The last Premier League match of 2016 could very well become the BEST Premier League match of 2016. Anfield will be packed with nearly 54,000 fans ready to watch second-place Liverpool entertain third-place Manchester City in a game that promises more fireworks than the midnight explosions.
Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are old "enemies" from their days in German football, but they face each other for the first time in England. The two are arguably the best managers in England (though Conte is amazing) and will certainly create great gameplans for each other this Saturday.
Both teams will look to attack, both teams have amazing attackers and questionable defenses, both teams have great coaches, Anfield will be awesome, and both teams need a victory.
There's no way this will be a boring game. No way.
MATCH INFO, HOW TO WATCH ON TV/ONLINE
Date/Time: Saturday, December 31, 2016, 5:30pm BST (UK), 12:30pm ET, 9:30am PT (US), 10pm IST (India)
Referee: Craig Pawson
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, England
TV listings: NBC, NBC UNIVERSO (US), TSN1, TSN4 (Canada), BT Sport 1 (UK), Star Sports Select HD1 (India), elsewhere
Online streaming: NBC Sports Live, NBC UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (US), SiriusXM FC (US - Radio), TSN GO (Canada), BT Sport Live Streaming (UK), BBC Radio (UK - Radio), elsewhere
TEAM NEWS
Man City: Guardiola will not have Vincent Kompany, Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sané, but John Stones will be fit and in contention to start at Anfield after a nasty knock to the knee against Hull City on Boxing Day. The Englishman should make the bench, though, with the best centerback partnership on the side, Otamendi and Kolarov, starting together to face the Reds and their amazing attack.
But the best news for City is not on defense, is in the striker position: after missing nearly a month thanks to a four-match ban, Sergio Agüero is back. The best striker in the Premier League returns rested, ready to go and eager to make up for lost time with a Kun Agüero performance for the ages.
If that happens, City are in good position to win.
Liverpool: The hosts have a great manager, an amazing attack that remains high-flying despite missing Philippe Coutinho for almost two months, and a midfield that turned Adam Lallana into one of the best players in England. The Reds are an amazing team to watch this season, and Jürgen Klopp is so fun. The defense is their Achilles' heel, though, and if the City attackers have a great afternoon, they might win what will probably be a spectacular shootout at Anfield.
Other than Coutinho, Liverpool don't miss any big players, and they'll be ready to go on New Year's Eve.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
PREDICTION
There's absolutely no way to know who wins this one. Pep and Klopp know each other too well, and both teams are really talented and have similar styles. Anfield will be crazy, but I believe City will escape with three magical points. 3-2 to the visitors.