Virgil van Dijk might be paying for dinner if he can get one over Man City mate
Considering it has become the defining rivalry of recent Premier League history - and considering the animosity that has developed between the two fanbases - Liverpool versus Manchester City is no powder keg fixture.
Sometimes, there appears to be a frisson of mutual dislike at boardroom level, but not, seemingly, on the pitch. For all this game’s intensity, it is very rarely a truly bad-tempered affair.
In Premier League matches between Jurgen Klopp’s team and Pep Guardiola’s men, you have to go as far back as September, 2017, for the last and only red card to have been shown. Even that one was harshly produced by Jonathan Moss after Sadio Mane’s high boot caught Ederson in the face.
In 15 Premier League meetings of these clubs since Guardiola took over at the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool players have collected a total of 29 yellow cards and City’s combined cautions comes in at 30. That is an average of only four bookings per game and, in view of what is normally at stake, that is impressively low.
It might be a reflection of how Klopp and Guardiola instil discipline into their players, it might be a reflection of referees - either consciously or subconsciously - not wanting to spoil the spectacle. And it might be something to do with the fact that a lot of these players are mates, a lot of these players and their families are friends.
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Three forty-five kick-off, get the game done, then head to Wilmslow together for a spot of dinner amongst the Cheshire set. Don’t be surprised if that is what Kevin De Bruyne and Virgil van Dijk do, the pair becoming firm friends down the years.
But for 90 minutes plus added time, they will be the two rivals likely to have the most influence on the outcome of this contest. And if the winner pays for dinner, expect it to be Van Dijk. Nothing has been more important to Liverpool’s title challenge than Van Dijk recapturing and keeping his most imperious form.
Erling Haaland tops the Premier League scoring chart with 18 but will come up against his toughest opponent at Anfield on Sunday afternoon (Kieran Galvin/Getty Images)Throw in a couple of Premier League goals and a couple of assists and you understand why Liverpool fans were horrified when Van Dijk suggested he does not know what his future holds post-Klopp. On Sunday afternoon, De Bruyne will be tasked with opening up Liverpool and releasing Erling Haaland.
The Belgian will get some joy, of that you can be sure, but Klopp can rely on Van Dijk to restrict the danger of Haaland. Trying to stop the entire City machine scoring is the toughest of challenges but Haaland will not meet a tougher opponent than Van Dijk.
Kevin de Bruyne has been directing Manchester City's attacking threat and setting up chances for Erling Haaland since returning from injury in January (Getty Images)There will be goals at Anfield but the main man could be the defender who stands tallest. And, right now, few stand as tall as Van Dijk.
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