Manchester City playing five men in midfield against Liverpool at home would be 'bonkers'

Manchester City and Liverpool are all set to fight it out at the home of the English Champions later tonight. City started off their Premier League campaign in subdued fashion, with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United giving them crucial away points and a victorious start to the season. Liverpool, on the other hand, overcame a spirited Southampton side, which, incidentally, has been the subject of many a Liverpool signing during this English summer, by a margin of 2-1.

Both teams rendered us engrossing title race last season, which saw Steven Gerrard and Liverpool slipping at the very end, to let the Citizens reign as the Premier League champions. The Merseysiders, however, improved vastly in Brendan Rodgers’ second season as Liverpool manager, whose adventurous and attacking brand of football propelled the Scousers to finish second, having finished seventh in the season before last.

Tonight’s game, albeit of immense significance, would not dent either side’s title ambitions, with 36 game weeks still to ensue. And, with both teams’ front lines loaded with pace, precision and clinical finishers, it could come down to the midfield battle to decide which side pips the other for three crucial points.

How will Man City line up?

There is this ridiculous talk of Manchester City, having captured Fernando from Porto, packing their midfield which could make sure that Liverpool don’t run away with proceedings. Against Newcastle, Fernando partnered Yaya Toure, who scored 20 goals from midfield last season, as the two midfielders in Pellegrini’s favored 4-4-2 system, with Silva and Nasri cutting in from the flanks, and the Balkan duo of Jovetic and Dzeko leading the line.

That game, an away game, implied that Fernando’s acquisition wasn’t going to impact Pellegrini’s mantra to attack, attack, and keep attacking. So there’s no reason why Liverpool’s attacking football and Rodgers’ pugnacious philosophy would force Pellegrini to go on the defensive, and thereby respect Liverpool’s strength.

If anything, the shift in personnel could be that of Fernandinho coming in place of compatriot Fernando, and playing as the sole midfield pivot, thereby leaving Toure to buccaneer forward – a role that he usually revels in. And if the reigning Premier League champions manage to go ahead in the first period, the Chilean manager could resort to deploying Fernando instead of Silva or Nasri, shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation, and push Toure into a No.10 position.

And, the two strikers – Jovetic and Dzeko – wouldn’t play side by side, as is conceived by the semblance of 4-4-2. Instead, Jovetic or Aguero would play behind Dzeko, subsequently rendering that balance in the midfield.

To pull the curtains: there’s no way Pellegrini would fear Liverpool’s attacking personnel in Sterling, Coutinho and Sturridge causing havoc for the Premier League champions. Hence, the manager of Manchester City ‘packing the midfield’ is definitely out of the equation.

Sanity please!