Michael Owen has attempted to predict how Liverpool could line up against Liverpool this weekend. The Reds take on Manchester City in the Premier League, as the title race begins to intensify.
Liverpool claimed a 3-1 win over Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, thanks to goals for Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz. Man City beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their tie.
Diaz started the game in Liverpool’s front three, as did Mohamed Salah and Mane. However, Jurgen Klopp opted to bring off the latter two early on in the second half.
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Owen believes those substitutions, combined with Diaz playing the full 90 minutes against Benfica, means it’s unlikely that the Colombia international will start against Man City.
“The way Jurgen Klopp manages his substitutes suggests maybe not,” Owen told BT Sport, when asked if he thinks Diaz will start against Man City.
“Bringing Mo Salah and Sadio Mane off, you’d think Jota would have to play with how well he’s been playing lately and not starting today.
“Potentially not, but before the game I thought he might do.
“Based on that today, leaving him on for the full game, he (Klopp) might be thinking of the other three.”
