'Going there': Gundogan makes Anfield admission and says there's something City players 'know' about Liverpool
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Liverpool face an enormous few days as they look to cement their tag as Premier League title favourites.
First, the Reds must overcome the sizable task of facing European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday.
If Liverpool can beat their bogey team at Anfield, it will send out a further statement that the Reds really mean business under Arne Slot.
The game against Madrid takes second billing, however, in a week which sees out-of-form Manchester City come to Merseyside on Sunday.
City had looked to be ending a run of five consecutive defeats in style after moving into a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday. However, Pep Guardiola’s team sensationally conceded three times in the final 15 minutes to draw the match.
The result underlined the poor form City are in as they prepare to face Liverpool on Sunday. And ahead of that enormous Premier League meeting, Ilkay Gundogan does not sound too enthusiastic.
Ilkay Gundogan prepares for Liverpool test
Things have not gone to plan for Gundogan since he made a triumphant return to City over the summer.
Having spent a year away with Barcelona, the German international re-joined the club he captained to a treble in 2023.
However, now 34, Gundogan has not looked the same player who ran the City midfield for seven years.
Rodri’s season-ending injury has left the veteran a little exposed and in quotes from The Daily Mail, Gundogan admitted that he and his teammates know exactly what’s coming for them at Anfield on Sunday.
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“To stay in the title race probably yes, because 11 points would be a huge gap,” he said, when asked if the game is a ‘must win’ for City.
“Anfield is always tough, no matter the situation. We’ve struggled in recent years going there.
“We know Liverpool are a great team full of confidence right now. It’s going to be as tough as it is possible to be. But that sums up the situation right now.”
Liverpool must punish Man City stumble
City had looked to be right on track during Tuesday night’s game against Feyenoord.
Ironically coming up against Slot’s former side, Guardiola appeared to have given his team their mojo back as they cruised into a 3-0 lead.
However, what followed next was perhaps the most shocking of everything to have happened to City over the past few weeks.
Blowing a three goal lead in the final minutes of the game is unheard of for the four-time consecutive Premier League champions.
Liverpool supporters will still be expecting prime City to turn up inexplicably at Anfield on Sunday. But as Gundogan alludes to, this team are right there for the taking.
