Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists Manchester City will not have a Champions League hangover following their deflating defeat to Real Madrid.
18.04.2022 - 12:43 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Manchester City and Liverpool are both lauded for their attacking play, with Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp each having incredible attacking players at their disposal. But while the prowess of Premier League top goalscorer Mohamed Salah and prolific midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is remarkable, the title race will likely be decided by the ability to stop goals rather than score them.
With just seven Premier League matches to go, City sit one point above Liverpool. The Blues have conceded just 20 goals all season, while the Merseysiders have conceded 22, the two lowest tallies in the league.
Over the past five years, the lowest number of goals City conceded in a single season was 23, when they edged Klopp’s side by one point after a remarkable season which saw the sides finish on 98 and 97 points respectively. The season prior, Guardiola’s side became the first English club ever to reach 100 points in a Premier League season, eclipsing the rest of the league to finish with a 19-point lead over nearest rivals Manchester United.
ALSO READ: Lay of the land as Man City emerge from 11-day reckoning
But in the season following their narrow victory over Liverpool, City’s defensive stability lessened. They finished the season having conceded 35 goals, whereas Liverpool conceded 33, and Klopp’s side won their first title in 30 years.
In fact, since the Centurion year, Guardiola’s side have won only one title when they have conceded more than 30 goals - last season. Liverpool also experienced a big drop-off in their defensive capabilities last term, as the long-term injury of Virgil van Dijk hit Klopp’s side hard, resulting in the Reds finishing third in the Premier League having conceded 42 goals.
But this season has seen the
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists Manchester City will not have a Champions League hangover following their deflating defeat to Real Madrid.
Phil Neville has claimed that if Manchester United can improve the structure of the club and allow Erik ten Hag to make some quality signings in the summer, the club could be just 12 months away from challenging Manchester City and Liverpool for the Premier League title.
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan insists every game is a "final" as title race with Liverpool further intensified on Saturday following wins for each team.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has made a request to Liverpool fans for Tuesday's game against Manchester United.
Manchester City fans were relieved to see Kevin De Bruyne make the bench as Pep Guardiola rang the changes for their FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool.
It’s the clash of the titans again this weekend as Manchester City take on Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.
Back our brace of 10/1 Man City vs Liverpool predictions with Betfred and get £60 in free bets and bonuses!
Liverpool legend John Barnes does not believe Manchester City's rivalry with his old club is the greatest in Premier League history.
Jamie Redknapp has pinpointed a major problem Liverpool will encounter which can double up as encouragement for Manchester City in the mouth-watering Premier League title race. Honours were even when the teams met in a pulsating showdown at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A football fan says he is 'kicking himself' after he missed out on the chance to win over £1,000 from just a fiver when he 'cashed out' early on a bet during the big Manchester City v Liverpool game.
Manchester City players do not have time to worry about the Premier League title race because they are too busy preparing for games in other competitions, according to Kevin De Bruyne.
The Premier League title is still up for grabs after the two main contenders squared off at the Etihad on Sunday. Liverpool twice came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw with Manchester City to remain a point behind the Blues at the top of the table with seven games to go.
Kevin De Bruyne says Manchester City cannot expect to win all of their remaining Premier League fixtures - even if doing so guarantees them the title after the entertaining draw with Liverpool.