Pep Guardiola sends warning message to Manchester United what’s coming from Liverpool

Liverpool’s quadruple hunt continued on Thursday evening after securing an 11-2 Europa League Round of 16 win at the expense of Sparta Prague.

Jurgen Klopp’s side found themselves four goals to the good inside the first quarter of an hour played at Anfield and will now take on Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Attempting to keep hopes of claiming another trophy alive, the Reds will take on Manchester United on Sunday afternoon for the chance to advance to the semi-finals.

Looking ahead to this while discussing Thursday’s European success, four Liverpool supporters have shared their views.

It feels like we’re well and truly in dreamland as Liverpool supporters at the moment. To have cruised through into the Europa League quarter finals at Anfield against Sparta Prague and be so handily placed at the top of the league is more than we could have ever asked for at the start of the season.

Of course, one more hurdle lies ahead before we can all relax for a weekend as the international break returns.

But  for now, all roads lead to Old Trafford on Sunday. I’m going into this one completely optimistic and I believe it’s a no-brainer for Jurgen to go full strength for it.

With 9000 Liverpool supporters in the away end, how good would it be to pile on the misery for the red side of Manchester and keep our own feel-good factor intact? These are the days: there’s not many more left under Klopp so saviour every last second of it.

What a magnificent performance it was last Sunday against Manchester City. What a febrile, frenetic atmosphere.

Pep Guardiola’s side were caught between a whirlpool created by the Anfield atmosphere and the sharp, cutting rocks of the Liverpool midfield.

Wataru Endo knocked Kevin De Bruyne off his balance during the midfield battle, so much so that the City talisman was hauled off, kicking and screaming. The surest sign you may think that Liverpool had obliterated the Sky Blues’ midfield.

While receiving some plaudits this year, Endo has not been given the same acclaim as Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, yet the Japan international has been instrumental in Klopp’s 2.0 team. Signed as a backup, he now resides at the front of the Liverpool charge.

Guardiola was accurate to describe the Anfield attack as like a tsunami. After another impressive display at home against Sparta Prague, the Great Wave of Liverpool is gaining momentum.

Another week down and Liverpool, in spite of the footballing gods, remains in all four competitions. After beating Sparta Prague 11-2 over two legs, we now face a Europa League quarter-final showdown with Atalanta. Another two matches on the calendar, another two to show this season isn’t a fluke. Whatever rebuild Jurgen Klopp had planned for this season, the results simply aren’t an anomaly. That, in fact, this Liverpool he hands over to his successor will remain a force in the coming decade.

But in the short-term, a challenge lies ahead: a visit to the crumbling heap of despair that is Old Trafford. Our kids, of course, will rise to the occasion again, just as they have in every other case. They’re gonna be alright. Some of their first-choice mainstays will contribute as well, acting as an anchor for Klopp’s kids as they continue to grow.

A win gives us another opportunity to continue this magical run, which is evermore special for the most obvious reason. But more importantly, the run continues to build for the future – a future without our talismanic manager and some of their ageing stars.

Injury list, suspension, expectation; Manchester City v Liverpool: Team news

Jürgen Klopp reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Manchester City, with four players available to return to action at Etihad Stadium.

Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez were all back in training this week, having missed the win over Brentford prior to the international break, and Klopp confirmed on Friday that the quartet are all in contention to feature against league leaders City.

Conor Bradley has also resumed training after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, leaving only Andy Robertson, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara absent

“Only the long-term absentees are still out,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference at the AXA Training Centre. “No new concerns – before I entered this room.

“Conor Bradley [is] completely normal in training but now he needs to play games, starting with the U21s. Kaide Gordon was with us in training the whole week, which is really exciting. Looks really good, has to now gain minutes.

“I think that’s it.”

Klopp does, however, have decisions to make with regards to those returning from international duty, and in particular his South American contingent.

“For these decisions I have to wait until [after training on Friday],” he said. “Look in their eyes, talk to them and then figure out who is ready to start and who is probably better to bring on.

“They all I would say, nearly all, had a really good international break. Colombia were really successful, Lucho [Luis Diaz] scored twice. Uruguay obviously did really well. So we have to see.

“Yes, [Darwin Nunez] is in a good moment and we want to use him as often as possible. If it’s possible, I don’t know in this moment.”

Manchester City, meanwhile, have a few injury concerns of their own, in particular with regards to top scorer Erling Haaland, who is nursing an ankle issue.

“He trained yesterday with some niggles,” Pep Guardiola reported on Friday. “Today we are in the last training, hopefully he can play a part.”

Guardiola also has doubts over the fitness of Nathan Ake and Mateo Kovacic, who are carrying knocks, while Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Sergio Gomez are definitely ruled out.

The City boss continued: “We have a few problems like many clubs. We will see in our training session today. We will see.”

Predicted Manchester City vs Liverpool lineup, team news, Injury update

Manchester City (1st in the Premier League) take on Liverpool (2nd in the Premier League) on Saturday 25th of November, at the Etihad Stadium, at 12:30 PM (GMT).

The last time these two sides faced, Manchester City beat Liverpool 4-1 at the Etihad. Goals from Julian Alvarez, Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish for City, and a goal from Mohamed Salah for Liverpool.

Manchester City drew their last Premier League game, drawing 4-4 with Chelsea in an eight goal thriller. Goals were scored by Erling Haaland (x2), Manuel Akanji and Rodri for City, whilst Thiago Silva, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer scored for Chelsea.

Liverpool won their last Premier League game, beating Brentford 3-0 at Anfield. Goals from Mohamed Salah (x2) and Diogo Jota secured the victory and three points for Liverpool.

Team News:

Manchester City will be without John Stones, Sergio Gomez, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Kevin De Bruyne through injury, whilst Erling Haaland, Nathan Ake and Ederson will undergo further medical checks before determining their fitness ahead of the Liverpool clash.

