Manchester City vs Liverpool Bet Builder

Given the recent history between Guardiola and Klopp, and the way in which the two sides have been playing this season, you’d be brave to bet against goals in this one.

It’s always a frantic affair, with plenty of goalmouth action, and a sprinkling of questionable defending to boot.

Games that open are a recipe for goals, and the fact this selection has landed in 10 of the last 13 meetings between the pair highlights that.

City games are averaging 3.67 goals this season, with Liverpool games averaging 3.08. It comes as no surprise then that the pair have both seen over 2.5 goals land in 75% (9 out of 12) of their Premier League fixtures.

City’s recent result is the real highlight here. That 4-4 draw was not only evidence of their attacking capability, but also their defensive frailties.

I’d expect them to take advantage of Liverpool going forward, but Klopp’s side possess enough ability to do damage going the other way, their 27 goals in 12 games bodes well in that sense.

Between the two sides, City and Liverpool have failed to score just once in 24 games this season. That form should be carried into what will likely be one of the most exciting games of the campaign.

City’s openness and defensive frailty seems to be a bit of a hot topic for me this week. Were Chelsea really that good? Or did City really just struggle?

Either way, it’s evidence that a more potent Liverpool will find joy, and no player is more capable than capitalising that than Mo Salah.

The Egyptian magician is enjoying another fantastic season for his club, with 10 goals and 4 assists to his name in just 12 appearances.

That in itself reinforces just how strong his attacking output is, and the underlying numbers when it comes to shots really emphasises the value in this selection.

Salah is averaging 1.04 shots on target P/90, and has manage one in 8 of his 12 league games this season.

He’ll find plenty of space against City, especially if he’s to come up against a less experienced opponent in the mould of Josko Gvardiol.

Even then, Salah has proven how capable he is against City. He scored in each of his 4 appearances against Saturday’s opponents in all competitions last season, and with City not quite looking the same, he should prove a thorn in their side once more.

If Chelsea’s quartet of Jackson, Palmer, Sterling, and Gallagher can combine for 7 shots on target against Guardiola’s men, then Salah should have no trouble managing 1.

It’s Man City vs Liverpool, perhaps the biggest game in the Premier League calendar, and if anything recent encounters would certainly back that sentiment up.

End to end, goals galore, and the frantic pace at which these games are played certainly lends itself to a card or two.

Cue Rodri, the player I think is best placed to pick one up on Saturday.

Sure, City may well control possession come kick off, but their 4-4 draw with Chelsea highlights just how open they can be.

Liverpool are the exact sort of side that can exploit that, with pace and dynamic runners aplenty. And, with Rodri sitting in front of the back 4, he’ll be the man tasked with stopping those counter attacks.

The Spaniard is committing 1.65 fouls P/90 this season, picking up 4 cards in the process, more than any other player in the squad.

Add to that a further 3 fouls and a card against a Chelsea side on the up, and Rodri paints himself a prime suspect for a booking.

Not to mention, his record against Liverpool is ridiculous. He’s committed 2 fouls in each of his last 3 against Klopp’s side, and coming into this off the back of a poor international break performance wise, I’d expect more of the same here.

When it comes to opponents, Rodri will be dealing with the midfield trio of Gavenberch, Mac Allister, and Szoboszlai. Averaging 1.67, 1.63, and 1.20 fouls drawn P/90 respectively, they should cause the City man all sorts of problems.

Another big game for Liverpool, and another one in which I’m picking on Trent for fouls.

He comes into this off the back of 2 fouls against North Macedonia whilst on England duty, but Saturday’s outing against City will be an entirely new, and more challenging, proposition.

Sure, the ‘Trent can’t defend’ line has probably been done to death at this point, and his average foul numbers (0.45 P/90) would suggest otherwise, but when you look at his likely opponents, he’s in for one tough afternoon.

Grealish and Doku are Man City’s two most direct threats. The pair can produce some scintillating stuff with the ball at their feet, and the numbers back that notion up.

Grealish draws a staggering 2.97 fouls P/90, with Doku drawing a further 2.46. The latter in particular, has a deadly turn of pace that Trent could struggle to keep up with.

Recent history has been kind to us here as well. In the last meeting between the pair, Alexander-Arnold committed 3 fouls against Jack Grealish, and more of the same would certainly be welcome here.

City should dominate the ball, and they’ll be looking to bounce back from what was a sub-par display against Chelsea before the International break. That’ll only make things more difficult for Liverpool’s right back, a player I expect City to target.