Manchester City take on Liverpool today at Anfield in an eagerly anticipated Premier League fixture. With the rivalry that exists between the two clubs, and the outside noise surrounding the game it means that today’s match figures to be a huge one. There is no doubt that the eyes of the football world will be on Anfield this afternoon. Heading into the match, how Enzo Maresca sets up his midfield will be of great interest. We are yet to see Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez start together for Manchester City. Could today be the day that Maresca selects this midfield trio? There is merit to the idea. But the current form of Rayan Cherki may mean that Maresca will continue with what has served his team so well to start the season.

The expectation is that Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez will both start in the Manchester City midfield against Liverpool today. Both players have already established themselves as certain starters in the City midfield. Unless both players are suffering from fatigue after their exertions for their countries, it would come as a major shock if they both do not start today. Who joins them in midfield seems to be the question.

Typically, Rayan Cherki has started as a number ten this season for Manchester City. Also, Josko Gvardiol steps into midfield from left-back to add another option to City’s midfield in possession. It is a formula that has served City well so far this season. However, on occasions City’s midfield has been left wide open, so that may be where Ayyoub Bouaddi may come into contention to start.

Ayyoub Bouaddi could start as a number six today to provide cover in Manchester City’s midfield. Enzo Fernandez could play as a number ten with Elliot Anderson playing alongside Bouaddi. That midfield trio would give City a more balanced midfield look. We are yet to see Maresca utilise this midfield set up. Given the occasion that today’s match represents, perhaps Enzo Maresca may go with a more sturdy midfield set up. However, Rayan Cherki’s form demands that he starts at Anfield.

Rayan Cherki has been in strong form for both club and country so far this season. The enigmatic playmaker carried his strong club form into the international break for France. Cherki should have returned to City full of confidence and ready to continue to be a creative force for Manchester City. He simply has to start against Liverpool today. Perhaps there is a way to start Cherki and Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson for Enzo Maresca.

In theory, Cherki could start on the right wing. Especially when you factor in that Jeremy Doku has only played 15 minutes so far this season. My assumption is that after a period of rest, Doku will start on the left wing with Antoine Semenyo on the right. However, Cherki could start out wide on the right to give Maresca the option to start Bouaddi, Anderson and Enzo Fernandez. It is an idea with merit. However, the counter argument is that Cherki has to start as a number ten. That way he can get on the ball as much as possible to influence today’s game.

We are yet to see Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez start together for Manchester City. Today could be that day if Enzo Maresca wants a strong and solid midfield against Liverpool today. It is an tactical set up that may benefit City. However, Rayan Cherki is in spectacular form and has to start. Due to this, we not see Bouaddi, Anderson and Enzo Fernandez start together as Cherki could be Manchester City’s match-winner playing as a number ten at Anfield.