Manchester City started their season with a bang, beating Newcastle United 2-0 on Sunday. They’ll need that same edge to their game on Monday as they are set to face fellow top contender, Liverpool, in just the second week of the new English Premier League season.
Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge will be up for this one as they look to avenge their late-season loss of the Premier League title last year. As we discussed in our 2014-2015 EPL season preview, the wounds are still fresh from last season, and the league has provided a glorious opportunity to repair some of that damage with this early season meeting.
Read on to know more about this pivotal league matchup.
[sc:Soccer ]Liverpool vs. Manchester City Prediction and Betting Preview
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester City
When: Monday, August 25, 3:00 PM ET
Line: Liverpool at Manchester City – view all EPL lines
What’s at Stake
[sc:Soccer240banner ]While both teams played well in their opening matches, this game is more about last season than this one. With a full season’s worth of games to come, there is plenty of time to jockey in the table after this game – this is all about asserting who deserved to win the championship last spring.
Betting on Liverpool
Raheem Sterling opened up the scoring and assisted on the 79th-minute winner from Daniel Sturridge, as Liverpool won their season opener 2-1 against Southampton on Sunday. The Reds were up to their usual selves, showing flashes of brilliance with two excellent finishes from their talented frontline.
Defensively, Martin Skrtel proved to be a solid center back for Liverpool as he won seven aerial duels while maintaining excellent accuracy on his passes, while left back Glen Johnson kept the defense solid on the wing and also had two shots of his own. However, the defense also showed its holes, conceding early in the second half.
Liverpool also struggled with possession too often against the Saints. Turnovers are one thing against Southampton, and quite another against the excellent offensive frontline of the defending champions Manchester City.
Liverpool is dangerous on the attack themselves, especially with Sturridge (21 goals last season) at the helm. They’ll be hard to keep scoreless, and with a couple of adjustments, their defense may easily reflect their brilliance in the attack. This is a game Liverpool can win, provided they bring their best play against a Man City team that will capitalize on any lapses.
The Reds are 4-0-1 in their last five road games.
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Betting on Manchester City
In their Premier League season opener last Sunday, the Sky Blues were up to their usual selves: threatening on the attack despite sketchy-looking defense in some instances.
Manchester City’s defense will need some work as they allowed 12 shots from Newcastle in their season opener. Frustration may have gotten to the defense as they conceded enough fouls (five warranted yellow cards) to cause concern, especially near the box.
That defense will also look better once new signing Eliaquim Mangala is back to full health to play alongside Kompany. Despite their less-than-stellar defense, goalkeeper Joe Hart was as sharp as ever, adding another clean sheet to his already impressive resume.
The Sky Blues looked dangerous as ever on the attack. Forward Edin Dzeko constantly threatened the Newcastle goal, dribbling past defenders and getting shots on. Dzeko was also instrumental in opening up the scoring, finding an crack in the left wing to set up David Silva for a goal.
Sergio Aguero impressed with a late goal to thwart any hopes that Newcastle had of an equalizer. Aguero has scored 18 goals as well as assisted in six in his last 24 Premier League matches.
Dzeko, Silva and Aguero will be a deadly trio spearheading Manchester City’s attack. With their home crowd behind them, expect them to play at their full potential against Liverpool.
Manchester City is 1-1-3 in its last five games against Liverpool.
Writer’s Prediction
The Etihad Stadium will be a jolly mess of bodies as Manchester City’s fine offense find a hole in the suspect Liverpool back line and nets the lone goal in this contest.
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