Match Preview: Liverpool vs Man City on 3/10/2021
Follow all the action live as Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield in what promises to be a thrilling Premier League fixture.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in six games and sat top of the table heading into the weekend, however, the head coach insisted that they are only the first steps in a long and hard-fought race to regain the title. “I’m not too much interested in a start or whatever, I just want to play the best season we can play,” he said. “For that, I don’t draw any line under a specific part of the season and say then, ‘So far, so good.’ It is so far, so good but just a few games in, so let’s carry on, please.” Nevertheless, the Reds are riding a wave of momentum, having thrashed Porto 5-1 in the Champions League, even if they will have to make do without Trent Alexander-Arnold this afternoon.
Liverpool boast a great record against Pep Guardiola’s side at Anfield and, while City enjoyed a narrow victory over title rivals Chelsea last weekend, a 2-0 defeat against PSG in midweek drained some of the champions’ momentum. They remain favourites to defend their Premier League crown, though, having recovered well from their opening day defeat against Tottenham, with four wins out of their last five. Ahead of today’s match, Guardiola credited Klopp’s management as one of the reasons for his own success. “Jurgen Klopp’s teams helped me to be a better manager,” he said. “He put me on another level; to think about it, to prove myself, to be a better manager. That is the reason why I am still in this business.” Follow all the latest updates below:
Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa
81 mins: Hojbjerg wins the ball back well from Luiz in midfield before Kane slips in Son on the right. The forward gets to the byline but his pull-back evades everyone.
Spurs continue to come forward as Lo Celso curls a left-footed effort wide of goal.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:41
Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa
79 mins: Villa come down the other end and force a corner, which Spurs scramble clear at the front post.
Dean Smith makes his second change as Bertrand Traore replaces Hause.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:39
Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa
78 mins: Kane stands up Konsa on the edge before cutting onto his right and firing a shot back across goal. It is dragged just wide of the post as the striker looks for his first Premier League goal of the season.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:38
Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa
76 mins: Save! Targett’s volleyed cross finds Ings in the box, but the ball doesn’t sit up for the striker on his right and he has to cut inside onto his left. In the end his shot is weak and comfortably saved by Lloris.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:37
Liverpool vs Man City confirmed line-ups
Teams confirmed for this afternoon’s big game:
LIV – Alisson; Milner, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Jota, Mane
MCI – Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Jesus, Foden, Grealish
No Trent Alexander-Arnold still for Liverpool, and Diogo Jota remains in the side over Roberto Firmino. City start Gabriel Jesus in attack, with Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres and Riyad Mahrez among those missing out.
Karl Matchett3 October 2021 15:35
Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa
73 mins: Great tackle from Dier. Ings slipped in Watkins inside the box but the Spurs defender got back to make the challenge.
Nuno then makes his first change of the afternoon as Lo Celso replaces Ndombele in the Spurs midfield.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:33
Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa
“You’re not singing anymore” is the chant from the home fans.
There were less than three minutes between the two goals.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:31
GOAL! Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa (LUCAS 70’)
An immediate response from Tottenham! Son is again the provider, this time down the left, after he beat Kortney Hause and squared for Lucas to tap in at the back post. Brilliant from Son.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:27
Tottenham 1-1 Aston Villa
Emi Buendia is on for the visitors, replacing Ramsey.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:27
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Aston Villa (WATKINS 67’)
Villa are level! The were starting to increase the pressure and find the equaliser as he tucks home Targett’s cross at the near post. It was good refereeing from Chris Kavanagh after he played advantage on a foul on Ramsey. Ings slipped in Targett who drilled the ball across the face and Watkins got between Dier and Lloris to score his first of the season.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 15:24