Jurgen Klopp suffered his first defeat as Liverpool manager just before the international break. But the general feeling is that this team is moving forward under the supervision of the maverick Bavarian.
We are impressed with how quickly this looks like a different team. Klopp’s style is immediately discernible in the way that Liverpool are playing with the high press, high tempo game that must have drawn widespread appreciation from a set of Liverpool fans who saw their team suffer an identity crisis in the last few months under Brendan Rodgers.
It’s not his style to complain but Jurgen Klopp’s biggest concern right now will be his injury list – it stands at 10 at the latest count and, with another round of international fixtures to come this week, it could get worse still.
We know that Sakho, Ings, Flanagan and Gomez are out.
But, as for the others, Ibe, Milner, Toure, Sturridge, Rossiter and even Henderson are due back any time now. Perhaps, out of this group of returning stars, only Milner will be chosen to start.
And they will of course need as many of their main men fit as possible because, on current form, there is no tougher fixture than this one.
Manchester City have recorded some cricket scores at The Etihad this season and they are our clear favourites for the title.
So it will be fascinating to see if Klopp asks his Liverpool team to close down space and press high up the park, as he usually does, or whether he takes a more cautious approach in the face of such quality.
It’s comfortably the game of the weekend and here is the team that we feel can nullify City.
Liverpool fans: let’s have your XIs
