Manchester City right-back Rico Lewis is relishing the prospect of going head-to-head against Mohamed Salah, should both players be selected for Thursday's Carabao Cup clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola recently claimed he 'doesn't have players' available to face the Reds later this week after a number of his City squad reached the latter stages of the World Cup, notably Julian Alvarez, who experienced glory with Argentina in the final on Sunday evening.
With Kyle Walker among the players yet to return to first-team training following England's exit at the hands of France, the Manchester Evening News have suggested Lewis is in line for a start. The 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Sky Blues, making five senior appearances, and could now be set for another moment to remember.
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Asked if Thursday would represent the biggest game of his career, the full-back said: "Definitely, against one of the biggest teams in the world at the moment. It would be a brilliant game to be playing in. It will be big. I’ve got no clear if I play or not, I’d love to but it’s not my choice, it’s up to the manager, whatever he picks I’ll do.
"All the way through the academy they’ve [Liverpool] always had a good team, through 15s, 16s, 18s, it’s always been quite close games and the rivalry is the same as the first team really."
Like City, Liverpool's starting XI for Thursday is not entirely straightforward to predict. Jurgen Klopp recently indicated that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson could face City, countering that Virgil van Dijk is unlikely to be present. Salah is one individual expected to feature having played no part in the World Cup, which Lewis is viewing as a beneficial opportunity.
"You’ve just got to take the challenge as it comes," said the Bury-born defender. "If I play I’ll do the best I can, that’s all I really can do. Playing against people like that [Salah] will only make you a better player, if you play well or struggle you’re going to learn regardless."
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