Liverpool vs Man City: Champions need return of ‘leader’ Dias for Anfield test

Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column where Nick Wright uses a mix of data and opinion to shed light on need-to-know stories from across the Premier League. This week:

❓ Dias key to Man City's revival? 🔵 No James, no problem for Chelsea🔮 Un-Spursy Kulusevski sees a future

Crisis-hit Man City needs leader Dias

Manchester City's winless run has highlighted the significance of Rodri's absence. But the Ballon d'Or winner isn't the only player missed during the recent turmoil.

Pep Guardiola's side were still unbeaten when Ruben Dias suffered a calf injury in the Carabao Cup match against Tottenham last month. In the four weeks since, when Dias joined Rodri on the sidelines, they have lost as many games as in all of last season.

The collapse was extraordinary, but could have been avoided if Dias had been available. Not only is he an excellent defender, but also one of the leaders of the team, someone described by his manager as “a man who is always ready to help in the bad moments”.

Guardiola added: “If a defender plays for himself it's a problem, but he always thinks about his central defensive partner, his midfielder and even the wingers.” Guardiola would later describe Dias as a player with “the ability to see and solve problems” for his team.

Dias was at least fit enough to be named on the bench against Feyenoord on Tuesday evening, raising hopes that he could return against Liverpool on Super Sunday. leadership, but also trust and balance in midfield.

It's not the first time they've felt his absence.

Since the start of that 2022/23 season, City have lost 11 of the 49 games without Dias starting in all competitions, compared to just five of the 90 he has started.

His role in the 2022/2023 treble-winning campaign was particularly important. City appeared to be thrown off course as he struggled to shake off a hamstring injury he sustained in December. His eventual return coincided with the start of a 25-match unbeaten run.

How City would love a repeat this season.

Dias is not exempt from Guardiola's demanding demands. He was surprisingly dropped during last season's visit to Anfield, which ended in a 1-1 draw. But with City's season on the line, the availability of their defensive leader could be crucial this time around.

Gusto softens James' blow

News of Reece James' latest injury setback comes as a blow to Chelsea, but is softened by the expected return of Malo Gusto for Sunday's meeting with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old, who missed last weekend's 2-1 win over Leicester due to illness, has proven to be an able deputy to Chelsea's captain during his long spells on the sidelines. is asked of him.

Gusto's last appearance against Sunday's opponents, during Chelsea's FA Cup win over Villa Park in February, featured an accurate cross from the right flank that set up Nicolas Jackson's header for the second goal as the Blues claimed a 3-1 win.

This season, however, he is more likely to settle into midfield than charge forward on the overlap. The role of the right back has changed dramatically under Enzo Maresca.

With Noni Madueke having the width in front of him, Gusto now has to provide support in central areas, closer to Moises Caicedo at number 6 and sometimes even in the number 10 position.

There have been awkward moments as he reoriented himself to another part of the field. But for the most part, he's handled the transition well. “He gives us a lot of things,” Maresca said recently. “He helps the process move the way we want to play.”

Keep this up and James may face a fight to regain his place.

Kulusevski the antithesis of 'Spursy'

Tottenham surprised the spectators last weekend with their four goals against Manchester City, but Dejan Kulusevski saw it coming. It was fascinating to hear him manifest his brilliant performance in an interview at the club's training ground two days earlier.

“My favorite game of the year,” he told Sky Sports of the visit to the Etihad Stadium. “It's where I come alive. I feel my body differently in those matches. I feel super confident because I know before the match that I will deliver a big performance… I really love competing against the best teams to play.”

His confidence was of course well-founded. Kulusevski, one of the Premier League's best players this season, has scored in three consecutive away games against Pep Guardiola's side. His last visit didn't result in a goal, but it was probably his best performance yet.

Driven by sheer willpower and an insatiable hunger for self-improvement, the 24-year-old came across as the antithesis of the 'Spursy' label the club is trying to shake off.

“If I'm not No. 1, then I'm not doing enough,” he said of off-season training and preparation for an agreed move to midfield. “To be a champion, you have to be a champion every day,” he added as he explained the reasons for Tottenham's inconsistency.

That inconsistency became clear again when they finally drew a match they should have won against Roma on Thursday evening. But Kulusevski remains an example for his teammates to follow.

Live radar: what's on Sky this weekend?

The Premier League weekend kicks off with Friday Night Football, with Brighton hosting Southampton, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7.30pm ahead of the 8pm kick-off.

Arsenal visit West Ham on Saturday Night Football, with coverage from 5pm on the Sky Sports Premier League and kick-off at 5.30pm.

Then it's time for Super Sunday, where Chelsea host Aston Villa at 1.30pm, before Liverpool's blockbuster clash with Manchester City starts at 4pm.

Read last week's Radar column

Last week's column focused on Amad Diallo, who went on to score the first goal of Ruben Amorim's reign at Manchester United against Ipswich. Liam Delap's clinical results were also discussed, as were Curtis Jones' surprising running statistics.