Salah can exploit Manchester City’s left-back woes and win vital clash for Liverpool

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There is little doubt that Liverpool’s trip to face reigning champions Manchester City on Thursday is the biggest match of the Premier League season so far.

The Reds’ position atop the table means that even a draw at the home of their biggest title rivals would represent a positive result but it remains to be seen how Jurgen Klopp will approach the match.

Liverpool’s defence has been so watertight this season that they may fancy themselves to keep City out, and there is no pressure on them to overexert themselves in pursuit of a win – all the onus is on Pep Guardiola’s men.

But there is one area of the pitch in which Liverpool could wreak havoc; City’s left-back zone, where they are missing both Benjamin Mendy and Fabian Delph.

Mo Salah has flitted between right wing and centre forward this season, but has generally played out wide in the matches against big teams.

If he does so again on Thursday, he will be perfectly primed to make the most of City’s left-back shortage; neither right-back Danilo and makeshift option Oleksandr Zinchenko look well-equipped to stop the Egyptian flier.

So while Liverpool do not need to go all-out for the win, they can get it if Salah can isolate against his marker on a regular basis.

That would put the Reds ten points clear of the champions and they would have one hand on the Premier League trophy.