Club journalist Rob Pollard has taken a closer look at the game...
More to come
City’s unbeaten start leaves them fourth in an embryonic Premier League table, two points off top spot.
On the surface, that represents a solid start but Pep Guardiola has admitted his side are yet to find their optimum level.
Much like last season, City have dominated possession (an average of close to 70% over the three games) but have lacked a killer instinct in the final third.
If City can become more ruthless in the final third - and their wealth of attacking options are the best in the top flight - they will soon pose a more formidable threat.
So far, so good – but there’s plenty more to come from this City team.
Fortress Etihad
A stat which has gone somewhat unnoticed is City’s impressive home form. Of the last 23 Premier League games played at the Etihad Stadium, they have lost just once (W13, D9).
It’s that kind of form on which City’s two recent league titles were built and it seems Guardiola has managed to make the Etihad a place away sides fear.
City are currently on an 11-match unbeaten run (home and away), their best sequence under the Catalan boss.
Progress is most definitely being made.
Super Sergio
Sergio Aguero continues to break records.
The Argentine is now just seven behind Eric Brook’s club record of 177 goals and there seems little doubt he will surpass Brook and become City’s greatest-ever goalscorer before the turn of the year.
And if he can find the net against Liverpool this weekend, it will make him the Premier League’s highest non-European goalscorer, overtaking Dwight Yorke’s record of 123 goals.
Who would bet against him? He has scored in all five games he’s played against Liverpool at the Etihad since his arrival at City in 2011.
Three or four at the back?
City have gone with three at the back throughout much of pre-season and the start of the new campaign but Guardiola is likely to be weighing up his options ahead of the visit of Liverpool.
That formation sees City play with two wing-backs high up the field - an ultra-attacking approach that, when successful, can be devastating.
But Liverpool have real strength in wide areas, with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane perhaps their two most potent attacking weapons. Plenty to consider!
City need turnaround in fortunes
City haven’t beaten Liverpool in a Premier League match in five attempts, losing four and drawing one.
Not since the 3-1 win home win back in 2014 – a game that saw Stevan Jovetic bag two – have City taken three points off their Merseyside rivals.
Liverpool, it seems, have found a formula that works against City – and Guardiola, famed for his ability to alter his tactics to combat any threat, will be desperate to find a solution.
