Manchester City vs Liverpool 03/07/20

03 July 2020

Arguably the most highly anticipated fixture on the Premier League football schedule will take place at the Etihad Stadium this midweek, as Manchester City (2nd) take on Liverpool (1st) in a massive top-of-the-table showdown.

A 2-1 away defeat to Chelsea last time out saw Manchester City concede the title to Liverpool and brought their two-game winning run in the Premier League to a halt. In fact, none of City’s last eight league matches has ended in a draw (W5, L3), with seven of those results (win/loss) seeing the winner on the day keep a clean sheet. But, the Sky Blues have won all but one of their seven previous Premier League home fixtures (D1), netting two goals or more in all seven while keeping a blank sheet in four. Indeed, free-scoring Manchester City have scored an average of 2.73 goals per league home game this season, notching over 1.5 goals in 86.67% (13) of 15 Premier League matches held at this stadium.

Although the visitors travel to the Etihad on a three-game unbeaten Premier League run (W2, D1), Jurgen Klopp’s men seek their first top-flight success here since 2015 (D1, L2) and a first league away win after two straight failures (D1, L1). But, for Liverpool, goals have been at a premium lately. The Reds have drawn a blank in four consecutive road trips in all competitions (D1, L3), with three of those matches featuring under 2.5 total goals. Still, Liverpool have based their away success on an airtight defense that remains the only in the Premier League yet to allow double digits on the road (nine). Particularly robust in the first half, Klopp’s men have conceded a league-low two away goals before the break.