Big Midweek: Atalanta v Liverpool, Solskjaer, Mendy, Man City

Game to watch – Atalanta v Liverpool

Tuesday night brings one of the most intriguing match-ups of the Champions League group stage. And it’s hard to imagine that Liverpool’s trip to Bergamo will result in anything other than a thriller featuring a shed-load of goals.

That’s because Jurgen Klopp and Gian Piero Gasperini have built sides devastating in attack but, at present, both are as porous at the back as they are potent up front.

Not since 1897 have reigning champions conceded as many goals as Liverpool so far this season, and while they have managed to climb out of most of the holes they have dug for themselves, opponents are seeing a vulnerability in the Reds that wasn’t there last season.

The Virgil van Dijk-shaped hole in the centre of Klopp’s defence is a huge source of encouragement for their rivals, but Liverpool’s leakiness pre-dates the centre-back’s absence. And for all the talk of a ravaged rearguard, Saturday’s line-up featured four of Klopp’s first-choice back five. And Nat Phillips, found down the back of the sofa.

Gasperini has even bigger problems than Klopp when it comes to his defence, both in terms of performance and make-up. Atalanta have kept only one clean sheet in 12 matches and though only Sassuolo have scored more Serie A goals this term, only five sides have conceded more. Gasperini’s is a bold game plan when his squad is fit and fresh but the weekend’s victory over Crotone on Saturday may have cost them defenders Hans Hateboer and Cristian Romero, with Robin Gosens and Marten de Roon already likely to miss Liverpool’s visit.

So attack is undoubtedly the best form of defence for both Gasperini and Klopp – even more so than usual. Which promises to deliver a treat for viewers at home, perhaps similar to Atalanta’s 2-2 draw with Ajax last week which saw both sides go for the throat of their opponent as each tried to wrestle the initiative in Group A.

Then, Atalanta allowed Ajax the lead with Duvan Zapata’s brace earning them a point, while Liverpool too have a tendency to concede first as they have in four of their last five Premier League matches.

With both forward lines carrying such devastating firepower while the defences appear susceptible to being breached at any point, this could be one not to miss. And with Ajax depleted by Covid for their clash with Midtjylland, Atalanta have even greater incentive to chase three points.

Team to watch – Manchester City

City’s concerns contrast sharply with Liverpool, who they face on Sunday. Pep Guardiola has stiffened up his defence but now his attack is stuttering.

Since being ripped to pieces by Leicester when Brendan Rodgers left the Etihad with a 5-2 win five weeks ago, City have conceded only three goals in their last seven matches. Ruben Dias’s swift acclimatisation has been a major factor in shoring up City, with the summer signing having played six consecutive matches. No City centre-back managed such a streak last season.

But Guardiola is left searching for consistency in his attack. The timing of City’s new-found stinginess is fortunate since they have managed only a single goal in each of their four Premier League matches since being thumped by the Foxes. Injuries certainly haven’t helped.

Both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus have been sidelined prior to the visit of Olympiacos on Tuesday night, though Jesus hasn’t yet been ruled out. Of late, it has been Ferran Torres filling in for the absent central strikers and against Sheffield United, though he couldn’t convert his chances, his presence posed the Blades plenty of problems, while also allowing Raheem Sterling to return to the wider role in which he is more comfortable.

With City on six points already and Guardiola seemingly incapable of focusing on just one thing at a time, you can bet the weekend’s clash with Liverpool will be on his mind while his side look to cement their place at the top of Group C. If Torres, a natural winger, retains the centre-forward role against the Greeks, he is a fair bet to face the Reds on Sunday with Guardiola needing a win to claw back some of the five-point advantage currently held by the reigning champions.

Manager to watch – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Which Manchester United will show up in Istanbul to face Basaksehir on Wednesday night – the United that has been so impressive in their two Champions League matches so far this season, or the Red Devils so wretched in the Premier League?

