The atmosphere at Anfield has been ‘blown of out all proportion’ a Man City fan has warned Liverpool fans ahead of the Blues’ crunch Champions League tie. Pep Guardiola takes his City team to Merseyside in the first-leg of the European last-eight tie tonight. Much of the build-up has focused on the noise that will be generated before outside beforehand - and inside the stadium - and the effect it may have on City’s stars. But the game will be decided on the pitch and not in the stands, according to one Blues fan. In a Q&A with our sister paper the Liverpool Echo , David Mooney from the Blue Moon Podcast said issue of crowd noise had been overblown - and that City’s players are well used to hostile receptions. The Blues won 4-2 at the notorious San Paolo stadium in Naples earlier this season. David also said he believes Pep may leave former Liverpool star Raheem Sterling on the bench tonight, but backed the Blues to come out on top over the two … [Read more...] about Man City fan’s warning ahead of Champions League game
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Why De Bruyne reckons all the pressure is on Man City ahead of Liverpool game
Kevin De Bruyne insists the pressure is on Manchester City to win the all-English Champions League showdown. Premier League leaders City host Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final at Anfield on Wednesday night. City midfielder De Bruyne said: “The pressure’s been on us since I arrived, every year we were the favourites, at the beginning of the year, everyone told us we were going to win the league and it doesn’t change that much. “If you look at the season until now, it’s maybe normal that we are the favourites but it’s a different competition, it’s a cup game and from this moment on everybody is strong. So maybe it’s maybe 50-50.” De Bruyne also warned that City must learn from the seven goal thriller in January when Liverpool ended Pep Guardiola’s unbeaten charge towards the Premier League title. He added: “We had a ten minute spell where we lost control of the game, the game was 50-50 at … [Read more...] about Why De Bruyne reckons all the pressure is on Man City ahead of Liverpool game
How Sterling has proven himself to become one of Man City’s key men
The week ahead isn’t just the biggest for Manchester City since Pep Guardiola arrived but the biggest since Sheikh Mansour got his hands on the club. I know they have won a couple of Premier League titles since the Abu Dhabi crew walked into the Etihad in September 2008. And I know a lot of people will say that, in terms of ‘bigness’, the week Sergio ‘Aguerooo’ led City to the first of them in May 2012 won’t be topped. But if results go their way between now and next Tuesday then the next eight days will supersede any that have gone before them over the last 10 years in terms of importance because of the messages City will be sending to both their domestic and European rivals. Winning the title against Manchester United at home on Saturday would be frustrating enough for the red half of the city. But should Pep Guardiola’s men wipe the floor with Jose Mourinho’s then they could well set the tone for the next two or three seasons. And … [Read more...] about How Sterling has proven himself to become one of Man City’s key men
How Klopp can mastermind Man City’s Champions League demise
The size of the challenge facing Liverpool is immense. The size of the occasion is mouthwatering. It’s Jurgen Klopp v Pep Guardiola. It’s Mohamed Salah v Kevin de Bruyne. The world will be watching. Manchester City stand between the Reds and their first Champions League semi-final for a decade. Guardiola’s side are on the brink of sealing the Premier League crown and are the bookies’ favourite to clinch European glory too. After Liverpool dug deep to grind out a scrappy win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, City delivered an attacking masterclass across Stanley Park to rout Everton. Read More Liverpool vs Man City This is two teams separated by an eye-watering 18 points in the Premier League table, but there should be no fear, no inferiority complex when Liverpool walk out at Anfield for Wednesday night’s first leg. City are special but they are not infallible. Liverpool have proved that once this season and they can do it again. But for the Reds to march … [Read more...] about How Klopp can mastermind Man City’s Champions League demise
Joe Bennett reveals the impact of abuse after Man City tackle
Cardiff City star Joe Bennett admitted dealing with his the fall-out from his tackle on Manchester City's Leroy Sane was "difficult". The left back was subject to intense media scrutiny following Cardiff's 2-0 FA Cup defeat for a rash challenge on Germany starlet Sane, who was sidelined for three weeks with ankle ligament damage. As well as facing up to abuse on social media , Bennett was also disciplined by boss Neil Warnock and faced a fight to win his place back in the Bluebirds line up. But he says he has drawn a line under the incident, since enjoying a good spell of form helping Cardiff to win seven successive games to put them on in the driving seat for automatic promotion. "It was difficult to deal with (because of) the magnitude of the team we were playing," said Bennett on the Man City tackle. "Any other team it probably wouldn’t have been on TV. The fact it was on TV and everyone saw it, meant it got blown out of all proportion. "I did catch him but I didn't mean to. … [Read more...] about Joe Bennett reveals the impact of abuse after Man City tackle