Liverpool vs. Manchester City: 5 key matchups

Liverpool take on Manchester City on Sunday at Anfield. Here are five key matchups to look forward to in one of the biggest games of the season.

The top two teams in the Premier League (so far) will square off on Sunday in the biggest game of the season to date. Both Liverpool and Manchester City have enjoyed a torrid start to the season, with neither team suffering a defeat in their first seven games. Several players will play an important role in Sunday’s game, but these 10 (and how they interact with one another on the pitch) could have a major impact when it’s all over.

1. Alisson vs. Sergio Aguero

Despite his wealth of experience, Sergio Aguero has arguably been Manchester City’s best player so far this season. His five Premier League goals lead the team, and he will likely be a big part of City’s attack on Sunday. Liverpool’s defense will have to deal with no shortage of attacking players, but Aguero is likely to do the most damage if not properly dealt with.

In the event that Aguero is able to maneuver past Liverpool’s back four, keeper Alisson is the last line of defense. He’ll be the one tasked with stopping shots, and so far this season he’s done pretty well. Liverpool (and by extension Alisson, since he is the team’s first choice keeper) lead the Premier League with four clean sheets this season. Liverpool’s clean sheets haven’t come against the most formidable competition (West Ham, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton to be specific), but they demonstrate an ability to crack down defensively. When a team brings as many attacking options as Manchester City does, the ability to stop shots at a consistent rate is all the more important.

2. Sadio Mane vs. Kyle Walker

With all due respect to Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane is perhaps Liverpool’s most creative forward. He often dictates the final portion of Liverpool’s build up and attack, either through passes or by incisive runs into the box from the wing. He can be an extremely difficult for defenses to plan for, let alone stop or contain.

Mane’s creativity will need to be on full display if Liverpool hope to defeat City, as it was the last time these two teams played in the Premier League. Mane scored in the 61st minute of an exciting 4-3 Liverpool win last January. The triumph marked the first time City tasted defeat in the Premier League season, and if Mane has a repeat performance, Liverpool could hand City their first defeat of this season as well.

City’s defense will be tasked with stopping Mane and his teammates, and Kyle Walker is likely to play a large role in that effort. Walker and his teammate Benjamin Mendy are perhaps more known for their contributions to City’s attack, but against Liverpool it may benefit them to play a more traditional role. Walker is one of the fastest players in the league, and an athlete like that is one of the best hopes City could have of containing Mane. Walker could use his speed to close down on Mane and prevent him from advancing with the ball, and he can also catch up to any long balls down the wing that Liverpool could play into Mane.

3. Naby Keita (or Georginio Wijnaldum) vs. Fernandinho

For both of these teams, the midfield is essentially where the magic happens. Both teams rely on playmakers in the middle of the park to connect the offense to the defense, and both managers emphasize players that can control the game in that area. For Liverpool, the new addition Naby Keita has been instrumental in their success to open the season. Keita is a very adept passer, especially with through balls into the attacking players, most notably Roberto Firmino. Liverpool have been very successful with Keita initially giving the ball to Firmino, only for him to either find another player for an assist or score himself.

As a true box-to-box midfielder, Keita also contributes in defense. He is an aggressive winner of the ball, and often attempts to make tackles to regain possession. Infractions have been an issue for him in the past, but he has yet to receive discipline in the Premier League. Still, his aggressive style tends to lend itself to fouls, and Liverpool could ill afford to lose him in a game as important as this. He picked up an injury against Napoli in midweek, and if he can’t recover in time his role will likely be filled by Georginio Wijnaldum. The challenge will be the same whoever starts: connecting defense with attack, and disrupting City’s holding midfielder.

As a defensive midfielder, Fernandinho has the potential to negate what Keita or Wijnaldum brings to Liverpool’s offensive game plan. If he’s able to control the pace of the game in the midfield and pivot things in City’s favor, Liverpool could face an uphill battle. Fernandinho often plays more like a center back than a midfielder, meaning that he contributes to clearances and aerial battles in the box. Expect him to mark some of Liverpool’s more prolific players, including Keita if necessary. Fernandinho’s tendency to frustrate his opponents could also lead to Keita losing his cool — and essentially confirming a victory for the Citizens.

4. Mohamed Salah vs. Ederson

Much like the matchup between Aguero and Alisson, this is the classic case of attacker vs. keeper. Salah is Liverpool’s biggest threat, and keeping him off the score sheet should be one of City’s biggest priorities on Sunday. Salah was the Premier League’s top scorer last season, and currently has three goals early in this campaign. He hasn’t gotten off to the start that some may have expected, but a stage as big as this one could be the catalyst for an impressive run of form. Salah played well against City last season, both in the Premier League and the Champions League. With his penchant for scoring goals against City, and the attack generally centered around his movement, Salah could have a big game on Sunday.

Ederson is tied with fellow Brazilian keeper Alisson for the most clean sheets of the young Premier League campaign. It’s unlikely that he’ll add a fifth clean sheet on Saturday, but keeping the scoring at a minimum would be a huge assist to City’s chances of winning this game. Liverpool (and by extension Salah) are most comfortable when the game is wide open and goals come in abundance. That means Ederson will have his work cut out for him, especially if chances come rapidly, early in the game. Sunday could be something of a redemption game for Ederson, as he was beaten soundly by Liverpool’s attack in the two games City lost to them last season. The Brazilian let in seven goals in those two games, so keeping Liverpool at bay would be a great way to bounce back.

5. Virgil van Dijk vs. Raheem Sterling

Since coming to Liverpool in last year’s January transfer window, Virgil van Dijk has been the team’s defensive leader. Van Dijk was able to transform Liverpool into a different team, as the once notoriously porous side became more defensively sound. Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have been extremely proficient in attack, but their defense can at times look like that of a team far lower in the standings. Van Dijk’s presence and ability has helped with that, as they’ve gone from a team unable to close games to a team that is able to slam the door shut with some sort of regularity. Manchester City were the top scoring team in the Premier League last season with 106 goals, and the 21 they’ve scored this season indicate that they’re well on their way to repeating that effort. If Liverpool have any hope of winning on Sunday, they’ll need van Dijk to have an impact defensively.

It’s no secret that Manchester City has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to attacking players, and Raheem Sterling is among the best of the bunch. Sterling scored a career-best 18 goals in City’s title-winning campaign last season, several of which were the decisive scores leading to City wins. Not only does Sterling have a knack for scoring, he also tends to do it when the stakes are highest. Since this game is so important, Sterling is likely to be one of the players who rises to the occasion and makes his mark. Pep Guardiola relies on Sterling in late game situations, and if he’s able to grab a goal late in Sunday’s game, it could be the difference between victory and defeat for Manchester City.