged.
Taking the game to City on the break, he charged up the field and stretched Guardiola’s bewildered side. With eight shots, three shots and the biggest chance of the match created, it was a remarkable effort in such little time.
And having matured significantly since then and forging an understanding with Salah, he is primed to be key against City this weekend as Liverpool seek to put Guardiola’s side under pressure on their own turf.
And while I prefer the balance of Liverpool’s attack with Luis Diaz in the side, I’ve a feeling that Diogo Jota’s knack of scoring important goals – as well as the way he and Nunez can seamlessly switch places in attack – could be key.
My front three: Salah, Nunez, Jota.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
