One of Liverpool’s biggest problems recently has been that they throw a lot of players forward and don’t have the players to cover if they lose the ball. Manchester City have the ability to go from defence to attack in an instant and Gakpo’s job in transition is to win the ball straight back which often sees him commit fouls.

The opposition striker has committed a foul 7 times in City’s last 6 matches and Gakpo will be all over City’s back line to stop them getting on the counter. Gakpo commits 1.64 fouls per 90 and Salah started up top in Gakpo’s role last time the teams played in the league and committed a foul. Gakpo is very good value for a foul in a match where he will be forced into challenges he usually wouldn’t have to make.

Manuel Akanji has looked very settled since joining Manchester City and goes under the radar as one of City’s best defenders right now, he is extremely good in possession. In the last match between the teams, Akanji committed 3 fouls and has committed 0.94 fouls per 90 over the course of the season.

Akanji has committed a foul in 6 of his last 8 matches for club and country, with City’s new formation he is committing a lot more fouls than earlier in the season. The 3 at the back with high wingers means City’s defence can be left exposed and against pacey wingers like Salah and Nunez, I can see Akanji struggling to deal with them and therefore having to commit at least 1 foul in this game.

Grealish is known for how good he is at drawing fouls, but he also commits a lot of fouls. Grealish will have his work cut out in this match as he will be tracking back onto Trent Alexander-Arnold who always looks to get forward and is one of Liverpool’s most creative players. Grealish has committed a foul in 8 of his last 11 matches where he has played at least 45 minutes.

Against bigger teams he nearly always commits a foul, recently he committed 5 fouls against Spurs, 3 against Newcastle, 1 against Arsenal and 1 in both legs against RB Leipzig. Manchester City left winger’s have committed 6 fouls in their last 6 matches while left winger’s facing Liverpool have committed 7 fouls in their last 5 matches. It is an area of the pitch where Manchester City commit and Liverpool draw a lot of fouls so I am backing Grealish to commit at least 1 foul here.

Haaland has seen a return to from for Manchester City recently, the Norwegian striker has been back to his phenomenal best with 8 goals in his last 2 matches. He is an injury concern for this game, but should he play, Liverpool’s centre-backs will have their hands full.

Even if Haaland does not play, replacement Alvarez also draws plenty of fouls. Konate is a strong centre back, but is prone to committing fouls, he has averaged 1.25 fouls per 90 so far this season. Centre-backs usually struggle against Manchester City, in their last 6 matches, opposition centre-backs have combined for 6 fouls. When you also consider that Konate has committed a foul in all of his last 9 matches for club and country, he seems great value to commit at least 1 foul in this match.