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As Liverpool prepares for their strategic showdown with Manchester City on Sunday, there is an acute understanding of the necessity to approach the match in “stages.”
In other words, contending with Guardiola’s squad in the eighth minute will feel vastly different than dealing with them in the 80th minute, as evidenced by Newcastle United’s experience during their recent Carabao Cup defeat.
As highlighted in this newsletter on Monday, teams are now fully aware that assistant Pep Lijnders’ shift to a more aggressive pressing style has rendered City susceptible late in matches.
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In response, Liverpool has been strategizing on how Hugo Ekitike can capitalize on that space in the closing moments of the game. The club believes the talented forward has elevated his performance recently—one of the reasons why they were eager to secure his signature. There’s a growing sense that he could emerge as one of the world’s top strikers, which correlates with Liverpool’s increasing confidence, significantly higher than during their 3-0 defeat to City in November, and even more so than just two weeks ago.
On the other hand, City has experienced a tumultuous beginning to the year, achieving only one win in their last six Premier League outings. Their recent victory over Newcastle showcased glimpses of Guardiola’s envisioned team, yet they also left vulnerabilities that raise concerns.
This situation draws a notable parallel between the two clubs, especially as both are the most recent champions of England. Neither seems to have a clear vision of what lies ahead—not just in terms of their playing style, but more critically regarding their coaching futures.
Guardiola’s recent off-field headlines have intensified speculation about his future, making this uncertainty more pronounced.
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