Liverpool v Manchester City talking points

The two Premier League clubs clash in a hotly-awaited European tie.

Published Apr 3, 2018

Last updated Apr 3, 2018

Liverpool face Manchester City in their highly-anticipated Champions League quarter-final first leg at Anfield on Wednesday.

Here Press Association Sport looks at a few of the issues surrounding the match:

Can Klopp keep ahead of Guardiola?

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, left, has enjoyed a fine record against Pep Guardiola (Nick Potts/PA)

The case for Liverpool’s defence

Virgil van Dijk has added steel to Liverpool’s defence (Peter Byrne/PA)

Audition for Player of the Year

Manchester City v Liverpool – Premier League – Etihad Stadium — Mohamed Salah, left, and Kevin De Bruyne, right, will go head to head on Wednesday (Martin Rickett/PA)

Full-back dilemmas

Aymeric Laporte is likely to fill in at left-back for Manchester City (Martin Rickett/PA)

Aguero fitness

City are waiting on the fitness of top scorer Sergio Aguero. The Argentinian has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a knee injury. The problem was not thought to be serious but his absence at Everton on Saturday raises questions over whether Guardiola was being cautious or if he is not quite ready. Aguero has scored 30 goals this season but has never found the net at Anfield in nine appearances (including two with Atletico Madrid). That is actually a microcosm of City’s record at the ground. They have not won there since 2003 with their previous victory coming 22 years prior to that.