The rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool has grown into one of England's richest in recent years. As the country's two best sides have duked it out on multiple fronts it has led to potent, volatile competition with always enough breathtaking quality to match the drama.
The latest edition to the epic story is set to be a rather different affair, however, as City and Liverpool will lock horns once more on Thursday as they enter the Carabao Cup. That prospect is quite a spicy one in isolation but this will be no normal meeting.
Given the World Cup came to its sensational conclusion just three days ago, both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will have limited resources available to them which could result in a flatter match than usual.
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City are likely to be particularly short-staffed for the game. The English and Portuguese contingent of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias are yet to return to training nor have Ederson or tournament winner Julian Alvarez.
None of those 10 - especially Alvarez who is soaking in the remarkable celebratory scenes in Buenos Aires - are likely to be involved while Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Rodri and Aymeric Laporte all only returned on Tuesday.
The defensive quartet could offer some much-needed steel to a team that would otherwise have a back-line made up of youngsters, with Jadel Katongo and Shea Charles ( a midfielder by trade) parenting at centre-back in the friendly victory over Girona.
Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez, Rico Lewis, Cole Palmer and Sergio Gomez are the only senior outfielders who didn't travel to Qatar. Liverpool, though, will have far more recognisable faces. Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Thiago, Andrew Roberton, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Harvey Elliott didn't go to the tournament while Trent Alexander-Arnold could feature.
City's makeshift side is likely to be outmatched on paper so Guardiola will need his few available seniors to be at their best. None more so than Mahrez.
The Algerian was excellent last season, finishing top scorer with 22 strikes, but has struggled to recapture that form this term and has seen himself slip down the attacking pecking order. Though with all his competitors for a place unavailable he is certain to start against Liverpool and likely Leeds United on December 28, too.
The unique timing of the World Cup has provided Mahrez with a great opportunity. Things weren't going well for the winger beforehand, with his creative edge dulled and his effectiveness minimised, but now he has had over a month off to rest, regroup and evaluate what has been going wrong.
Not only that but he now has a straight shot at the starting XI with no feasible competition for at least one game. It's an opportunity that players down on their luck seldom get. In any other season, Mahrez likely would have played second fiddle for months, not being picked for the biggest games, unless an injury changed things.
Now he has the chance to show he's back to his best and make the spot his own before anyone else gets back. Not only would it be great for Mahrez personally but City needs him to return to form.
Not much sleep would be lost over a Carabao Cup defeat but the Blues need to hit the ground running in the league. City are five points off leaders Arsenal and have an incredibly tough run of fixtures coming up with Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham twice and the Gunners all looming on the horizon. Not to mention Chelsea in the FA Cup and the start of the Champions League knockout stages.
With the rest of the wide forwards coming back late, City needs Mahrez to get back to his best to ensure they don't fall even further behind.
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