Manchester City's preparation for Sunday's match at Liverpool has been far from ideal, with a three-week international break leaving several players nursing knocks and others playing every game for their national teams. Most of the squad only returned to training on Thursday, leaving little time for general improvements after a sloppy defensive display against Sunderland.
Legal verdicts add to preparation challenges
Manager Enzo Maresca will also have to dedicate time from both training days to deal with the guilty verdicts, reassuring players and receiving briefings on what he can legally say in press conferences. Specific tactical work for Andoni Iraola's Liverpool side will have to fit around these commitments.
When City travel west on the M62 on Sunday, they will need to rely on factors beyond immediate preparation. Big characters must rally the players, and individual quality will need to count on the pitch.
Old Trafford victory offers a blueprint
Despite the early days of Maresca's tenure, his team can look back to a recent big game when odds were against them. Four weeks ago, Michael Oliver sent Phil Foden off at Old Trafford, and the 10 men of City rallied to secure three important points.
That result was seen as an early test for a side that lost the experience of Rodri and Bernardo Silva this summer. City paid a premium for replacements, but the question was whether they could buy a fighting mentality as well as quality.
Mental resilience needed at Anfield
The signs against United were positive, and City players will need similar mental resilience to shut out the noise at Anfield. Despite having the same number of players on the pitch, the atmosphere will make it feel like an uphill battle, with more such matches likely while the club appeals the guilty verdicts.
The fight and calmness shown in that victory at United may prove worth more than three points if City can use that Premier League win to help them in the coming weeks and months.
