Manchester City head to Anfield today for a big showdown with Liverpool in the Premier League.
Manchester City come into the game having not won any of their last six games across all competitions, in what is the most challenging period of Pep Guardiola’s tenure.
Liverpool, by contrast, are flying right now. They’re top of the Premier League table by six points, and clear of City by eight.
They also just beat Real Madrid in the Champions League and are top of the League Phase table having won every game so far.
Today’s game is a daunting prospect, and the midfield battle will be especially interesting. Because City have had many problems there since Rodri got injured.
For Danny Murphy, there is one player Guardiola should be looking to use who doesn’t play there very often at all.
Danny Murphy says Guardiola should play Manuel Akanji in midfield v Liverpool
One of the biggest issues for City right now is that teams are slicing through the team with ease.
With City pushing so high in games, the threat of the counter-attack is always there. But even when City are a bit deeper, there just isn’t enough mobility and dynamism.
John Stones is a player who has operated in midfield before.
But Stones likely won’t play today, so pundit Danny Murphy thinks Manuel Akanji should operate as a defensive midfield.
He said (via BBC Sport): “If Ruben Dias is fit to start, alongside maybe Nathan Ake, then I would be tempted to play [defender] Manuel Akanji in that midfield holding role, as John Stones has done before.
“I am not sure if Pep will do that, but maybe this time, his priority might not be about how City are going to make chances and score goals against this great Liverpool defence, because he trusts his players to do that.”
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Akanji in midfield would be risky
City fans have seen Akanji in the holding midfield role a few times previously, but the Switzerland international has never really look as comfortable as Stones.
He is clunkier than the England star, and doesn’t pass the ball as well.
£15 million star Akanji is very versatile and can play anywhere across the backline. But he’s yet to prove himself as a top option to play as a holding midfielder.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 8 | 16 | 31 |
| 2 |  ArsenalArsenal | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 25 |
| 3 |  BrightonBrighton | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 23 |
| 4 |  Man CityManchester City | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 23 |
| 5 |  ChelseaChelsea | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 22 |
| 6 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 22 |
Potentially, Guardiola should look to have his team play in a different way today.
It might be worth seeing if his team can defend a bit deeper and actually let Liverpool have a bit more of the ball. Then, City could look to hit the Reds on the counter with the speedy trio of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Savinho.
Matheus Nunes would also be a good option to start in midfield against Liverpool, as one of the fastest players in the Premier League.
