From Haaland and Van Dijk’s battle to Szoboszlai’s pressing, we look at the tactical areas that could decide Sunday\u2019s showdown<\/p>\n
Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 11.<\/p>\n
Match analysis: Manchester City<\/a> v\u00a0Liverpool<\/a>Key battle: Haaland v Van Dijk\u00a0<\/p>\n Erling Haaland<\/a> is virtually unplayable at the moment, scoring in all but two matches for club and country this season, registering 27 goals in 17 appearances.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In the Premier League his 13 goals have come at a rate of one every 66 minutes, with a conversion rate of 31.7 per cent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Frighteningly, the Man City striker is scoring a goal once every 17.6 touches. \u00a0<\/p>\n Putting that into context, Liverpool\u2019s centre-forward Hugo Ekitike<\/a>, who has had just 12 fewer touches than Haaland, is scoring once every 72.3 touches. \u00a0<\/p>\n Haaland is the man Liverpool must stop. \u00a0<\/p>\n Arne Slot\u2019s back four cannot afford to be pulled apart or dragged out of position.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n They will want to press Man City, which means squeezing up, but Virgil van Dijk<\/a> or Ibrahima Konate<\/a> must not be dragged towards the ball like AFC Bournemouth<\/a>\u2019s Marcos Senesi<\/a> was last weekend (below) when Haaland was allowed to run clean through from his own half and score the opening goal.<\/p>\n Liverpool left-back Andrew Robertson<\/a> must also try to tuck in alongside Van Dijk when City attack, and the same applies to right-back Conor Bradley<\/a> and Konate on the other side.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n When Haaland scored his second goal last weekend (below), Bournemouth full-back Adrien Truffert<\/a> was too wide and got distracted by Matheus Nunes<\/a> when playing Haaland onside.<\/p>\n Watch Haaland running at Van Dijk in 2023\/24<\/p>\n Van Dijk will feel confident he can handle Haaland though.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The Dutchman is strong enough to handle the Norwegian\u2019s physicality, and although not as quick as the 25-year-old, Liverpool\u2019s captain is no slouch across the turf.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Van Dijk and co will also take confidence from past meetings. \u00a0<\/p>\n Haaland has scored just once in four Premier League outings against Liverpool, who have marshalled him well in previous fixtures.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n When you study Haaland\u2019s numbers against the champions it appears he might be human after all.<\/p>\n His figures are extremely modest when compared with his record against the other 22 top-flight sides he has faced, so the City forward would love to buck this particular trend on Sunday. \u00a0<\/p>\n Haaland v Liverpool compared with other PL clubs<\/p>\n Will Szoboszlai rise to the occasion again?\u00a0<\/p>\n Dominik Szoboszlai<\/a> has been excelling in a variety of positions and has been Liverpool\u2019s best player this season.<\/p>\n He often saves his best displays for the big occasion, scoring a 30-yard wonder goal against Arsenal<\/a> earlier this season and curling a gorgeous free-kick onto the head of Alexis Mac Allister<\/a> for Liverpool\u2019s winner against Real Madrid in midweek.<\/p>\n Whenever he stands over a set-piece, City will be nervous at the Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n Szoboszlai has been recently reinstated into the No 10 role and is playing with enough quality and confidence to make a big impression against City.<\/p>\n The Hungarian was excellent in this fixture last season, assisting Mohamed Salah from a corner before scoring himself.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Highlights of Man City 0-2 Liverpool 2024\/25<\/p>\n Szoboszlai will certainly offer a final-third threat, as he has hit the target with five shots from outside the box this season, while creating 16 chances.<\/p>\n But it is his industry as a presser which could be even more decisive on Sunday.<\/p>\n Szoboszlai is an underrated ball-winner who presses with conviction, just as he showed against Aston Villa<\/a> before missing a gilt-edged chance to score from this turnover below.<\/p>\n Szoboszlai\u2019s numbers when it comes to winning possession and tackles are the best of any player on either side.<\/p>\n So, when the champions engage in a press, keep your eye on Szoboszlai and who he targets with the press.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Liverpool and Man City’s defensive stats leaders 24\/25<\/p>\n Szoboszlai<\/p>\n Gonzalez<\/p>\n Konate<\/p>\n Wirtz<\/p>\n O’Reilly<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The benefits of City inverting their wingers\u00a0<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola sprung a surprise tactic against Bournemouth when tucking Jeremy Doku<\/a> and Rayan Cherki<\/a> inside as inverted wingers.<\/p>\n Doku, who usually hugs the touchline, was unusually central, while Cherki made two assists from positions in the middle of the pitch.<\/p>\n These heat maps show where they featured.<\/p>\n Will Guardiola do the same against Liverpool? Possibly.<\/p>\n Their presence infield will draw some of the focus away from Haaland, as we saw when centre-back Senesi got dragged towards Cherki for the opening goal last weekend.<\/p>\n Slot would want his central midfielders, Ryan Gravenberch<\/a> and Mac Allister, to chaperone a player like Doku on the inside.<\/p>\n However, on occasion right-back Bradley, so impressive against Real Madrid, may get pulled infield to mark him man-to-man.<\/p>\n This would be a problem for Liverpool as it would leave Mohamed Salah<\/a> isolated in a 1v1 with left-back Nico O\u2019Reilly<\/a>. <\/p>\n If the Egyptian does not track his man, there could be enormous space for O’Reilly to surge into down City\u2019s left flank. \u00a0<\/p>\n This is the scenario Guardiola\u2019s men will want to recreate (below), with Everton<\/a>\u2019s right-back drawn infield and winger Iliman Ndiaye<\/a> losing focus.<\/p>\n From this attack O\u2019Reilly crossed for Haaland to head home, and City will want to test Salah in a similar situation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Slot\u2019s selection dilemma<\/p>\n Slot\u2019s main selection dilemma could be over who he starts on the left of Liverpool\u2019s attack.<\/p>\n Cody Gakpo<\/a> has started nine of 10 Premier League games in that role but, with Szoboszlai preferred in midfield, the Reds manager has begun to experiment with big-money signing Florian Wirtz<\/a> in that position.<\/p>\n The German has not scored or assisted in the Premier League yet, while Gakpo has netted three times and set up another two goals.<\/p>\n But against Madrid, Wirtz was superb off the left, creating a game-high five chances.<\/p>\n With Gakpo\u2019s play sometimes a little predictable, Slot may consider the more varied movement of Wirtz, as shown below against Real Madrid – in what is likely to be a tactical contest. \u00a0<\/p>\n Will Pep go long?<\/p>\n After Liverpool’s recent defeat at Brentford<\/a>, Slot admitted he had \u201cno answers\u201d to teams who set up in a low block before hitting long balls over the top against them.<\/p>\n Considering those comments, and with Haaland borderline unstoppable in those situations, will City consider playing direct on Sunday?<\/p>\n\n\u00a0<\/p>\n v Liverpool<\/td>\n v rest of PL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nBig chances\/90<\/p>\n 0.80<\/td>\n 2.05<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nExpected Goals\/90<\/p>\n 0.35<\/td>\n 1.08<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nGoals\/90<\/strong><\/p>\n 0.25<\/td>\n 1.13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nMins\/goal<\/strong><\/p>\n 360.00<\/td>\n 117.95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nPossession won
\nTackles won
\n<\/tr>\n\nSzoboszlai<\/p>\n 61<\/td>\n 17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nNunes<\/p>\n 38<\/td>\n 14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nFoden<\/p>\n 36<\/td>\n 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nSilva<\/p>\n 32<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nGonzalez<\/p>\n 32<\/td>\n 9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n