After having dominated most of their opponents throughout the season, Manchester City find themselves with a mountain to climb on Tuesday when they host Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-finals tie. The Reds pulled off a commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg at Anfield Road last week and they are expected to hold on to that advantage and pull through to the semi-finals. However, Manchester City did beat Liverpool 5-0 in the Premier League in September.
Manchester City are going through their darkest period of the season so far, they have lost consecutive matches for the first time since Pep Guardiola took charge of the club and conceded three goals in each of those two defeats. Moreover, Saturday's 3-2 Premier League defeat against rivals Manchester United is even more painful considering that the Citizens had a 2-0 lead at half-time and it also postponed the moment of mathematical certainty concerning the Premier League title. Benjamin Mendy remains the only injury concern for the home side because Sergio Aguero has made his return last weekend.
Liverpool were not as impressive in the Merseyside Derby on Saturday as they were in the Champions League a few days earlier, they were held goalless by Everton. However, it is clear that manager Jurgen Klopp chose to rest a few of his key players for the second leg against Manchester City. Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all rested at the weekend and they should regain their places in the starting eleven on Tuesday. Jordan Henderson is suspended for this match, while Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip remain injured.
Probable line-ups:
Man City: Ederson - Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph - De Bruyne, Fernandinho, D. Silva - Sterling, Aguero, Sane
Liverpool: Karius - Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson - Chamberlain, Wijnaldum, Milner - Salah, Firmino, Mane
My prediction: Manchester City to win 3-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Man City win - 1.44
Draw - 4.75
Liverpool win - 6.00
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