Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has delivered his prediction as Manchester City look to find a way back from their 3-0 deficit to Liverpool in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
The Reds were in scintillating form in the first leg at Anfield and sent shockwaves through Europe as they dismantled the Premier League champions-in-waiting to take a comfortable lead in the tie.
Mohamed Salah put them ahead after just 12 minutes before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled their lead with a rasping drive that left Ederson stranded in the City net.
Sadio Mane made it three after just 31 minutes when his downward header found the corner, and City were unable to force a way back into the game after that.
In his predictions for Sky Sports, Nicholas sees a 3-1 win for City on the night which would see Liverpool go through to the semi-finals on aggregate.
“I think we’re going to get drama and I can see my good friend Phil Thompson being on the edge of his seat next to me in the Soccer Special studio.
“I don’t think City will do it though because I see Liverpool scoring. You could see at the weekend again against United that City are defensively vulnerable when they have to take risks. This is all about Liverpool scoring one goal to turn City’s need into score five and it will be a major boost if Mohamed Salah is fit.
“I could see City getting 2-0 up because they should have been out of sight by half-time against United, but as they get desperate I expect Liverpool’s attacking pace on the counter to see them safe,” he said.
OPINION
Nicholas looks to be spot on with his prediction here. There can be no doubting City’s attacking talent and they will surely give Liverpool a scare on the night. However, their failure to score an away goal in the first leg will surely come back to bite them, with Liverpool’s dangerous attack to pose problem on the break. One Liverpool goal means City will need to score five, and that will surely be beyond even them. However, if Nicholas is right and City do go 2-0 up, then it will be interesting to see how Liverpool cope with that kind of pressure. They have already demonstrated some mental fragility in the competition this season after squandering a three-goal lead to Sevilla, and the added pressure of a place in the semi-finals will make this one even more intense.