One of the things City haven’t got right this season is how to replace Rodri in the number six spot.
Kovacic, Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan have tried it.
“My gut feeling is that, given their form and with Liverpool flying at the moment, City might have to show them a bit of respect for once and try something a bit different on Sunday,” Murphy said.
“If Rubén Dias is fit to start, along perhaps with Nathan Ake, then I would be tempted to play [defender] Manuel Akanji in that midfield role, as John Stones has done before.
“I’m not sure if Pep will do that, but maybe this time his priority is not how City will create chances and score goals against this great Liverpool defense, because he trusts his players to do that.
“We have to remember that they are serial winners and we are talking about a team with some of the best players in the world, but one of the key factors for them to be successful at Anfield is that they are much better defensively than they have been.” recently.
“It could be detrimental for City to go to Anfield with their usual system, where Rico Lewis is at right-back and moves into midfield, which would leave their back three against Liverpool’s front three.”
Murphy believes the visitors will have Kevin de Bruyne, who has just returned from injury, and one of Gundogan or Silva, plus a more defensive player like Akanji or Lewis in midfield.
“I would be very surprised if he decided to put, say, Gundogan and Silva there alone, with Phil Foden behind Erling Haaland again,” said the former England midfielder.
“Although it’s great to have faith in yourself, when you concede goals like City did, you have to seize the moment.”
Murphy said he is “certainly not trying to suggest that City should park the bus and not believe in themselves”, but he did suggest two options for Guardiola.
“Liverpool play with three forwards and they are very good, so City should play with four.” [at the back]. “City are conceding a lot of goals, so perhaps their back four should concentrate on stopping Liverpool’s three forwards,” he added.
“And also, Liverpool’s midfield is very good at the moment, so maybe City should play with three midfielders who are ready for that battle, instead of two midfielders and a striker.”
