Liverpool and Manchester City are separated by just a single point at the top of the Premier League table, meaning that the eagerly anticipated clash between the two at the Etihad this Sunday could well decide the title.
Liverpool will perhaps feel they’re in the better position to go all out in the fixture after their 3-1 victory away to Benfica on Tuesday night means they’re now favourites to progress into the Champions semi-final, with the second leg coming at Anfield on Wednesday.
The task is less simple for City though who only managed a slender 1-0 Champions League victory at home to Atletico Madrid on the same evening, meaning there’s still all to play for in the return leg in Madrid. This could well impact Pep Guardiola’s approach and indeed team selection.
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City of course have their own advantages to point to coming into the game. They’re a point better off and, on paper at least, do look to have the easier run of remaining fixtures. However comments made by Guardiola last weekend do suggest he’s concerned about one big advantage Liverpool hold over his side, and that’s goals.
As things stand, City have conceded two goals fewer than the Reds, yet Jurgen Klopp’s men boast seven more goals scored, handing them a positive goal difference of five over the Manchester club. The Reds are actually topping most of the division’s attacking metrics beyond just goals scored, also leading the way in terms of shots attempted and having the highest combined xG.
This may seem insignificant in comparison to points accumulated, yet in a title race as tight as this one, goal difference could go on to play a decisive role in who will be crowned champions. And that’s something Guardiola looks to be all too aware of.
Following his side's 2-0 victory away to Burnley last weekend, Guardiola said: “We had two or three chances to score and kill the game and get more for our goal difference against Liverpool, but after an international break it is always uncertain how the players will come back”. Guardiola will be fearing that this difference in terms of goals could come back to haunt his side come to the end of May.