For this particular assignment, perhaps it won’t matter too greatly. In theory, Solskjaer could rest some of his big names and United should still have enough to emerge unscathed from their trip to Turkey. But the woeful surrender to Arsenal on Sunday has heaped the pressure on Solskjaer once more to such an extent that, in the long run, it maybe won’t matter which United turns up because they are only ever a game or two from sh*ting their own bed again anyway.

This constant toing and froing from dark pessimism to naive optimism serves no one and Solskjaer is running out of time to save his own skin because, as Roy Keane said, his players don’t seem too fussed about helping him out. The manager’s inconsistency in approach is certainly not helping the search for consistency in performances and the time has long since passed for Solskjaer to make some tough decisions over who retains his faith and who has exhausted their opportunities to earn it back.

Paul Pogba is the obvious problem. Solskjaer has shifted to a diamond midfield just to squeeze in Pogba, despite his full-backs and holding midfielders lacking the necessary attributes to make the system a success. Pogba cost United against Arsenal on Sunday and he should find himself back among the substitutes in Istanbul. But until the France star is perching his backside on the bench, few would bet on Solskjaer being decisive over what isn’t a difficult decision.

It would be reasonable for Donny van de Beek to expect another start after featuring in Solskjaer’s XI against RB Leipzig last week, especially after Bruno Fernandes toiled against Arsenal. Axel Tuanzebe too might expect another opportunity after pocketing Kylian Mbappe in the group H opener.

But Solskjaer has problems beyond the personnel. Tactically, he has proven to be the man for the underdog occasion, but going to Basaksehir is definitely not that. The United boss needs to find a way to tease some creativity out of his side beyond sitting back and breaking at lightning speed. Further failure to do so in Solskjaer’s 101st match in charge will only increase the clamour to replace him before 15th-placed United have their Champions League qualification hopes dashed irreparably.

READ MORE: Comparing the first 100 games of Solskjaer and Klopp

Player to watch – Edouard Mendy

The Chelsea goalkeeper makes a swift return to his former home when the Blues visit Rennes this week. And as Mendy reflects on his start to life at Stamford Bridge, it is hard to imagine that it could have gone any better.

The Senegal stopper is seeking his sixth consecutive clean sheet having not conceded since his debut against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. It is a record so impressive even without the comparison with Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has only kept five clean sheets all year.

Frank Lampard spoke about the ‘security’ that Mendy has brought with him to Chelsea and it is difficult to pinpoint exactly why Chelsea look so much more secure with the 28-year-old protecting their goal. It is almost too straightforward but Mendy is simply a competent keeper, doing the basics and doing them well, whereas Kepa looked like a £72million impostor in gloves in the Stamford Bridge goalmouth.

Kurt Zouma’s testimony suggests as much: “He has been great, with the ball at his feet and he is big, too,” said the defender after the weekend’s win at Burnley. “He has presence and catches the ball when he comes out. He is talking a lot, doing a great job.”

Thiago Silva’s presence has also helped shore up Lampard’s defence but Mendy offers the greatest contrast between their new-found solidity and the mess that went before. On his return to his old club, the serenity provided by the former Rennes stopper still retains its novelty for Chelsea fans too used to Kepa’s chaos.

Football League game to watch – Derby v QPR

Sky Sports’ alternative to the Champions League this week comes in the form of three games from the Championship. On Tuesday, you can pick from Blackburn versus Boro, or Barnsley at Cardiff. On Wednesday, it’s 22nd hosting 18th…

For Derby, that’s not even close to good enough. Phillip Cocu was a manager under the cosh but a run of three without defeat – all 1-1 draws – has earned him a stay of execution. Now, though, Cocu and the Rams really need their first home win of a season in which they have gathered only six points from nine matches.

They almost spoiled Bournemouth’s record as the country’s only unbeaten side at the weekend, but the Rams now face two fellow strugglers this week and in QPR they host a side which has lost five and drawn one of their previous six trips to Pride Park.

Of course, you could also go down the pub for the last time until God knows when…

Ian Watson