Manchester City must beware of the beast Christian Benteke as Liverpool come to town... and keep your eyes on Jordon Ibe

Home Top

PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Depay starts up front for Manchester United at Watford with youngsters Rashford and Goss on bench
REVEALED: The truth behind Sterling's move to City as £49m man prepares for first Liverpool reunion
JAMIE CARRAGHER: Madrid want magic dust but as Benitez prepares for Clasico, the boss is not for changing
Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Souness rushed to hospital in Bournemouth amid health scare
Wawrinka smashes Murray out of ATP World Tour Finals after British No 1 banishes wife and coaches from court
EXCLUSIVE: Pakistan probe launched amid suspicious betting patterns
Mourinho persuaded me not to join Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, reveals Manchester City star De Bruyne
Robshaw in the firing line as new head coach Jones prepares for talks on England captain's future
Namibian international cricketer dies aged 25 after suffering stroke on pitch
Man City are using Sterling to the best of his attacking ability... Rodgers held him back at Liverpool by giving him defensive duties
Security fears ahead of El Clasico as 2,500 soldiers are called in to counter threat
This could be the last season Ronaldo and Messi face each other in Clasico... but they still dominate the fixture
Bale out to kick-start campaign on biggest stage of all as Real Madrid prepare for El Clasico showdown
Stones could play for Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, insists former Everton captain Neville
FANS VIEW: Pique is hated, Modric is key and Benitez is under pressure
10 KEY QUESTIONS: Will Messi be fit? How will Rafa cope with pressure?
Fans pay tribute to victims of Paris attacks as Ligue 1 returns... and Bundesliga teams remember the fallen while Bernabeu steps up security ahead of Real vs Barca
United's £58m man Martial reveals his best ever team, his favourite three heroes... and why that goal against Liverpool is his No 1
Paris determined 'more than ever' to host 2024 Olympic Games after terrorist attacks rocked French capital
Newcastle misfit Ben Arfa shines as Nice dent Lyon's hopes of reeling in runaway leaders PSG
As Rashford becomes the ninth player LVG has taken from the United academy, how have the others fared?
Ten years have flown by since the death of George Best... there'll never be another like him, but in Belfast the search goes on
Aguero's back and Sterling faces his former club... but for Klopp and Pellegrini, it's time to see how far they've come
George Best was Belfast's finest footballer... but who else makes our XI of players who were born in the city?

Manchester City welcome Liverpool to the Etihad on Saturday evening
Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown gives his thoughts ahead of the game
Leaders Manchester City must beware of the beast Christian Benteke
Raheem Sterling faces a tough task getting the better of Nathaniel Clyne

Published: 17:35 EST, 20 November 2015 | Updated: 18:47 EST, 20 November 2015

View
comments

Table toppers Manchester welcome Liverpool to the Etihad on Saturday evening as the Premier League returns following the international break.

Manuel Pellegrini's side will be hoping to return to winning ways after a disappointing goalless draw with struggling Aston Villa a fortnight ago, while Liverpool will be trying to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace.

Sergio Aguero is expected to play some part after six weeks out with a hamstring injury while Raheem Sterling faces his former club for the first time since quitting Anfield in the summer.

Here, Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown provides his big-match guide ahead of the clash.

Raheem Sterling (right) will line up against Liverpool for the first time since leaving the club in the summer

Christian Benteke has scored four goals in nine Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season

BEWARE OF BENTEKE THE BEAST

Jurgen Klopp likes to build his sides around a powerful centre forward. With Christian Benteke at Liverpool, he has just the man for the job. When the big Belgian is fired up, he can be an absolute beast. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool press high or sit back on Saturday.

If they do press high up the pitch then Benteke will have to work but he’s more than capable. Man City’s two centre backs today cost more than £60million, even though neither is their No 1 choice. I have been impressed by Nicolas Otamendi but Benteke will provide a real physical battle for them.

13 – Benteke will hope to improve Liverpool’s form in front of goal. They have scored just 13 goals, their joint-lowest tally after 12 matches of a Premier League season.

Benteke strikes the ball during training on Thursday ahead of Liverpool's visit to Manchester City

Ex-Liverpool forward Sterling will face a tough test against Nathaniel Clyne at the Etihad on Saturday

STERLING VS CLYNE

Raheem Sterling will be keen to prove he made the right move by leaving Liverpool. But in Nathaniel Clyne, Liverpool have almost the perfect man to deal with him. Clyne can match Sterling for pace over 10 yards. The problem for the visitors will be when Sterling starts to drift infield from his flank.

91.3 – Of this season’s top scorers in the Premier Legaue, only Jamie Vardy has a better minutes-per-goal rate than Aguero.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON IBE

Jordon Ibe is almost like a new signing for Klopp and the German is clearly a fan of the youngster. Ibe is forming a good partnership with Clyne on the right and they can give City problems.