Home advantage crucial for Liverpool in battle against in-form City

The UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg is expected to a football feast given the attacking philosophies of the managers of both sides.

Mohamed Salah will look to fire Liverpool into the Champions League semifinals.

 

Liverpool will hope to utilise its home advantage well when it takes on Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Manchester City does have a slight advantage overall, however, since it plays the second leg in what has been its fortress. City has lost only one match at the Etihad Stadium since December 2016, but that defeat came against FC Basel in the round-of-16 second leg. A good result on Wednesday would be crucial if Jurgen Klopp’s side has to overcome a side on a roll.

 

The match is expected to be a football feast for fans and neutrals alike given the attacking philosophies of Klopp and Pep Guardiola and the attacking quality in both sides.

Team news

For Liverpool, Joe Gomez (ankle injury) and Emre Can (back injury) are doubtful for Wednesday’s match, while Adam Lallana (hamstring injury) and Joel Matip (thigh injury) appear to be out for the rest of this season with serious injuries.

Sergio Aguero (left knee injury), Fabian Delph (muscle injury) and John Stones (concussion) are doubtful due to injury. Benjamin Mendy (knee injury) has started training after his long-term absence but is unlikely to play a part at Anfield.

Possible line-ups

Liverpool (4-3-3): Loris Karius (GK); Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Ederson (GK); Kyle Walker, Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, Aymeric Laporte; Fernandinho; Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane; Gabriel Jesus

• This is the first-ever meeting between City and Liverpool in European competition.
• The last time City tasted victory at Anfield was back in 2003; it has lost there on each of its last five visits.
• This is City’s second Champions League quarterfinal in history, having last played at this stage in the 2015-16 season.
• Liverpool is looking to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since the 2007-08 season.