LIVERPOOL and Manchester Metropolis each received their UEFA Champions League matches in midweek and are anticipated to do the identical once they tackle Southampton and West Ham, respectively, within the English Premiership this weekend.
The Reds’ conflict with Southampton at Anfield as we speak appears to be like considerably simpler on paper, than Man Metropolis’s encounter with the third-placed Hammers on the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.
Liverpool beat Porto with a reasonably weakened aspect than they might in any other case use within the Premier League. All the identical, it was a adequate unit to see off the specter of the Portuguese guests and saved their 100% report within the competitors intact after 5 group stage video games.
German supervisor Jurgen Klopp will nearly certainly recall leftback Andy Robertson and midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, all of whom got here on within the second half in midweek and have been lately troubled by harm. Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also needs to return after having been rested in opposition to Porto.
Southampton crashed to a slim league defeat by the hands of Norwich final weekend.
Previous to that, they impressively picked up 10 factors from a potential 12.
In opposition to Liverpool they’ll try to revive the religion and depart Merseyside with one thing to point out for his or her journey to the north-west of England.
Che Adams and Adam Armstrong have been getting the objectives lately and will get in on the act as we speak, because the Saints additionally look to their joint prime scorer within the league, Armando Broja, to assist upset their hosts. He has 4 objectives in six appearances.
Metropolis’s job can be to consign West Ham to a second successive league defeat, following their loss at Wolves final day out.
Regardless of this, the Hammers are nonetheless fourth within the standings, one thing that the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal will look scornfully upon.
David Moyes continues to prioritise the league and made the purpose when Michail Antonio and Lukasz Fabianski didn’t journey to Austria for the Europa League group stage match with Speedy Vienna on Thursday. Moyes mentioned he was seeking to “give all of the squad members” taking part in time.
Whether or not or not that can be adequate to sidetrack Metropolis is one other matter. Pep Guardiola’s crew placed on a elegant efficiency as they got here from behind to beat Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.
And if the shape guide holds true, then Metropolis ought to overcome West Ham with out a lot of a fuss.
Wins for each third-on-the-table Liverpool and second-placed Metropolis look greater than possible at this stage.
