Champions League 2017/18: 5 reasons why Liverpool will beat Manchester City

The UEFA Champions League has reached its business end as the final eight teams remain. Pre-tournament favourites Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were lucky to avoid each other in three out of the four fixtures while the fourth one threw an all-English affair with Manchester City facing Liverpool.

It has been quite a while since an all-English Champions League knockout happened, a common occurrence in the 2000s. Normally, they prove to be feisty affairs and this one promises to be no different. Both the teams have respect for each other, their managers and will stick to their philosophy over two legs, which will prove to be an entertaining matchup for the neutrals.

While Pep Guardiola's Manchester City start the quarterfinals as favourites, Liverpool have every chance of winning the first leg and here are 5 reasons why.

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#5 The 'underdogs' tag

Virgil van Dijk has played a key role in Liverpool's current form

Going into the tie, there is no doubt that the Reds start as underdogs. Manchester City have been the best team in England this season and are set to win the league soon. Liverpool's squad depth is not at the same level as City either. However, these aspects also imply the pressure is on the league leaders to win.

Traditionally, Liverpool have thrived going into crunch games with the odds stacked against them. Be it the night at Istanbul in 2005 or even the more recent Europa League quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund in 2016 under Klopp himself. The Reds have surprised one and all by reaching the quarterfinals ahead of their fancied Premier League rivals in Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.

Thus, the five-time champions thrive as underdogs more often than not and a brisk start could easily mount the pressure on City further, sealing a superb win at Anfield.

#4 Liverpool know how to beat Manchester City

Salah

Speaking of Liverpool's form since October, they dished out an attacking masterclass back in January to hand champions-elect City their only loss in the Premier League this season. Guardiola's side have found answers to every question posed by the opposition until they met Klopp's Liverpool at the beginning of 2018.

Guardiola's teams generally pass their way through any situation and Liverpool's high press pressurized the likes of John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho into committing errors. Thus, Klopp's system remains the best way to beat the Citizens this season and the Manchester club will be wary of it.

Thus, the Reds already have the template to beat the almost-invincible team and this is another opportunity for Klopp's troops to prove it.

#3 Klopp's record against Pep

Klopp has the mental edge over Guardiola

It is not just Liverpool who know how to counter Pep's system, instead, Klopp holds the psychological edge over the Spaniard. In fact, the German is the only manager who has a positive head-to-head record over Guardiola (minimum 10 games) with six wins and a draw in 12 meetings between the two.

This is a telling statistic as it points out that Klopp definitely knows how to beat Pep's intricate system when no other top manager has a similar kind of edge. Such factors are key when two top teams clash and this know-how will help the Reds deal with every tactical switch the City boss throws at them.

Thus, Klopp's mental edge is one of the key reasons why Liverpool will beat Manchester City in the first leg.

#2 That front three

Liverpool's front three have been on fire this season

The departure of Philippe Coutinho in January was expected to affect the Liverpool attack as the Merseyside club did not sign a replacement in the same window. However, if anything, it helped the side stabilise defensively. This, in turn, led to the front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah combining together to devastating effect.

The trio have scored a whopping 75 goals between them, reminding of the famed MSN (Messi, Suarez, Neymar) at Barcelona not so long ago. Salah has been unstoppable this season with 37 goals so far and has been breaking goalscoring records for fun. Roberto Firmino made the no.9 mantle his own and answered the demands of signing a "20-goal striker" by already scoring 23 of them.

Finally, Mane's stuttered start to the season turned into a top season as he already bagged 15 goals. The Senegalese benefitted from Coutinho's departure as he plays in an auxiliary no.10 role at the moment. Thus, the form of these three will help Liverpool score past Ederson in City goal and win the first leg.

#1 The power of Anfield

Anfield will prove to be a major factor in the first leg

Playing at Anfield on any matchday has its own lure of playing at one of the most iconic stadiums in world football. Now, taking part in a European game at the legendary stadium brings more aura to the contest, given the Reds history in the competition. Finally, playing in a European match at Anfield at night, especially a quarterfinal, is one of the most difficult nights any opposition team can endure.

The Reds are back at this stage of the competition after a decade and this naturally makes it their biggest game in quite some time. Also, Klopp's troops have only lost once at home this season, to West Brom in the FA Cup. Thus, Anfield is slowly but surely becoming a fortress once again.

Finally, the complaint lodged by Manchester City regarding the welcome which they expect to receive can be expected to unite the fanbase even more.Thus, Anfield will be ready for its biggest game under lights in a decade and with Liverpool's 12th man in tow, the underdogs of the tie can be expected to make City's life hell to win the first leg at Anfield.