Liverpool are preparing for their Capital One Cup final clash against Manchester City on Sunday, and are coming off the back of fine form to give themselves confidence of getting a result. The Merseysiders will relish being underdogs with the bookmakers, but City shouldn’t write them off as easily given they have been on the wrong end of results to Liverpool in their last few head-to-heads.
Liverpool have bested Manchester City plenty of times before
Earlier this season, Jurgen Klopp masterminded a 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium, and it’s not the only time the Reds have bested the Sky Blues in the last handful of Premier League seasons either. Liverpool take home the bragging rights in their last four domestic head-to-heads, and they’ve enjoyed success over City in the Capital One Cup too.
Capital One Cup
(11/1/12) Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool (semi-final, first leg)
(25/1/12 Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City (semi-final, second leg)
Premier League
(13/4/14) Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City
(25/8/14) Manchester City 3-1 Liverpool
(1/3/15) Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City
(21/11/15) Manchester City 1-4 Liverpool
Klopp expected to adopt similar tactics to get a result again
It’s no coincidence why Liverpool have such a good recent record against Manchester City either. The Merseysiders are inferior to the Sky Blues on technical quality and individually, but they trump City with industry in the midfield and in attack. They have willing runners all over the park who brilliant press the City defence high up the pitch, meaning they Sky Blues are forced to be direct with their distribution.
Should Manchester City try and play around the Liverpool players, they are often forced into an error that the Reds have capitalised on. It was a similar case back in 2012 and it’s the same now. Liverpool don’t allow City to flex their muscles in regard to their possession play, and disrupting their passing moves sets the tone. Jurgen Klopp’s men will be fired up to perform after suffering defeats in the FA Cup semi-final and Capital One Cup semi-final last season, so they are sure to be relentless in their effort levels.
The pressure is firmly on Manchester City as favourites, as they have been inconsistent this season and don’t have a fully fit side with the luxury of having played a run of games together. And with the Reds enjoying three wins from their last four league meetings, perhaps the underdogs should be given more credit. Liverpool are 5/4 to win the Capital One Cup this season, but can they deliver at Wembley?
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