The battle for the English Premier League could be making its most decisive direction today when the defenders Manchester City host Leicester at Etihad.
Just like former Liverpool boss, Rafael Benitez had warned the Anfield players and manager of giving them a hard time, Brendan Rodgers has also warned Manchester City not to expect an easy time when the two sides meet.
Brendan Rodgers says Jamie Vardy will strike fear into Manchester City this evening as Pep Guardiola’s side seek to retake top spot in the Premier League.
Divock Origi’s 86th-minute winner for Liverpool at Newcastle on Saturday night put the Reds back on top going into the season’s final week, ensuring that the title race will go down to the last day.
And anything other than a City victory over Rodgers and Vardy’s Leicester on Monday night will put the destiny of the title in Liverpool’s hands.
“Well he does (strike fear into opponents) there’s no getting away from that,” said former Reds boss Rodgers of Vardy, who has an outstanding record of scoring goals against the top six sides, including five against City.
“When I was preparing a team to play against him you just knew you’ve got to be really careful against him because if you don’t counter-press the game well and there’s space to play that pass, he’s going to hurt you. He’s a goalscorer.
“If you watch him and see his ability to score a goal, and his threat, you’ll always be mindful of it. But that’s the Premier League top players, top strikers and you’re always having to find a way to nullify that.
“But it’s absolutely brilliant to have him on your side.”
Rodgers added that he’s confident he can come up with a gameplan to frustrate City.
“We’re still very early in our way of working. Eventually, we’ll get to that but if you look at Man City, they want to create the space,” he said.
“Take away the football jargon and the basic rule is to deny the opponent space, either from the press or a slightly deeper block. That’s your choice of tactic.
“For us, it’s about super compact pressing at the right moment and when you have the ball, playing quickly at pressure because you’ll be pressed in different phases.
“So, can you come out of that? Then the space is there for you.”