Well, Premier League games don’t get much bigger than Liverpool v Man City, and Premier League pundits don’t get much bigger than Peter Crouch – in every sense.
With Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side struggling for once, Liverpool are unlikely to ever have a better chance any time soon to open up a possibly unassailable gap over their great rivals, and Crouchy’s made his calls on the big game.
And this week, to mark the launch of 2 or more and 3 or more markets being covered by our smashing Super Sub offer, he’s gone for four of the new markets in his Bet Builder…
Erling Haaland to have 3 or more shots
Mo Salah to have 3 or more shots
Cody Gakpo to have 2 or more shots
Ryan Gravenberch to commit 2 or more fouls
WHEN: Sunday, December 1, 4pm
WHERE: Anfield, Liverpool
TV: Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League
Liverpool made a real statement with their win over Madrid. There’s been a bit of talk about the fixtures they’ve had, people saying they’ve had a pretty easy time of it – that’s the only real criticism people could have of them this season.
Real Madrid though are European champions, one of the top side in Europe, and they’ve had a convincing win against them now.
Things are going so well at Liverpool at the moment they must be so full of confidence going into another huge game against Man City.
We’ll really see where they are in this – they could go 11 points clear of City with a win! Even this early, that feels too much to pull back with the standards that have been set in recent years.
Of course, City could hit form suddenly and win every game after it – that is possible – but I don’t see Liverpool losing an 11-point lead if they beat City now.
And Manchester City at the moment can’t buy a win.
It’s unprecedented what’s happening to them.
Obviously the Tottenham game would have been disappointing, but then Feyenoord in the midweek – being 3-0 up, you would think there’s no other team in world football better at taking the sting out of the game and keeping the ball.
One lapse of concentration from the keeper and they just spiraled out of control. When you’re in a rut like they are, thing just seem to keep hitting you.
So, in some ways, this game on Sunday might be a good one to have next because Liverpool look like favourites going into it, and City might relish that. Though the way both teams are playing, I don’t see anything other than a Liverpool win.
I’ve also been surprised by the timing of Guardiola signing his new contract – it feels like he deserves a break, and especially when you se him after the game on Tuesday night.
The job he’s done has been incredible but it can’t be healthy to be at the top for that long. He obviously feels he can carry on, but when you think about the levels he’s got to with this team, the pressure he’s putting himself under is extraordinary.
But it’s been a combination of things that have gone wrong for City this season.
It looks like they are getting quite a few big players back fit now or soon – Ruben Dias, Jon Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, for instance – and they are without Rodri for the rest of the season.
And Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley both picked up knocks that could mean they are out for Liverpool – Trent’s a more than adequate replacement he’s just working his way back too.
Mo Salah to have 3 shots
We’ve seen Mo Salah’s contract situation become a big talking point this week too. He’s irreplaceable for me. He’s easily top-three in the Premier League for every season he’s played for me. It’s outrageous.
And when he took his shirt off the other day, there’s no sign of him slowing down or losing his conditioning even at 32, is there? He looks like a machine, he trains right and guarantees you goals.
Liverpool aren’t going to be held to ransom, obviously, and I don’t know the exact finances of the deal, but you give him what he wants, for me. I don’t think there’s many players I would swap for Mo Salah right now.
And he’ll play a big role on Sunday. I would expect him to have at least 3 shots in the game.
Cody Gakpo to have 2 shots
Cody Gakpo’s been a revelation this season. He’s improved on last year and that’s another credit to Arne Slot.
He’ll be a handful for City’s defence and 2 shots at least looks reasonable.
Erling Haaland to have 3 shots
City Might be having poor results but Haaland has been scoring still and will obviously be a big threat on Sunday.
He’ll be helped if Liverpool are short of a few at the back and 3 shots is not a lot to expect from the Norwegian.
Ryan Gravenberch to commit 2 or more fouls.
In the role he plays he’s always going to give up a foul or two and in a game like this he should be busy.
Peter Crouch’s Liverpool v Man City Bet Builder tips
Erling Haaland to have 3 or more shots
Mo Salah to have 3 or more shots
Cody Gakpo to have 2 or more shots
Ryan Gravenberch to commit 2 or more fouls
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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