London: Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are proponents of crowd-pleasing attacking football which should make Saturday’s Premier League clash between Manchester City and Liverpool an eye-catching affair. However, both City’s Guardiola and Klopp at Liverpool are under pressure this season to turn the attractive styles into silverware.
With both clubs on seven points and unbeaten after three matches they will hope their players haven’t gone off the boil after being away on international duty.
Both trail Manchester United by two points with Jose Mourinho’s side, yet to concede a goal this season, away to an unpredictable Stoke managed by former United star Mark Hughes. For several players it will be a case of starting competitive life with their new club — the transfer window having closed during the international break — or for some a case of turning out after their team refused to sell them.
Coutinho, The Boy from Brazil
Philippe Coutinho could make his first appearance this season for Liverpool and interest will be focused on his mood after he failed to secure the move to Barcelona. Jurgen Klopp says that is all good with the 25-year-old Brazilian and he is not sulking, despite Liverpool rejecting several huge offers from Barcelona after he put in a transfer request.
That bodes well for the German as he needs Coutinho fit and on the top of his form form if he is to have a chance of delivering their first Premier League title. He is most likely to start on the bench however.
Gunners pray for a Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez is even more integral to Arsenal and embattled manager Arsene Wenger’s hopes of silverware. However, the 28-year-old Chilean’s frame of mind, after Arsenal refused to let him leave for Manchester City, will be crucial as to whether they enjoy some success.
A home match with Bournemouth, who have yet to earn a point, this season presents a golden opportunity for him and the Gunners to bounce back after the 4-0 drubbing they suffered at Liverpool which left Sanchez looking miserable. Wenger is certain Sanchez is in the right place mentally. “I have no doubt about Alexis’s mind and mentality,” said Wenger on Thursday.
Sigurdsson under pressure
Unlike Sanchez and Coutinho, Gylfi Sigurdsson succeeded in gaining the £45 million ($58m, 49.4m euros) move he desired from Swansea to Everton. However, Everton fans will be looking for far better things, starting with Saturday’s home game with Tottenham, than the anonymous performance he put in in the limp 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Spurs fans have bitter experience of Sigurdsson flattering to deceive when he was with them so Everton manager Ronald Koeman will hope that is an extra motivating factor for the Iceland international. Not least because the pressure is also on the Dutchman who made him his main target in the close-season.
