Saturday 9 September 2017 11:47, UK
Danny Higginbotham expects Liverpool to claim another big-game victory when they travel to Manchester City live on Sky Sports on Saturday.
Liverpool thrashed Arsenal 4-0 in their last outing before the international break, maintaining Jurgen Klopp's impressive record against the top six.
Klopp's side destroyed Arsenal on the counter-attack at Anfield, and Higginbotham believes the same kind of tactics could pay off against City.
"When Liverpool play against the lesser teams, the onus is obviously on them and they have more of the possession," he tells Sky Sports.
"The problem they have is that the opposition stay back and stay compact, and there's no real space in behind. The pace of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane becomes redundant because there's nowhere to go.
"When Liverpool play against top six teams, however, they're happy for the opposition to have more of the ball. That works perfectly for Liverpool. What we find then is that the pace of Salah and Sane becomes very important.
"Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can don't look to get overly involved [in attack], but the midfield of the opposition still want to come and face them, so all of a sudden there are huge spaces."
Higginbotham believes Roberto Firmino can hurt City in those areas in front of their defence.
"This is where Firmino is at his best, when he drops off and either makes things happen or creates space for others," says Higginbotham.
"The two centre-backs are drawn in there, and the full-backs then have to move up or else they will be playing the rest of Liverpool's attackers onside.
"That is where Liverpool take full advantage. They did it against Arsenal on numerous occasions and I expect them to do it against Manchester City as well.
"I think they will defend deep and be compact. They can turn defence into attack very, very quickly. They are the best counter-attacking side in the Premier League and I expect Mane, Salah and Firmino to have a big say in the game.
"I'm going for a Liverpool win."
