Manchester City will welcome Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa to the Etihad Stadium to play their final Premier League game of the season tomorrow (May 22). All eyes will be on the Villans to see if they can stop the Cityzens from winning the league title.
BBC pundit Martin Keown believes they have already got a hint from Jurgen Klopp on how to beat Pep Guardiola's men.
Liverpool will be hoping Gerrard and his men can do the Reds a favor by avoiding defeat against Pep Guardiola's charges so they can edge in the title race. Martin Keown reckons it wouldn't be a ride in the park for any team to get points off Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Keown told the Daily Mail, via (Liverpool Echo):
"You are guaranteed to suffer without the ball when facing City. The visitors who left the Etihad with the best results were determined, strong in their individual duels, defended deep as if their lives depended on it and hit City on the break at pace."
"On Sunday, it’s Villa’s turn to try to stop City, with one of Liverpool’s favourite sons in Steven Gerrard hoping he can do his former club the ultimate favour by taking points off City."
The BBC pundit then highlighted how Jurgen Klopp could have technically given Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa some hints on how to beat Manchester City. He continued:
"City’s 4-3-3 system is similar to Liverpool’s in many ways and, after overcoming Villa earlier this month, perhaps Jurgen Klopp was sending a coded message to Gerrard in his post-match interview. More than once, Klopp pointed out how Villa’s diamond shape had weaknesses which the Reds exploited."
"It was as if he was highlighting those weak spots in readiness for the next time Gerrard faces a 4-3-3 system. That will come on Sunday in the shape of City. If Villa adopt this same system, City, who arguably pass the ball even better than Liverpool, would establish control much earlier in the game."
The Englishman added:
"It will be interesting to see if Gerrard takes Klopp’s comments on board and makes some sort of tactical switch to combat City’s wide men."
How Manchester City and Aston Villa have fared against each other this season
The two sides have faced each other only once this season, which was in the Premier League on December 1. Manchester City came out on top with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Villa Park. Ollie Watkins found the back of the net for the Aston Villa while Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias both scored for City.
With everything to play for tomorrow, fans should expect to see another intense clash between the two sides.
Zere8
0
Why this people so hate Manchester city. some time after hearing and reading this unending noise about Aston Villa upsetting City to pave way for Liverpool to win the league, I ask myself why don't they also talk about Liverpool Vs Wolverhampton game. Liverpool might even lost to Wolverhampton tomorrow and City draw with Aston Villa.
every club play for a win, it is nature. the media just made the sub plot and drama to arouse the fans. did villa made it easy for liverpool when they faced each other? No. which team wanted to think of losing even before it started? No. so like gerrard said, they play for the fans even it is not vs city, they also wanted to win as many as possible. you never hope to play and lose. So, set the sub plot aside, it is just another game that everyone setup to win or get the best result. Even for wolves, they wont make it easy for liverpool.
zueaelmpyz
0
Why the speculations when you already know there have to be a result. its not hate it a competition brother[Comeon]
lawalidris
3
Why this people so hate Manchester city. some time after hearing and reading this unending noise about Aston Villa upsetting City to pave way for Liverpool to win the league, I ask myself why don't they also talk about Liverpool Vs Wolverhampton game. Liverpool might even lost to Wolverhampton tomorrow and City draw with Aston Villa.
malone95
1
So will Villans become Villians?