Preview: Manchester City v Liverpool (Second Leg); The Wijnaldum Experiment

Second Leg of The Champions League

It was clear that the Merseyside Derby was used as a training exercise for Jurgen Klopp's men. However, Klopp has remained particularly sealed when it comes to his team news. Alberto Moreno missed the Everton match after an injury in the warmups and Andrew Robertson has a calf strain which puts massive pressure on the left-back role. Rafael Camacho, the Portuguese youngster sat on the bench against Everton, and due to Moreno's injury and Robertson's knock, will likely be on the bench against City. Further injuries tell us that Emre Can is nowhere to be found and since Jordan Henderson is suspended, Georginio Wijnaldum will likely occupy the defensive midfield role vacated by Can and Henderson, as we saw at Goodison Park on Saturday.

According to the Metro, Andy Robertson missed the Merseyside Derby with a calf injury, and according to the Liverpool Echo, both he and Salah are winning their fitness battles ahead of the trip to Manchester. With that in mind, Jurgen Klopp is likely to be able to keep an unchanged back four and a unchanged front three. However, if either Salah or Robertson miss, the right wing spot would be a toss-up between Solanke or Ings playing out of position, or the wildcard of Curtis Jones coming in to play in center midfield pushing Oxlade-Chamberlain out wide. If Andy Robertson misses, the spot comes down to either Rafa Camacho or Ragnar Klavan seeing that Moreno is not fit. Klavan occupied the role at Goodison and had a relatively simple task until about the 75 minute when Everton started to increase their pressure. Either way, injuries could present the opportunity for untried youth.

How to Win the Tie

A reminder that Liverpool just need one goal at the Etihad to make City need five goals in order to advance to the semi-finals. As it stands now on aggregate, City only need three to match Liverpool's three. Despite the temptation to go defensively minded against City, Jurgen Klopp will likely look to push City back and high press the back line of City's defense as much as possible. As Manchester United uncovered this weekend, and Liverpool previously, City are not quite as sound at the back as perhaps perceived. Yes they are impeccable going forward, but putting Nicolas Otamendi - who hasn't looked the most assured this season, Vincent Kompany, the thirty-two year old defender, perhaps not as mobile as he once was, and Aymeric Laporte who is still adjusting to physicality of English football (soccer), might see City spill a few balls or a few errand passes which the Reds need to be able to capitalize upon in order to mitigate the threat of Manchester City. While Liverpool will go into this game knowing they have a 3-0 lead, Klopp will certainly create the atmosphere of a 0-0 in order to refocus his players on a vital match in the history of Liverpool football club.

Provisional Squad

First Team: Loris Karius, Nathaniel Clyne, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum, Dejan Lovren, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Ragnar Klavan, Sadio Mané, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Simon Mignolet, Danny Ings, Dominic Solanke, Danny Ward, Ben Woodburn, Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Conor Masterson, Rafa Camacho, Kamil Grabara

Doubts: Mohamed Salah, Alberto Moreno, Andrew Robertson

Out: Joe Gomez, Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Joel Matip

Suspended: Jordan Henderson

Predicted Starting XI

Loris Karius's fantastic save from Yannick Bolasie's shot at Goodison Park shows how he is the established number one at the club now. Despite Nathanial Clyne returning from injury, Trent Alexander-Arnold's good form will likely see him start after keeping Leroy Sané quiet in the first leg. The only fit senior center halves were Lovren and van Dijk, but the Reds do have Ragnar Klavan available. Having said that, these two will likely keep their spot after a good performance versus City. Andy Robertson is a fitness scare for the trip to the Etihad on Tuesday, but he seems to be winning that fitness race ahead of the match. The "Wijnaldum Experiment" of playing Georginio Wijnaldum as a defensive midfielder was a success against Everton and with a suspended Jordan Henderson and an injured Emre Can, it will likely be the Dutchman to anchor the midfield. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a screamer against City at Anfield, he will start due to fitness as will James Milner - the former City man performed very well against his former club. Roberto Firmino was rested against Everton despite only playing 70 odd minutes against City so he will be the freshest of the front three. Sadio Mané completed all 90 minutes against City at Anfield and 74 minutes at Goodison, but the Senegalese international looks in top condition to start. Mohamed Salah was the real scare after being withdrawn against City after 52 minutes. According to sources inside the club, and former Stoke and Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon was quoted saying Salah was trying to stretch and even some light jogging in, in order to try and make himself available for the Merseyside Derby. Sources are saying he is likely to be fit.

Starting XI:

Substitutes: