Wanchope: Man City will be too strong for injury-hit Reds

Paulo Wanchope has confidently backed Manchester City to sink title rivals Liverpool in their top-of-the-table Premier League clash this Sunday.

Costa Rican icon Wanchope netted 29 goals in 75 games during a four-year stint with the Citizens, alongside successful spells with Derby and West Ham.

And the popular retired striker, now 47, gives his old club an edge at Anfield, largely due to the mounting injury list of Jurgen Klopp's hosts.

Speaking exclusively to LiveScore, Wanchope said: "It is a tough one to call.

"I can see City are getting stronger at the moment with Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne coming back so well from their injuries.

"Then on top of that, you have Liverpool who have so many players with injuries — key players, too.

"It's always difficult to play at Anfield but I do think looking at the two squads currently, you have to say City have an edge to win the game, or at least not lose it.

"But I think they will get the win."

City trail their old foes by a solitary point heading into the contest, with Arsenal also at the heart of a thrilling three-way title race.

Yet Wanchope still believes the Merseysiders are the likeliest to dethrone Pep Guardiola's men come May.

He said: "I do still think Liverpool are the biggest threat.

"You have the recent history of the club and with Jurgen Klopp leaving, the players really want to win the title for him.

"That's possibly a bit unfair on Arsenal because they are becoming a very good side and I think they will be even better again next season."

Pep talk

With Reds boss Klopp recently announcing his decision to leave Liverpool this summer, speculation is now rife over when Guardiola may exit the Etihad.

Though Wanchope does not expect the legendary coach to leave his post any time soon, he has a strong hunch as to what the 53-year-old Catalan may have in mind as a next step.

He said: "I've seen some interviews with him and he always says how much he'd like to be involved with a national team, manage at a World Cup.

"That takes a lot of energy, so maybe he's looking for that challenge in the near future — you never know.

"He's still doing so well at City but I think perhaps he will be tempted by a World Cup. Not the next one [2026] but possibly the next cycle after that."

In the meantime, the prospect of guiding City to an unprecedented second consecutive Treble is taking up all of Guardiola's focus.

And while the boss himself believes such an achievement is virtually impossible, Wanchope is not ruling anything out.

He added: "I know Pep has played it down and it's not easy to win a Treble.

"We all know they are capable of doing it again with the strength of their squad but I do agree with Pep's approach.

"He's right to be cautious. He needs to remove as much expectation as he can from his players.

"If they keep all the players fit, they are capable of doing it. I know Jack Grealish is now out for a little while — so if they get any more, it will be tough."