Liverpool have their focus back – they will beat City on Sunday

Liverpool have their focus back.

After Ajax and Atalanta and Sheffield United and West Ham, the new challenge is City at the Etihad. And the Reds are relishing the tie, in fine form once again, despite all the odds.

Jurgen Klopp has his Reds playing as well as they have played all year. Their mentality and focus which was questionable through the late winter before the shutdown through much of the summer has returned with a vengeance and sense of purpose that had abandoned them over a five or six month period.

Allison is healthy and blocking shots; he had three or four great world class saves against Atalanta. Joel Matip is fit and should start at center back next to a much improved Joe Gomez. Naby Keita is healthy and fit and should start in midfield with Jordan Henderson alongside Gini Wijnaldum.

Andrew Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have both hit the century mark for matches in a Reds shirt and will start on Sunday.

Up front, the Reds are on fire, Diogo Jota, man of the match for two consecutive ties, has given Bobby Firmino a much needed rest and just cause for looking over his shoulder as Jota challenges for his starting place (7 goals in 10 matches in all competitions).

Firmino finally got a goal to his credit and Sadio Mane and Mo Salah have been consistently threatening and scoring goals. Takumi Minamino has seen few minutes, but has looked good in his time on the pitch albeit without finding the net.

Xherdan Shaqiri has been a sparkling bright spot in attack in the opportunities he has seen. The Reds can be thankful that his transfer business during summer fell through, as he is still a strong player when healthy and Klopp insists he has plans for him as the team is rotated in a heavy and relentless autumn block of fixtures.

Ties at the Etihad are always difficult during the Pep Guardiola era and this one should not disappoint either. Expect Klopp to have the lads ready and fired up for the challenge. In his prematch presser he said that they would need a near perfect performance to bring home the three points. A draw here is not out of the question all things considered.

The team that controls tempo and wins the midfield battle will have the upper hand. I’m calling for a Liverpool victory with. 2-1 scoreline with goals from Firmino and Jota.

Questions remain to be asked of both sides and I expect the Reds to answer with their current form and win the day.

But make no mistake Pep will want this and his team will be ready to take to the challenge. We’ve seen it before. And Klopp and the lads will want to improve on a 4-1 loss to the Citizens during the summer restart.

Words by Paul Landwehr.