Former Manchester City star Trevor Sinclair has admitted Liverpool look in much better shape and ‘have the upper hand’ ahead of this weekend’s showdown between the title rivals.
The both clubs enjoyed perfect preparation for Sunday’s Etihad Stadium clash, with the Reds thumping Atalanta and City beating Olympiacos 3-0 in the Champions League.
Although form goes out the window, as the saying goes, for these games, Liverpool are widely considered favourites as they look from the Premier League summit down the table at lowly tenth-place City.
AFP or licensors
And Diogo Jota’s fine hat-trick in Liverpool’s 5-0 victory in Italy has ramped up the excitement in Merseyside ahead of what could prove to be another crucial game in the title race.
Jota, who now has seven goals in ten games this season, has even been tipped to replace Roberto Firmino in Jurgen Klopp’s team for the City clash, given the summer signing has already scored more Liverpool goals than the Brazilian in 2020.
That’s been argued by Anfield legend John Barnes, who told talkSPORT fans are wrong to criticise Firmino for his lack of goals and insisted he plays a much bigger role in Klopp’s team.
Whoever gets picked, though, Sinclair admits Liverpool are much stronger in attack than the current Man City team, who are without Sergio Aguero and have only just welcomed back Gabriel Jesus from injury.
getty
Asked about Jota’s brilliant form, the ex-City and England winger told talkSPORT host Jim White: “I didn’t see that one coming.
“He’s come in and been outstanding, his movement is brilliant. He’s 23 years old and he’s scored seven goals already – only two behind Mohamed Salah who is Liverpool’s leading scorer.
“I watched him live last weekend against West Ham and the impact he had on the team was superb. He was lively, he was making runs in behind, he got the winning goal.
“He’s giving Klopp a real big headache at the moment. If you ask me, just that freshness he’s brought to Salah and Sadio Mane, maybe he’s going to be picked ahead of Firmino.
“I don’t know, because Firmino has done it for a long time, but Jota just brings a freshness, he brings an intensity and movement… he’s playing a huge part for the club.
“Are Liverpool stronger in attack than Man City? I think at the moment they are.
“With Jesus only just back, he came back with a goal with is great but he’s not 100 per cent fit.
“Aguero is not due back until after the international break, so at the moment I would say Liverpool’s forward options are better than Manchester City’s.
“When everyone is fit in both squads? I think it’s very difficult to say, they’re both outstanding at creating and scoring goals, you probably couldn’t split them. But at the moment Liverpool certainly have the upper hand.”
from Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures https://ift.tt/364AGkC
via IFTTT
No Comment