Jurgen Klopp and his side will be keen to overturn the defeat from Sunday when City visit Anfield in the return of Premier League action.
How do Liverpool fans feel ahead of the clash? We spoke to thisisanfield.com (@thisisanfield) to get some insights ahead of the game...
First of all, commiserations after Sunday, how do you feel Liverpool will react on Wednesday?
Hopefully we’ll react the same way we did after losing the FA Cup final to Chelsea in 2012, when they lost 4-1 at Anfield three days later! I can’t see that happening though as City of course need a win more than us, in order to stay in the hunt for the title. It promises to be an intriguing game as both managers will have to make changes after going into extra time on Sunday.
As a Liverpool fan how do you feel Jurgen Klopp has settled in and what can be achieved for the rest of the season?
Klopp has settled in very well. His passion and charisma have charmed the fans. Results aren’t great, but he has inherited a very unbalanced squad, with players who have struggled for consistency long before Klopp arrived at the club. Fans are very excited to see what he can do with a full summer in charge.
How will the cup final affect this game?
Mostly it will affect the team selections of each. Lucas has seemingly picked up an injury on Sunday, I doubt Kolo Toure can recover quick enough, Daniel Sturridge is unlikely to be risked and Jordan Henderson is struggling to play two games in three days with his heel injury.
It could though provide a huge opportunity for some of Liverpool’s squad players to impress. Joe Allen will perhaps start, while Divock Origi has deserved a start after an impressive cameo at Wembley.
Phillipe Coutinho has a great scoring record against City in recent games, how important is the Brazilian to your side?
Very. He’s the key player at the moment and he’s arrived back from injury looking like he benefited from the time out of the side, as before that his form had dipped. There’s a debate over what his best position is though and some would prefer to see him more central.
Hopefully he has another goal against City in his locker on Wednesday!
Where do you think City are most vulnerable?
Tough question. If Kompany doesn’t start, then at centre-back. I know he’s been out for a while and played 120 minutes on Sunday so hopefully he isn’t risked... Yaya Toure was struggling to walk in extra time so without him we could prosper more in midfield.
Who has been the stand out performer for Liverpool so far this campaign?
There hasn’t really been a stand out performer this season, or last. That’s the problem. The players are far too inconsistent. Coutinho and Firmino have impressed in flurries, but nobody truly stands out - well, not for positive reasons!
Where will the key battle take place on Wednesday?
Possibly out wide. Should Sterling start he’ll no doubt have a point to prove. Nathaniel Clyne coped with him well on Sunday but he may not be risked and instead Jon Flanagan could get his first start in the league since May 2014. Now that would be an interesting head-to-head. On the other side, it will be interesting to see whether Alberto Moreno starts, who was undone on more than one occasion on Sunday.
If you had to pick a former Red to come into the current side who would it be?
From recent history; take your pick from Sami Hyypia, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard or the good Fernando Torres. That 2008/09 squad had a proper spine of a team, which is what this current squad lacks.
Right now, I’d go for Hyypia - a commanding centre-back who organises the defence. Gerard Houllier signed him in 1999 and also acquired a centre-back partner for him, a new goalkeeper, a new holding midfielder and a new forward. Not many would be disappointed if history repeated this summer in that sense.
Potential XI
Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Smith, Can, Allen, Milner, Lallana, Firmino, Origi.
Score Prediction
2-2
