Despite winning only twice at Anfield in the last 45 years, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola remains undeterred, declaring that records are made to be broken. After 22 rounds in the Premier League, City maintains an unbeaten record of 20 wins and 2 draws, with their next challenge being a tough away game against Liverpool.
Ahead of the match, Guardiola was resolute during a press conference: “We don’t believe in curses.” He continued, “We don’t believe in these things, but it’s true that we’ve only won twice in 45 years here. That certainly tells us how difficult this match will be.” Liverpool, under Jürgen Klopp, has remained undefeated since last October, winning their last three matches. Guardiola, who has known Klopp since their days in the Bundesliga, added, “He’s always been a coach who prioritizes attacking football. I’m sure he will do his best to control the rhythm of the match. A game like this comes down to which team has the stronger will. We hope to play better than last season, showing our attitude, courage, and character.”
Guardiola also updated the press on City’s injury status: “Jesus is doing well, and he’s expected to return in two to three weeks, likely before our Champions League match. Kompany won’t be ready for this one, but everyone else is fine.”
When asked about Alexis Sanchez’s potential transfer, Guardiola avoided further discussion, keeping his focus on the upcoming match. Meanwhile, Klopp acknowledged Liverpool’s ongoing success despite the departure of Philippe Coutinho, admitting that City might be the team to beat this season. “We did everything we could to keep Coutinho, but in the end, he left. Whether he’s with us or not, we’ll win or lose with the same mentality,” Klopp remarked.
Klopp also reflected on past challenges, saying, “We’ve already dealt with losses like Luis Suárez and Raheem Sterling. It’s all part of the process.” He continued, “Now, we need to focus on winning the game, and the motivation is to take advantage of our home ground at Anfield.”
City’s offensive strength has been a standout this season, with Guardiola praising their seamless attacking play. “They have world-class players in every position,” he noted, acknowledging the difficulty of stopping them. “Sometimes our attack is equally sharp, but at times, we’ve struggled with consistency and durability.”
On the injury front, Klopp revealed that Mohamed Salah has returned to full training and is expected to play unless something unexpected happens. He also mentioned that the decision on whether to field the club’s most expensive defender, Virgil van Dijk, is still pending.
Finally, Klopp confirmed that Daniel Sturridge has returned to training and is gradually regaining his form. Alberto Moreno is also training but still requires time to recover, while Jordan Henderson has made his return to training and is looking good.
As both teams prepare for a highly anticipated clash, fans can expect a battle of wills, with both sides showcasing their talent and determination in a match that promises to be as thrilling as any BD Cricket Match, where anything can happen.