Jurgen Klopp will make last-minute preparations in his proposed blueprint to ensure calls for a Blue Moon are quelled.
The Liverpool boss needs little reminder of the task his side face against Manchester City. Just eight months ago, the Reds were beaten 4-1 in this game. Manchester City have won 23 of their past home games. Liverpool have not won at the Etihad Stadium since 2018, a streak that dates back to 2015 in the Premier League. The odds are not in the favor of the visiting team.
Klopp has warned the Reds that if they don’t play well, they won’t win. He also stressed that even if the visiting team plays well, such as against Pep Guardiola’s side, who have won five of the last six top-flight titles, they may not emerge victorious.
However, faith is required. There’s a reason Liverpool are second in the table. They might well have reached the top of their game had it not been for a 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, a game also shrouded in VAR controversy.
A clear game plan is needed. Many will think it’s crazy to try to match Manchester City. Pragmatism, while it may go against Klopp’s instincts, may be wise. One thing the Reds pride themselves on is their offensive prowess. Especially the speed, which few teams can’t match.
Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez are both very quick, and Luis Diaz is not far behind. Nunes comes into the matchup fresh from the April fight. That time, he could only make a 20-minute cameo. After a poor debut season at Liverpool, January signing Cody Gakpo was a more popular option than the £64m signing from Benfica.
But Nunez has made huge strides in less than a year. He is now the number nine player in the starting lineup (when given the chance) and has already scored seven goals. The 24-year-old also scored three times for Uruguay during the international break. One of them was in the 2-0 victory over Argentina, where he stepped up to complete a quick counterattack and finally sealed the victory.
After the game, Lionel Messi praised the threat Nunez provided in such situations. “Uruguay is good at rebounding and counterattacking in space,” said the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. “They have a great player like Darwin.”
In fact, Nunez also showed off his finesse at half-time during Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United in August. Nunez delivered a devastating blow to the Magpies despite being reduced to 10 men after Virgil van Dijk was sent off.
To be fair, it’s not like Guardiola and his Manchester City troops are unaware of Nunez’s major threat. They will learn that overcommitment can sometimes make them vulnerable. Sometimes, however, the best strategies are those that you can’t stop even if you know exactly what’s coming. As they say in boxing, speed wins, and Nunes could be the one to land the hammer.