Lets hope you're right mate.
Under Klopp, Liverpool have a good record against the top teams, especially teams like City and Arsenal. They were well in that first game until Mane got sent off. In the second they switched off and let City score 2 very late goals when they thought they were safe.
City may beat them and I certainly hope they do. But I can't see it being with ease. Not by a long way.
That’s a bit of a revisionist take. At the Etihad they were already one down before Mane had been sent off and City had had multiple chances to go 2 up. Liverpool had got behind them a few times but City were by far the better side before and after the red card. The man advantage might have stopped Liverpool’s attacking threat but there’s still no reason why City should have run 5 in even against ten men.
At Anfield City were poor but still in the game at half time and could have been ahead after hitting the bar. What followed were moments of madness where Stones assisted Firmino with a routine clearance, a wonder finish by Mane, and a clanger from Ederson. City then showed they could unlock Liverpool easily almost levelling it. That without Silva playing.
They’ve taken 1 point from Spurs (fortuitously after being dominated in both games). 1 point from United. They could only draw with Chelsea at home. Their record against most of the top ten this season isn’t even that strong.
You should never bet against Liverpool and the devils club is easily capable of squirming past anyone but they haven’t done anything this season to suggest that they are deserving of the ridiculous build up they’ve been given. Beating Porto away is their only stand out result for a top team, the rest has been battering cannon fodder for big numbers. It’s the same team that managed to draw at home v West Brom, draw at home against us, lose at home to West Brom and lose to Swansea all in 2 months.
On paper they shouldn’t have even got here. Had they had a normal CL group (like Spurs or Chelsea) they’d probably be out, they had the easiest group potentially in CL history and then the easiest round of 16 possible.
Of course they’re capable of getting past City but this isn’t the all conquering team that the media make them out to be. Klopp has once again had extremely fortuitous circumstances this season and yet once again a more objective view would say he hasn’t taken advantage.
He is in a battle with a Spurs side not even at their own stadium and a Chelsea team in disarray for top 4 even after Arsenal have collapsed completely. He’s had favourable draws in the domestic cups and botched both. He’s had an injury free season when his rivals have carried long term injuries. He’s also had an extra year of two on most of his rival managers. Liverpool should be pushing City now for the league, and gone/going far in both cups. The fact they haven’t (again) should be viewed as a failure by Klopp except he’s got away with it because the media have convinced themselves they’ll win the CL. If they don’t it could all come crashing down for Klopp.
