Attacking options

Will City rue not signing a centre-forward like Harry Kane? As free-scoring as they are they probably do not quite score as many goals as their dominance warrants, with their total of 44 in the league hugely bumped up with 11 in their last two games. 

So, if anything, they have ‘under-scored’ in other games. However they do have a frightening array of attacking talent and share the goals around. In all competitions City have 18 different goalscorers this season. Liverpool have 15. 

City’s top scorer is Bernardo Silva with seven, the same as Sadio Mane, and the only other player in the top 25 is Raheem Sterling with five. By contrast Mohamed Salah has 15 goals and Diogo Jota has 10.

It means that City’s top three scorers, though, account for 38 per cent of their 65 goals; for Liverpool the ratio is 58 per cent for their 74 goals. It is clear who they are dependent on which brings us on to the forthcoming African Cup of Nations that is set to take place in Cameroon between January 9 and February 6. 

The Premier League clubs are hoping it is again called off or, at least, that their players do not fly out until after the round of fixtures on January 1 and 2 which includes Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea. They will be without Salah, Mane and Naby Keita during the tournament and depending how far their countries go; City will miss Riyad Mahrez. 

Can Liverpool cope? The burden will fall on Jota and Roberto Firmino… and one other. Again the advantage is – at least for a while – with City.

Strength in depth

Once more it would appear advantage City. Their squad, despite the lack of that out-and-out striker, is incredible. 

So much so that they can afford to sell Ferran Torres to Barcelona although that may be the precursor for another forward arriving while John Stones, so outstanding last season, is no longer an automatic starter and Raheem Sterling has had to fight for his place back in the team, like Bernardo Silva, while Guardiola can leave out Jack Grealish and Phil Foden for disciplinary reasons. 

Given the ongoing issues around Covid and availability then squad depth could be a deciding factor. Even so Liverpool have actually used more players this season – 25 to City’s 23 – and are undoubtedly stronger than they were in the last campaign when injuries hit them hard. 

Klopp has young players coming through, such as Tyler Morton, and more established stars including Thiago Alcantara finally finding their best form.

X factor

For Liverpool it is obvious: their attacking power. They are a superbly constructed, well-balanced team but do not, quite, have the unexpected element that City can bring with Kevin De Bruyne, Foden, Mahrez or Grealish. 

Because Liverpool have such a phenomenal front three, with Firmino also as back-up, they have literally front-loaded the team to supply for them. 

Beyond that, the full-backs, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, provide vital assists and chip in with goals but City have more players who can unlock defences with that single moment of magic and that could also prove decisive.

Verdict

It all points to Manchester City retaining the title although Liverpool are far better equipped than last season to push them all the way. Chelsea cannot be discounted – especially if Romelu Lukaku regains fitness and starts scoring regularly – but need to turn things around quickly.