Man City should outscore Liverpool to keep up home win trend
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | November 20, 2015
Manchester City v Liverpool
- Premier League
- Saturday, November 21st
- Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
- Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Live on Sky Sports 1
City rampant at home, but letting in odd goal
The home team has won, but conceded in so doing in the last four head-to-heads between Manchester City and Liverpool ahead of their Saturday Night Football fixture.
Coral offer an enhanced 5/2 price (from 9/4) on this trend continuing with Man City value for victory and both teams being on target, especially as Manuel Pellegrini’s men doing that in each of their previous five at the Etihad.
Returning forwards key for both teams
Awesome Aguero is a superb 7/2 to score first (or last) in this latest encounter, though Kop boss Jurgen Klopp may be able to unleash Daniel Sturridge against his former club here, despite downplaying this option.
“He is as fit as he can be after a long break,” Klopp said. “Of course he is not at 100 per cent and we have to see, but because he is that skilled maybe we should [include him]. As a striker sometimes five minutes are enough.”
Injuries have plagued the England forward, but a tasty 2/1 price says Sturridge can make a scoring return anytime on his old stomping ground.
Sterling to see you
Punters could be forgiven for thinking this might be the Raheem Sterling show, though.
Unlike Sturridge, Sterling’s switch from Anfield to the Etihad was a direct one and he faces his ex-teammates for the first time here. He features in a sensational 7/2 matchday special wincast and customers can pile a maximum of £20 on this boosted price bet.
Part of an attack-minded supporting cast behind Wilfired Bony or Aguero, which also includes in-form Belgium creative force Kevin De Bruyne, Sterling can show Liverpool what they’re missing here.
Coutinho could be smart bet
Punters should not lose sight of the fact, however, that behind these former club subplots Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho has terrific current form and in this fixture previously.
He’s struck three times in his last four against Man City, while the Reds attacking midfielder has three in as many matches before the international break.
Coutinho’s tasty 10/3 anytime odds are well worth taking here, then, and he’s also a 9/1 shot to net last.
Goals galore a distinct possibility
With an average of just under four goals per game in their last seven encounters, the match total being over 3.5 is a sweet 7/4 price.
Sceptical punters should consider how the 0-0 at Aston Villa, who were under new management in Remi Garde for the first time, was a rare blip.
Man City have covered the over 3.5 goals bet in four of their seven games prior to that profligate show in the West Midlands, and three of those came on home turf which they take to again against Liverpool.
Related
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