Liverpool legend John Aldridge has highlighted the one tactic which would allow them to beat Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp’s side face the monumental task of travelling to the Etihad to face the reigning Premier League champions on Saturday. The Reds are just one point behind Pep Guardiola’s seemingly unstoppable machine, though they have won just once in their previous seven visits to City.
And ex-Liverpool striker Aldridge believes the only way his former side stand a chance of winning is by resorting to the same counter-attacking football which made them such a threat at the beginning of Klopp’s tenure.
He told the Liverpool Echo:
“I know a lot of Manchester City fans and the one thing they always worry about is Liverpool. Whilst they’ve dictated, it has only been Liverpool that have laid a glove on them so they’re not really scared of anyone else.
Liverpool legend explains the cases to win against City:
“Having said that, our form there has just not been good at all in recent seasons, and that’s a worry. You can’t go there – and I’m not questioning anyone at the club or Jurgen Klopp, I wouldn’t do that – but you can’t go there and play an attacking philosophy in my opinion.
“We’ll wait and see who Klopp picks but for me you have to go there with the mindset of what we did at Newcastle or almost did at Tottenham when you go down to 10 or nine men – all dig in and defend. That’s the only way to beat Man City – frustrate them.”
Liverpool went down to 10 men at Newcastle but mounted a stellar comeback to win the game with two late goals. They almost nicked another result away at Tottenham despite having two players sent off in September.
Aldridge added:
“Liverpool on the break are devastating, one of the best in the business at it, so if we can get back behind the ball, defend like we did at St. James’ Park and Tottenham in particular, and then unleash the three strikers then we can win the game.
“I don’t know the last time they didn’t score at home so you’ve just got to go about it the right way and outscore them. If you try to go head-to-head with them like we have done on a few occasions, you’re going to come unstuck 90% of the time. It would be a tough afternoon.”
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