PHOTO: AFP
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool welcome Manchester City to fortress Anfield on Sunday hoping to lay down a marker against the Premier League champions and regain momentum for a tilt at a first title in 29 years.
Both sides can only be separated by City's superior goal difference at the top of the table having dropped just two points each in unbeaten starts to the league season after seven games.
However, Liverpool's perfect run of seven straight wins to begin the campaign in all competitions has come unstuck in the past week.
Defeat by Chelsea with a much-changed side in the League Cup was followed by a well-earned point against the same opponents at Stamford Bridge thanks to Daniel Sturridge's brilliant late equaliser.
Yet, more worrying for Jurgen Klopp was an uncharacteristically lacklustre display in losing 1-0 to Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday.
"This was a reality check on how things must not go," warned midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
Liverpool were outplayed for large spells in Italy and looked to be feeling the physical toll of a brutal run of fixtures that also included a trip to Tottenham and a thrilling 3-2 Champions League win over French champions Paris Saint-Germain in a four-week spell.
"You have seen it has been absolutely intense since the last international break with the games we've had — Chelsea twice — coming to Napoli, playing PSG and now we have the game on Sunday against Man City, we cannot change that, so we have to make sure we are ready," said Klopp.
City's visit, therefore, doesn't come at the best time as Liverpool seek to show they are capable of knocking Pep Guardiola's record breakers off their perch.
Liverpool had the edge on City when they went head-to-head last season, winning three of their four meetings.
We were not good enough: Klopp on Napoli defeat
However, the task for Klopp is to marry that ability to rise to the big occasion with City's consistency that racked up 100 Premier League points last season.
Of the new recruits, though, only goalkeeper Alisson Becker has made a big impact as Klopp has prefered to stand by those who got Liverpool to the Champions League final last season.
That run owed much to the firepower of Mohamed Salah's 44 goals. However, the Egyptian has so far struggled to match those heights in his second season at Anfield.
Salah was subbed off on his return to Stamford Bridge last weekend and largely anonymous in Naples as Liverpool failed to muster a single shot on target.
"I don't remember when that happened last, it's like riding a bike. It's not like you wake up in the morning and you cannot finish any more," admitted Klopp, who remains convinced Salah's slump will be temporary.
Liverpool need Salah back in the saddle come Sunday if they are to stop City puncturing their super start by striking first blood in the title race.
Mourinho admits United's form not good enough
Jose Mourinho acknowledged on Friday Manchester United's current run of form is unacceptable as he battles to turn around their season.
The 55-year-old Portuguese is under enormous pressure, with United in their worst position after seven league matches since 1989 — they are 10th, nine points adrift of the top two Manchester City and Liverpool — and a public dispute with star player Paul Pogba has sewn discord in the dressing room.
His side are looking to end a run of four home matches without a win — their worst run at Old Trafford for 29 seasons —when they host Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday.
Mourinho is adamant United will improve on their current league position of 10th but he accepted their form at present is not good enough.
"Yes, I accept," he said, although he refused to answer when asked if he could assure the fans he was doing everything he could to improve their form.
Mourinho has endured a testing week, following up a 3-1 league defeat at West Ham last Saturday with a goalless draw at home to Valencia in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Asked why things were not working for United at present, the manager said: "For many different reasons."
He was then asked if he could give the reasons, and responded: "No."
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