Sergio Aguero has identified the danger men Liverpool will funnel their main attacking threats through during their crucial clash with Manchester City today (Sunday).
The hosts know if they avoid defeat at the Etihad, they will retain the title advantage with seven games to go. Both teams displayed their quality in their respective Champions League quarter-final first leg victories on Tuesday and are in top form.
As Kevin De Bruyne scored the winner against Atletico Madrid, Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Dias all netted to see Liverpool to a 3-1 away win at Benfica. Aguero highlighted the latter two as part of a trio of attackers City need to be on guard against.
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He told Stake: “Liverpool will be looking at Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz, who has been outstanding since he joined from Porto, to make the difference.” Mane, Dias and Mo Salah have scored a combined 46 goals this season - and that’s disregarding the 20 converted by Diogo Jota.
However, the now-retired Argentine believes City will still have the edge over their title rivals because of the Etihad factor. The 33-year-old added: “Both teams are so consistent and had good wins against Watford and Burnley last week. For me, the advantage is with City because of the home advantage.
“Liverpool really need to win, so the pressure is on them. But it’s a hard one to predict and the title race is still open.
“These games are usually about moments and City will be hoping that (Phil) Foden and De Bruyne perform again.” However, while Aguero championed the gigantic significance of the match, he doesn’t believe the result is the be-all-and-end-all.
“In the league, this weekend’s match between City and Liverpool feels like a big moment but nothing will be decided yet.” he said.
“I expect it to be a close game and a tactical battle between two great managers. It’s one of the biggest games of the season for both teams and one that I would have loved to be a part of as a player. This is when the best players in the world step up.”
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