IN a brand new column fronted by renowned punter James Cantrill (@JimmyThePunt), we set-up and share our Colossus Premier League Predictor selections ahead of Super Sunday's showpiece between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield.
Liverpool vs Manchester City | Sunday 7th February 2021, 16:30 | Sky Sports
What will the Correct Score be?
These big games have rarely lived up to the hype this season, in fact, of the 17 clashes between the traditional Big Six, 29% have finished 0-0 and 65% have featured two or fewer goals.
An away victory here will be Man City’s 10th on the spin – it would also be Liverpool’s third straight defeat at Anfield. Given that Pep Guardiola’s side are three points clear at the top of the table with a game in-hand, you get the sense that the visitors would take a share of the spoils.
It is also worth noting that City have only conceded one goal in their last nine games and that Liverpool have not scored in any of their last three games at Anfield.
That being said, both sides possess such an abundance of quality- and Liverpool do not have either of their first choice centre backs fit – therefore, I am going to cover the same scoreline that occurred in the reverse fixture (1-1), as well as a 0-0 draw.
Selection: 0-0, 1-1
Will a penalty be taken?
Both sides have been awarded five penalties in the Premier League this season, that’s an average of 0.23 per-game for City and 0.22 per-game for Liverpool. Liverpool have also conceded seven penalties – only Brighton and Wolves have conceded more (8), and Man City have given five away. Meanwhile, there were two penalties the last time these sides met and one on the occasion beforehand.
Micheal Oliver is overseeing this and he has awarded 0.81 penalties per-game. Therefore, a simple average would suggest that there is a 36% chance that a penalty will be awarded.
In terms of possession in the oppositions third, Liverpool top the charts (34%) and Man City come a close second (33%). According to AS.com, Mo Salah has had the most touches in his oppositions box of any player in the EPL (248) and second is Raheem Sterling (239).
With that in mind, I am happy to stick my neck out here and say, yes there will be a penalty in the match-up.
Selection: Yes
Will a player be sent off?
Both Liverpool and Man City are amongst the six teams yet to have a man sent off in a Premier League fixture this campaign. In fact, both sides top the charts in terms of disciplinary having both only received 23 yellows.
There has not been a red card in any of these sides' last six head-to-head meetings and referee Micheal Oliver has only brandished a total of two in the 16 Premier League fixtures he has overseen this campaign.
It's a no from me.
Selection: No
Will a goal be scored in the 1st half?
In the last six encounters between the pair, 60% of the 15 goals scored have come in the first half, as only the 0-0 back in 2018 failed to see a first half goal.
This season, 42% of Liverpool’s goals have arrived in the first half and in their six games versus the traditional Big Six in the Premier League, at least one goal has been scored in the first half of four games.
This season, 67% of City’s goals have come in the first half with at least one first half goal being scored in four of their five games against the league's elite.
That being said, I have covered both possibilities here given how many 0-0 draws have occurred between the Big Six.
Selection: Yes, No
How many corners will be taken by Liverpool?
Liverpool are second to only their opponents Man City in terms of total corners accumulated in the Premier League in 2020/21 with 144 and an average per-game of 6.50.
In their six games against the Big Six, the Reds they have averaged six per-game and in their past five league dates with City, the hosts have averaged just 2.40. However, with the onus on the hosts to get a result, I think they will rack up twice the amount of corners they have averaged against City on Sunday.
Given the ranch in averages, I have covered three to six corners.
Selection: 3-4, 5-6
How many corners will be taken by Manchester City?
Visitors Man City, top the charts for corners taken in the Premier League this term with a total of 154 and an average of 7.30 per-game. The Citizens won six versus Arsenal, 10 at Spurs, three against Man Utd and Chelsea and just one in the reverse with Liverpool. That is an average of 4.60 against the Big Six.
Meanwhile, in City's last five games against Liverpool, excluding the 3-1 defeat, they have averaged just three per-game.
Although the Citizens have been prolific – in terms of corners – this season, their averages take a big hit against the Big Six and decrease even further if you look at their recent games against Liverpool. Therefore, I am going to cover 3-6 City corners here.
Selection: 3-4, 5-6
How many cards will be shown to Liverpool?
As previously alluded to, the hosts have a squeaky clean disciplinary record in 2020/21m averaging just over one card per-game. They have also only averaged one yellow card per-game in the last six head-to-heads with Man City.
Liverpool have received the following totals against City in the Premier League: 1-2-0-2-1. With the Reds receiving between one and two cards in 80% of the last five league contests against the Citizens, I am going to opt for 1,2 Liverpool cards.
Selection: 1,2
How many cards will be shown to Manchester City?
Man City have an equally impressive disciplinary record in the Premier League this term, averaging 1.50 yellow cards per-game. However, recent history indicates they are a little less well-behaved in this fixture as they have accumulated 14 yellows in the sides last five league renewals.
In the visitors' other games against the Big Six, Guardiola's group have averaged two cards per-game this season. However, given the fact that they have a low-seasonal average, I have covered one up to three.
Selection: 1, 2, 3
Join our Colossus syndicate for Super Sunday's showdown
James has shared his views on all the major markets ahead of Super Sunday's highly-anticipated showdown from Anfield and you can join our WLB-own syndicate with our friends at Colossus here for as little as £5.
Should the above syndicate pay-out on Sunday, contributors will share a terrific £10,000 prize pool.
New to Colossus? By entering our exclusive refer-a-friend code welovebettinguk you'll also be given a FreePlay after depositing and playing your first £10 into Colossus pools.
