Liverpool will take on Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday at Anfield.
While many have called it a potential title decider, that’s hardly the case, especially after Arsenal jumped to the top of the table last night by beating Brentford.
However, it is a massive game for both teams. If Liverpool win at Anfield, they will go four points clear of City, whereas a draw will take them to second in the table, level on points with Arsenal.
Danny Murphy has suggested that Liverpool must stop Manchester City midfielder Rodri. City have never lost with Rodri and that stretches to 60 games, which is a “mind-blowing” statistic.
The popular football pundit thinks that Wataru Endo shouldn’t be used to do the job of nullifying Rodri because that would force him to play further up the pitch. He thinks Dominik Szoboszlai is the perfect man for this job.
The 23-year-old scored from the bench against Sparta Prague in the midweek and should be fit enough to start against Manchester City.
What Danny Murphy said about Dominik Szoboszlai
“All the evidence suggests when Rodri is allowed to run the game, City don’t lose. He’s unbeaten in his last 60 games for the club — a mind-blowing statistic,” wrote Murphy for The Daily Mail (10 March, page 95).
“Nullifying Rodri is a hugely difficult ask and Klopp will point to the firepower in his own team to question why he should adapt for the opposition.
“I also think Liverpool have someone in their ranks who can do the job. Dominik Szoboszlai has the athleticism to try to do it and it would help Liverpool get a result.
“If Wataru Endo was deployed to push up onto Rodri, it would take him into an area of the pitch he doesn’t normally play. So it would be Szoboszlai for me.”
Liverpool will play their own game
Jurgen Klopp is not the type of manager who will be focussed on stopping City. The Reds have a chance to move to the top of the league, and his sole focus will be to pick up all three points.
Liverpool have played some outstanding games against City at Anfield in recent years, and they will be looking to play their natural game.
Mohamed Salah and Szoboszlai are fit again, and they are likely to start, which is a massive boost for the club. Both teams are in tremendous form at the moment, and it could boil down to moments of individual brilliance to make the difference.
Rodri has been outstanding for Man City, and keeping him quiet would be a herculean task. Szoboszlai is definitely capable of doing that.
