Five battles to savour at Fortress Anfield

Every season, there’s a fixture that leaps off the page and screams “must watch” — tomorrow, that day arrives, when leaders Liverpool take on title favourites Manchester City at Anfield. It’s a potentially classic contest that’s likely to have a huge say on who will be this year’s champions. TODAY EPL analyst Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) picks out the five duels on the pitch that will help decide it …

Martin Skrtel v Edin Dzeko

Error-prone, inconsistent and often lacking concentration, Martin Skrtel used to be thought of as an accident waiting to happen.

Not any more.

Since winning Brendan Rodgers’ trust earlier this season, the Slovakian has been magnificent, and Liverpool’s best defender by quite some distance.

A colossus in the air, his bravery in blocking shots and making last-ditch tackles has had Reds fans purring in admiration.

Skrtel will need to be at his best to contain in-form City striker Edin Dzeko though. He has four goals in his past three games, and will be a major threat both in the air and on the deck.

Should Liverpool give the likes of Jesus Navas, Pablo Zabaleta, Aleksander Kolorov or Samir Nasri time to deliver quality crosses, the Bosnian is in the kind of mood to punish them. Inside both penalty boxes, expect these two strong Eastern Europeans to have a physical ding-dong battle.

Steven Gerrard v David Silva

The Liverpool captain has spent his entire life dreaming of holding aloft the Premier League trophy at Anfield, and after all those years of trying, he can finally smell the silver polish.

Often, when the Reds need a big performance from their leader, he puffs out his chest and delivers. And, with a nest of creative City ants busying themselves inside the final third, Gerrard’s discipline and determination will be needed like never before.

Slippery Spaniard David Silva has been in scintillating form of late, and will be excited at the prospect of shining on another big stage.

Floating from left to right, and always near Gerrard’s central region, Silva will probe, looking to slide deft little passes into dangerous zones. He makes on average almost four goalscoring opportunities per match.

Can Gerrard keep him quiet? It’s a duel he has to win.

Jordan Henderson v Yaya Toure

There was a time, not so long ago, when Henderson felt less loved than Jose Mourinho on Merseyside, but the ugly duckling has blossomed into a wonderful midfield specimen.

Full of running, he has technique and confidence aplenty; qualities that help him thrive in this exciting Liverpool side. Playing like he is, the 23-year-old won’t be the least bit fazed by going head to head with Yaya Toure.

Henderson will hassle and harry City’s Ivorian playmaker but if anyone can handle that kind of contest, it’s Toure.

While known to go quiet on occasion and drift through matches, the beast is virtually unplayable once he awakes. If he marches forward and starts firing shots in from distance, expect Simon Mignolet to be a worried man between the sticks.

Luis Suarez v Vincent Kompany

It’s the EPL’s best striker against the division’s finest defender.

Luis Suarez loves to frighten big, lumbering centre-halves by running at them with pace from deep, so watch out for the Uruguayan taking up positions where the City captain won’t want to venture. This will ensure Vincent Kompany can’t clatter into him from behind, and give the leading scorer an opportunity to control the ball, turn, and go at him in a one against one.

While the Belgian is an outstanding player, even he’ll be nervous when this kind of situation occurs — not least because he’s also got Daniel Sturridge to think about too.

Kompany’s big strength (in addition to his athletic power) is his reading of the game. If either striker goes short to receive a pass, he will do his best to pinch it first, or knock them out of their comfort zone. He’s the best there is in this department. However, if the strikers face him up, he’ll need to rely on timing his tackles perfectly. Not an easy task.

Brendan Rodgers v Manuel Pellegrini

When he was given the job, I felt it was too big and too early for the Northern Irishman. How wrong I was! Brendan Rodgers has been the Manager of the Year, developing a Liverpool team that are consistent, confident, and brilliant to watch. They’re also tactically flexible.

Despite having dabbled with various formations all season, even Manuel Pellegrini can’t predict with any certainty which way the Reds will line up. Personally, I think Rodgers will be bold and send his players out with the intention of destroying City from the word go.

Conceding just four goals all season in the first half of away matches, City are cool customers. They also like to get on the front foot nice and early, and will try to seize territorial advantage straight away.

I like the Chilean’s laid-back style and his tete-a-tete with Rodgers is set to be a classy, well-contested affair. He’ll send his team out with self-assurance.

Verdict

If Liverpool score the first goal, I can see their adrenalin helping them to run away with this match. But the longer it goes on without them leading, the more you’d have to fancy the experience of City to come through.

I don’t know which way it will go, but I do know we won’t be able to take our eyes off it.

TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of English football. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many publications around the world. Follow him on Twitter @adrianjclarke

LIVE ON TV:

Tonight:

Sunderland v Everton (mio TV Ch102 and StarHub Ch227, 10pm)

West Brom v Tottenham (Ch103 and Ch228, 10pm)

Stoke v Newcastle (Ch104 and CH229, 10pm)

Southampton v Cardiff (Ch105 and Ch230, 10pm)

Fulham v Norwich (Ch106 and Ch231, 10pm)

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa (Ch107 and Ch232, 10pm)

FA Cup

Wigan v Arsenal (Ch111, 11.59pm)

Tomorrow:

Liverpool v Man City (Ch102 and Ch227, 8.30pm)

Swansea v Chelsea (Ch103 and Ch228, 10pm)

FA Cup

Hull v Sheffield Ch111, 11pm)