Liverpool’s tiredness could play into Manchester City’s hands, Newcastle should throw caution to the wind and Harry Winks must take his Tottenham chance“It’s a game of small margins,” said Vincent Kompany of the season’s standout fixture to date between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. If the teams are as closely matched in quality as Kompany thinks then he can only have been heartened by the weary look of many of Liverpool’s players as they struggled with Napoli’s intensity in their 1-0 defeat on Wednesday. Jürgen Klopp’s midfielders create chances by harassing opponents out of possession and shuffling the ball forwards quickly but in Naples they looked heavy-legged. Liverpool’s past three fixtures read: Chelsea, Chelsea, Napoli; high-profile, energy-sapping games. City, meanwhile, have played Oxford, Brighton and Hoffenheim, and though they were made to work hard in Germany, they have not had to dig as deep as Liverpool’s players. If they are not 100% fit, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum (Liverpool’s likely midfield starters if there is a lingering concern over Naby Keïta) do not have an awful lot of guile to lean on. Unless the Melwood ice-baths are particularly effective, Liverpool’s most pressing concern will be how to reach the supreme zesty levels that helped them defeat City three times last season. GBManchester City to take different route to Anfield after bus attackNo wonder Manchester United are struggling under the Glazers Related: Benítez and Newcastle players expect Ashley to spend in January window Pochettino rues early error but salutes ‘unbelievable’ MessiWest Ham compound Manchester United gloomGiroud may look the part but Chelsea would welcome a goal or twoGunn the shootout hero as Southampton send Everton out Related: Remembering Michael Jackson's peculiar relationship with football Sancho, Mount and Maddison get first England call-ups from SouthgateMessi magic and the Aston Villa cabbage quandary – Football WeeklyMatch report: Bournemouth 2-1 Crystal Palace Continue readingreadfullarticle
