Manchester City returns to competitive action on Thursday in a big clash against Jurgen Klopp’s men
Manchester City’s return to competitive action on Thursday will be welcomed by all those who are not Pep Guardiola and his backroom staff.
While the festive period is a joyous time for football and supporters, some sympathy can still be mustered for Guardiola. The World Cup final will be a mere four days ago when City are expected to field a side that can compete against Liverpool.
Guardiola has complained that he ‘does not have the players’ available to him for Thursday’s clash but did also mention that the vast majority of his World Cup stars will be returning to Manchester this week. At this stage, it is unclear whether their returns will mean they are able to feature this midweek.
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However, assuming those who return are able to play, here are four players who MEN Sport thinks to need to play against Jurgen Klopp’s side in the Carabao Cup.
Kalvin Phillips
The former Leeds United man returned from injury in the previous round of the League Cup and excelled against Chelsea. Phillips’ performance that night managed to persuade Gareth Southgate to select the defensive midfielder for Qatar.
Barring a couple of substitute appearances, the 27-year-old was sparingly used in the Middle East which was a shame for the City man. You would imagine that Phillips will have undergone rigorous training whilst with the England camp though and you would hope that he is fresh enough to feature in the midfield this week.
Extra minutes will only aid Phillips at this point and in a competition of arguably lesser importance, it seems only right to blood the Englishman further as he aims to break into the starting XI permanently.
Ederson
Like Phillips, City’s number one had to settle for a watching brief during much of the World Cup. The Brazilian’s one appearance in the defeat to Cameroon will be a memory he wishes to forget and Thursday’s clash should help with that.
Guardiola cannot afford to throw Ederson into the Premier League without at least one warm-up match underneath his belt after being on the sidelines for the majority of the World Cup. It may be harsh on Stefan Ortega who impressed in the victory over Chelsea, however, if City wants their Brazilian to be on top form when he faces Leeds, he needs to start against Liverpool.
Kevin De Bruyne
City fans watching the World Cup in Qatar and at home would be forgiven for weeping after seeing how poorly De Bruyne performed for Belgium. The Blues supporters know that the 31-year-old has not suddenly lost his footballing ability but to see him play in such a disjointed Red Devils side was frustrating.
De Bruyne said himself during the tournament that the difference between playing for City and his national side is stark. His appearance against Girona was much more like what we have become accustomed to and has potentially pre-empted him from featuring against Liverpool.
A match-winning performance like we know he is capable of against Klopp’s outfit would banish any World Cup hangover that may have still been lurking.
Ilkay Gundogan
Gundogan’s time in Qatar was perhaps not as jarring to watch as De Bruyne’s was. While his domestic teammate was noticeably off the pace, City’s captain played as well as his German team allowed.
Knocked out by a shock Japan victory over Spain, Gundogan will have returned to Manchester perhaps harboring the same disappointment as De Bruyne. However, his performance against Girona was solid in the Academy Stadium.
Familiarity in the center of the Blues’ midfield could be the key to beating Liverpool especially if other areas are weaker than usual. Thus the skipper must start against the Merseyside club on Thursday if available.
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