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Manchester City and Liverpool: best progressed

By Thomas Bradley Alderman

FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: GRADIENT ADDED - COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 531578890 and 899524772) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool (L) and Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola. Liverpool and Manchester City have been drawn together in the Champions League Quarter Finals of the 2017/18 season. ***LEFT IMAGE*** WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at The Hawthorns on May 15, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: GRADIENT ADDED - COMPOSITE OF TWO IMAGES - Image numbers (L) 531578890 and 899524772) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool (L) and Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola. Liverpool and Manchester City have been drawn together in the Champions League Quarter Finals of the 2017/18 season. ***LEFT IMAGE*** WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at The Hawthorns on May 15, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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England’s two most entertaining clubs qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals. Football does not always provide such justness.

Manchester City, along with Liverpool, provided the most entertaining football this season domestically. It is therefore only right for Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp’s teams take the European limelight.

With the two most impressive sides being the only English representatives remaining in the Champions League, an inevitable footballing irony gave us a fateful twist. The two Premier League giants will face one another in the quarter-finals. Liverpool will begin the tie at Anfield on the third or fourth of April. Second-legs will take place from April 10.

Certain Manchester United fans may take offence to my selection of Liverpool as the second best team. Especially since they beat them last week to take second-place in the league. However, overall for me, Liverpool have entertained more.

We all also saw a different side from what the Reds have been this campaign at Old Trafford. They did not turn up. Meanwhile, United crashed out to Sevilla in their quest for prestigious remaining silverware.

Current form

The Reds are of course the only team to beat the Citizens in the league this campaign. Klopp’s side were actually 4-1 up during the second-half in January. They eventually won 4-3, which is still a stunning victory.

However, Guardiola’s team have taken worldwide plaudits this term. The Spaniard is solidifying on and off the pitch. He has been able to find cohesiveness. Not to mention vastly improving players such as Raheem Sterling.

Exciting, entertaining offensive football has been the order of the day for the two clubs. Liverpool in particular have blown defenses away with their blisteringly fast counter-attacks. Porto are testament to this as Liverpool thrashed them 5-0 at home.

It is not just attacking prowess that the sides posses. The ability to ‘hunt in packs’ to retrieve the ball is something both employ. Guardiola has made this a staple at City, while Klopp always had his teams chase down opponents frantically.

Although his Spanish rival seemingly has utilised this tactic in a more systematically organised fashion. Two or three players, starting up top, will close down all passing options. Only then do they close-in for the tackle.

Prediction: Liverpool

I believe our top-two-teams have qualified. This is deserving progression, following what has been impressive seasons for the two of them. Fate has brought them together. We will now have conclusive evidence of our best team in 2018.

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Manchester City have won only once in 30 games at Anfield. This was a big factor in me selecting Liverpool to win the tie.

Yet Manchester City have scored 31 goals in that time, I’m not sure that firepower would be enough. If the Merseyside club can end the first-leg with a two goal margin, I believe they can hold on at the Etihad Stadium.

City have a potential title-deciding-derby against Manchester United sandwiched in between their quarter-final against Liverpool. Will that fact impair City’s focus?

In 178 games between the pair, Liverpool have scored 315 times. 87 victories along with 46 draws; Klopp can definitely get something away at City.

My advice for Guardiola is to play Gabriel Jesus. Lucky charm Jesus has an enviable record. He has endured one of the longest runs without defeat since his Premier League debut. 31 times Jesus has played and won in the league without defeat. He also scored two in the 5-0 demolition of the Reds in September’s league meeting at the Etihad.

Although it will possibly be player of the season-elect Mohamed Salah who will dominate pundit chat most frequently during build-up.

Next: Reds want to bring in talented German starlet

Can Klopp beat Guardiola again? No manager has beaten the Spanish master more than the German, five times. Liverpool have also won the Champions League on five occasions.

Naturally, statistics are just that, stats. They are a guide to form. I must say, Manchester City have been the better overall team this season. However, if Virgil van Dijk can help his teammates to continue improving defensively, my estimate could be accurate.

Please tell us your prediction in the comments.

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