Liverpool will be without Andrew Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic, whilst Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones will undergo further fitness testing ahead of the City game on Saturday.

Predicted XI:

Manchester City: Ortega, Gvardiol, Akanji, Dias, Walker, Rodri, Silva, Doku, Alvarez, Foden, Haaland.

Liverpool: Alisson, Tsimikas, van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Mac Allister, Endo, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Nunez, Salah.

What could be the ƙey matchupѕ for Mancheѕter City vs Liverpool Clash

Manchester City vs Liverpool

With the international breaƙ over, Mancheѕter City are preparing to face Liverpool on Saturday.

The game will ѕee the top two ѕideѕ in the Premier League go head-to-head. Here iѕ a looƙ at ѕome of the ƙey matchupѕ in what promiѕeѕ to be an enthralling encounter.

Mohamed Salah

Joѕƙo Gvardiol vѕ Mo Salah

With doubtѕ over Nathan Aƙe’ѕ fitneѕѕ, it would appear that Joѕƙo Gvardiol will liƙely lineup at left-bacƙ. Waiting for him will be City’ѕ tormentor of ѕeaѕon’ѕ paѕt in Mo Salah.

The Egyptian winger haѕ ѕcored 11 goalѕ in 18 appearanceѕ againѕt the European championѕ. Salah ѕitѕ ѕecond to Erling Haaland aѕ the Premier League’ѕ top ѕcorer with 10. He iѕ ѕtill arguably Jurgen Klopp’ѕ ѕide’ѕ moѕt dangerouѕ weapon up front.

Keeping Salah quiet could go a long way to helping Mancheѕter City gain a poѕitive reѕult on Saturday. Gvardiol haѕ the ability and defenѕive acumen to taƙe on ѕuch a tough challenge.

Rodri vѕ the Liverpool midfield

Arguably the ƙey battle in the entire game will be Rodri againѕt the new looƙ Liverpool midfield. City’ѕ midfield general iѕ without a doubt hiѕ ѕide’ѕ moѕt important player and how he performѕ may go a long way in determining the outcome.

With John Stoneѕ injured, and hiѕ return currently unƙnown it will liƙely fall to Bernardo Silva to drop into midfield to form a double pivot with Rodri. Mateo Kovacic will miѕѕ aѕ he’ѕ currently ѕidelined with a quad injury.

In their 3-nil win over Brentford Liverpool lined up with Wataru Endo, Dominiƙ Szoboѕzlai and Cody Gaƙpo acroѕѕ midfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold alѕo driftѕ centrally in the John Stoneѕ mould for Jurgen Klopp’ѕ ѕide. Liverpool now have plenty of optionѕ at their diѕpoѕal in midfield.

The midfield battle will be one to watch in ѕuch a crucial game.

Erling Haaland vѕ Virgil Van Dijƙ

While it won’t be a one-on-one conteѕt to decide the game, the performance of City’ѕ number 9 and Liverpool’ѕ captain could well decide the game.

Haaland haѕ ѕcored 9 goalѕ in hiѕ paѕt 6 appearanceѕ for City. The ѕtriƙer ѕcored a brace againѕt Chelѕea laѕt time out for the Premier League championѕ. He did picƙ up an injury while on international duty, but Fabrizio Romano reported that he ѕhould be available for the Liverpool claѕh.

Van Dijƙ iѕ Liverpool’ѕ barometer. It’ѕ no coincidence he haѕ looƙed bacƙ to hiѕ beѕt ѕo far thiѕ ѕeaѕon and Liverpool haѕ riѕen up the table. If the Dutch international can inѕpire hiѕ team at the bacƙ it could give them an advantage at the Etihad.

Saturday’ѕ claѕh between two poѕѕible title rivalѕ promiѕeѕ to be an epic encounter. There iѕ no ѕhortage of tantaliѕing matchupѕ all over the pitch. A potential claѕѕic Premier League encounter awaitѕ at the Etihad on Saturday.

Virgil van Dijk Nails last Minute winner from the penalty spot, Edging the Netherlands Closer to Euro Qualification

Following his penalty shoot in the ninetieth minute that moved the Netherlands to within one goal of earning a spot in the 2024 European Championship, Virgil van Dijk was hailed for his “balls of steel.”

Liverpool’s captain, Virgil van Dijk, stepped up to put the Netherlands on the edge of qualifying for Euro 2024 after scoring a penalty kick in injury time against Greece.

The Netherlands captain gave the nation the hero it needed. Another difficult night for Oranje, as they appeared to be headed for a draw against Greece in Group B when former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst missed a first-half penalty.

Van Dijk sent the Greece keeper the wrong way

Still, if you want something done right, then take on the task yourself. After Denzel Dumfries was fouled in the 93rd minute, Van Dijk was awarded a penalty kick. In the process of turning the tables on Odysseas Vlachodimos and propelling Ronald Koeman’s team into second place in the group, the Reds defender displayed poise and control, placing them firmly in the driver’s seat for qualifying.

After Van Dijk had to wait three minutes to take the penalty kick following a VAR evaluation and ignore lasers aimed in his face from the home end, fans praised his “balls of steel” on social media. One fan tweeted, “Calm and composed, the lasers aren’t enough.”

“That’s what big players do,” a third fan said, referencing the penalty he missed for his country in the World Cup in Qatar. “Ice in his veins,” observed another supporter. Redemption. A fourth said, “Carrying the Netherlands on his back once again.”

With a game remaining, Van Dijk’s winner puts the Netherlands ahead of Greece in head-to-head play. With Greece facing the current perfect group leaders, France, in their final match, qualification is all but complete. Koeman’s team will next play Gibraltar and the Republic of Ireland in November.