Former England striker Peter Crouch admits predicting the outcome of Sunday’s heavyweight meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City is far from straightforward, describing the contest between the Premier League’s most recent champions as “a tough one” to judge.
The two sides arrive at Anfield with renewed confidence after recording victories over Newcastle in different competitions.
Liverpool steadied their league campaign with an important win at St James’ Park last weekend, while Pep Guardiola’s men halted Newcastle’s Carabao Cup defence on Wednesday to book their place in the latter stages of that tournament.
Arne Slot has had to cope with a mounting injury list in recent weeks, particularly across his back line.
The Dutch coach is now optimistic that Joe Gomez may return in time to bolster his options, yet several concerns remain.
Also, City travel to Merseyside missing Bernardo Silva, and the absences of Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones continue to limit Guardiola’s selection.
Crouch, speaking on his popular podcast, was pressed for a definitive verdict on the fixture but struggled to split the rivals.
The former Liverpool forward believes the encounter has all the ingredients to be another classic between two teams who have defined the division over the past decade.
He said: “This is always a tough one, isn’t it? I’d like to go for 2-2 because it’s been working for me and I can just see it.”
Crouch went further by suggesting who might open the scoring on Merseyside, adding: “I’m going to go with Hugo Ekitike to score first.”
Momentum, memories and Anfield factor
Liverpool head into the game encouraged by successive positive results against Qarabag and Newcastle, which have eased some of the pressure that had begun to build around Slot’s job.
However, supporters will remember that a similar sense of optimism preceded November’s trip to the Etihad Stadium, where the Reds were comprehensively beaten 3-0.
This time the setting is very different. Anfield under the lights has long been regarded as one of English football’s most intimidating venues, and Liverpool will hope the energy from the stands can unsettle a City side that has occasionally looked vulnerable on the road.
Guardiola’s team appear in better rhythm than they were during last year’s visit, yet recent slips against Manchester United and Tottenham have slowed their pursuit of leaders Arsenal.
Those dropped points have kept the title race finely balanced and ensured that every meeting between the division’s elite now carries added significance.
The scheduling of the match as the final fixture of the weekend adds another layer of intrigue. By kick-off both camps will know the results of Arsenal and the other challengers, potentially shaping how aggressively each manager approaches the contest.
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A draw might suit one side more than the other depending on the table, though neither will want to surrender ground at this stage of the campaign.
For Liverpool, even a point could represent a respectable outcome given the turbulence of their season and the defensive disruptions they have endured.
Yet circumstances can change quickly; if rivals stumble earlier in the day, the demand for victory may become unavoidable by the time the teams emerge from the tunnel at 4:30pm.
City, meanwhile, remain the benchmark for consistency under Guardiola. Even when missing key personnel, they possess the tactical discipline and technical depth to dominate possession and punish the smallest mistake.
Their recent cup success against Newcastle showed the familiar control that has delivered so many trophies.
Sunday’s meeting therefore pits two contrasting narratives against each other: a Liverpool side seeking to prove it belongs back among the title contenders, and a City outfit determined to reassert its authority after a few uncharacteristic wobbles.
