Chris Kirkland: “The pressure is on City”

Former goalkeeper Chris Kirkland believes Manchester City will be under more pressure than Liverpool tonight when the two meet at the Etihad Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp’s side can open up a 10-point gap between themselves and City with a win tonight, which would leave Pep Guardiola’s men with a mountain to climb if they are to retain their Premier League crown.

And Kirkland, who played for Liverpool from 2001 to 2006, thinks the City players will be feeling nervous tonight ahead of tonight’s clash.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 14, 2018: Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

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“The pressure is on City, City have got to catch Liverpool,” Kirkland told Sky Sports. “If it was the other way round I would say exactly the same, the pressure would be on Liverpool.

“A 10-point gap is a huge gap for these teams especially when Liverpool haven’t lost.

“You’d rather be sat at the top, whether it is one point or two points, you’d rather be at the top.

“I’ve watched a lot of Liverpool this season and at home they blow teams away. They’re so quick going forward, I think going forward they’re more dynamic than City with the pace they’ve got up front.

“City have got pace as well and it’s probably me being a little bit bias but the league doesn’t lie.

“Liverpool are at the top of the league because they have probably played the best football and they deserve to be where they are.

“You don’t get away with anything in this league and they are where they are but City are reigning champions, a magnificent team, and if Liverpool are even two per cent off tonight then City will win.”

Former City striker Shaun Goater, who shared the studio with Kirkland, disagreed that Liverpool are a better footballing side.

“The stats don’t lie and I think the challenge he will give the team is: ‘these were the stats last season, these are the stats this season, what are we going to do about it?'” Goater said.

“I believe we can go the remainder of this season with a certain amount of clean sheets to tidy up that record so I think that will be the motivation he will put on them and the motivation will be, it starts tonight.

“Liverpool can beat City three or four nil but likewise City can go and win three or four nil. It’s that sort of game because both teams are really that good.

“For me this is really exciting because there’s respect between the managers and both sets of players so it just mouthwatering.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com