Man Metropolis vs Liverpool: How Pep Guardiola can use new weapon Omar Marmoush to harm Premier League leaders | Soccer Information

“Only the start”. Omar Marmoush’s submit on X following his hanging hat-trick towards Newcastle final weekend had a number of meanings. It introduced his official arrival to the Premier League. However greater than that, turned the image of Manchester Metropolis’s latest chapter. Pep Guardiola’s newest rework.

Marmoush was earmarked by the membership’s hierarchy as a participant who may make an instantaneous distinction. An all-round ahead to rival the perfect in Europe.

Even earlier than his treble within the 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle – one of the vital eye-catching particular person performances of 2024/25 – his direct operating and intelligent motion with late arrivals into the field had brought about loads of issues throughout a 3-1 win over Chelsea.

His power and dynamism have been a welcome, albeit uncommon, supply of pleasure amid the mire of Man Metropolis’s dwindling season. Their dramatic downturn may need strong-armed motion within the January window however whichever means a £60m-spend on Marmoush is rationalised, it appears to be like like good enterprise. This was no panic purchase.

The 26-year-old, coming into his peak years, is certainly one of few gamers with out the bodily exhaustion and psychological scars that seem like plaguing the remainder of Guardiola’s browbeaten champions. Marmoush appears to be like contemporary, with untapped expertise, able to easing the burden in addition to carrying it.

The ahead can be an apparent trigger for concern for Arne Slot as he prepares a recreation plan for Liverpool’s journey to the Etihad on Sunday, stay on Sky Sports activities. A fear for Trent Alexander-Arnold too.

Marmoush can dribble 1v1, make use of instinctive mixture play and fast switches, run from outdoors to in or hug the touchline, and has already struck up an excellent working partnership with Josko Gvardiol down the left. Metropolis’s choices to go brief or lengthy – or someplace in between – have elevated exponentially.

Michael Wimmer, certainly one of Marmoush’s former coaches at VfB Stuttgart, informed Sky Sports activities earlier this season that the Egyptian worldwide has distinctive “orientation expertise”. What he meant was a capability to drawback clear up and adapt irrespective of how opposition groups arrange. He can play in between the strains, in tight areas, or exploit house behind.

His flexibility is prone to be the issue that made him so enticing to Man Metropolis within the first place. Erling Haaland has scored 19 Premier League objectives this season however he is usually minimize an remoted determine. Phil Foden, a shadow of his former self, has chipped in seven however the burden has been Haaland’s to hold. He wanted assist.

Take Metropolis’s most up-to-date victory over Newcastle as the proper instance of a load lightened. It was the primary Premier League recreation this season through which Metropolis did not concede a single massive probability, whereas their Anticipated Objectives confronted (0.48) was their third-fewest of the marketing campaign.

Marmoush took 4 pictures and scored with three of them, from an xG worth of 0.71. He was essentially the most fouled (3) participant within the match and tore a really skilled Kieran Trippier to shreds, including way more nuance to Metropolis’s play.

Selection was evident in his ending, too, whereas a midfield masterclass from Nico Gonzalez helped stabilise and supply a platform from which to construct.

How may all that assist this Sunday? Effectively, Pep has now been rearmed with the power to troubleshoot. Metropolis have had their wings clipped this yr – by the lack of Rodri, defensive accidents and the psychological pressure of unrelenting expectation – however the emergence of Egypt’s different famous person ahead is a lifeline. Mo Salah may need to share his highlight.

“Nothing is everlasting,” mentioned Pep on Wednesday after crashing out of the Champions League on the earliest level for 12 years. “It is the yr we have been the worst.” However whereas their limp exit to Actual Madrid can have harm it could additionally act as aid. This Metropolis staff, so early in its newest evolution, weren’t going to win Europe’s elite competitors this season.

Why extend the method?

Haaland’s absence – an unused substitute on the Bernabeu – was certainly acceptance of that truth.

Sunday twenty third February 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

All hope is just not misplaced within the Premier League, although. Since Christmas solely Liverpool and Arsenal have gained extra factors than Manchester Metropolis.

The rivalry might carry much less jeopardy on this event given the hosts have lengthy been out of the title race but it surely nonetheless issues. Metropolis would take immense pleasure from placing a dent within the league leaders’ possibilities of stealing their crown, in addition to undermine any suggestion that Slot’s Liverpool have the credentials to rival Metropolis’s home dominance of the previous 5 or 6 years.

The Reds are within the midst of an energy-sapping run – 5 video games in a fortnight.

Their final eight league video games may need seen them stretch their unbeaten run to 22 however they’ve dropped eight factors within the course of.

They have been deservedly held to a draw at dwelling to struggling Man Utd of their first outing of 2025, got here from behind to safe a degree at Nottingham Forest, scored twice in stoppage time to beat Brentford, and run shut by each Bournemouth after which Wolves final weekend, in a second half the place they didn’t have a single shot – Wolves had 10.

Is Slot’s reluctance to rotate catching up with him? Alexander-Arnold is certainly one of 10 gamers to begin seven or extra of his facet’s eight league video games for the reason that flip of the yr. His reluctance to defend 1v1 is an issue, too, given Marmoush’s directness and capability to attract fouls.

Youri Tielemans scored Aston Villa’s equaliser within the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Wednesday by peeling off Alexander-Arnold, whereas Lucas Digne roamed free down the full-back’s left channel earlier than standing a ball up for Ollie Watkins to attain a second. He did atone by netting the leveller however was hooked quickly after.

The chance is there ought to Marmoush want to take benefit.

Pep is adamant he stays the proper man to steer Manchester Metropolis into this new period. He continues to remind reporters that “we achieved one thing distinctive in our nation and in Europe”. And now with the proper mixture of time, endurance, and recruitment nouse, he is adamant he can do it once more.

Marmoush will little doubt show to be an enormous asset in that course of. How that helps within the right here and now, although, can be scrutinised on Sunday. Are we about to see the most recent twist on this fascinating story?

Watch Manchester Metropolis vs Liverpool stay on Sky Sports activities Premier League this Sunday from 4pm; kick-off 4.30pm