"With the players Liverpool have got out, Manchester City have got to win this game. If they don't, they'll look at it as a major opportunity lost" - Watch Man City vs Liverpool live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm
Sunday 8 November 2020 12:48, UK
Paul Merson insists Manchester City must beat Liverpool on Super Sunday for the psychological gain, given the injuries Jurgen Klopp's side have.
Both Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho are out for Liverpool as they head to the Etihad on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League, and Merson insists there may not be a better time to face the champions.
Here, Merson explains why Liverpool are still favourites for the Premier League title, and that opening up an eight-point gap, despite City's game in hand, may be too big to chase down.
"With the players Liverpool have got out, Manchester City have got to win this game. If they don't, they'll look at it as a major opportunity lost.
"It's an absolute must for them to win, not just for the three points, but psychologically. If Liverpool win this game and they've got the players of the calibre they have out, that's not good for Manchester City. Then Liverpool will go clear at the top again.
"Everybody's telling me how open the league is this year, but who's top? It'd be different if Liverpool were in Manchester United's position. But these two haven't even played each other yet!
"Even with City's game in hand, Liverpool going eight points clear would be massive. That's the gap they gained this time last year when they beat City 3-1 at Anfield. And that was it, wasn't it?"
"Manchester City get the job done. They're tighter at the back, I don't know if he's trying to make it a bit like this for European games, for the Champions League. When they play in the Premier League they normally open the game up, and it's like we're a better team than you, and may win 5-2, 6-1.
"I think they're trying to play a European style, so when they go into the Champions League he's not saying: 'Oh, turn the tap off, we've got to be a bit tighter'. Watching them against Sheffield United, it looked like they were trying to play tighter.
"I think that's the way they're playing - happy with 1-0s, keeping it tight - I might be wrong but that's the way I'm seeing it. They can play in the Premier League and win 7-1 and 6-2, and it's very open. And now, all of a sudden they look solid.
"It's hard to turn that tight style on and off like a tap. You can't just say: 'We'll defend this week, because we're playing a tough game in the Champions League, but when we play a lesser team at the weekend, we'll open the game up and have a game'. They get found out, they get done."
Jamie Carragher on the Pitch to Post Preview podcast:
"I still can't envisage anyone besides Liverpool or Man City winning the league. I just can't see that. I know Tottenham have started really well and I hope they have a great season and there are more challengers, but I just can't see anybody else lifting that league title besides the big two of the last few years.
"I'd been very strong putting Liverpool as favourites for the title, but for the injury to Virgil van Dijk - not just one of Liverpool's top players but one of the top players in the Premier League. And if something similar would have happened to, say, Kevin De Bruyne for Man City, who is their top man, I think you'd say the same for City. I think it makes for an even more interesting race, no doubt about that."
Jamie Carragher and Steve Bruce are among the guests on this week's Pitch to Post Preview Podcast.
Sky Sports pundit Carragher joins Peter Smith and Adam Bate to look ahead to the big Super Sunday clash between Man City and Liverpool, while Steve Bruce is on the line to discuss Newcastle's Friday Night Football trip to Southampton and the form of star striker Callum Wilson.
Also on the show, we analyse how Chelsea have turned around their defensive problems, how Leicester have coped with injury problems, and Adam makes a bold Pitch.
Listen to the Sky Sports Pitch to Post Podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
