Milos Kerkez, Liverpool's defender, has issued a frank assessment ahead of Sunday's blockbuster Premier League clash against Manchester City at Anfield, saying the Reds must perform at their absolute peak to secure a result against the league leaders. The match, one of English football's most storied rivalries, marks the first fixture back following an extensive international break.

Kerkez's Pre-Match Assessment

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Kerkez made clear that Liverpool are under no illusions about the scale of the task. 'They are top of the table right now, and we are sixth, so we know it's a big game for us,' he said. 'We know City are a top side, and we must be at our best to get the best possible result from the game. Everyone knows about the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City. These are the games you want to play in.'

The Hungarian left-back, now in his fourth year in the Premier League, also underscored the unforgiving nature of English football. 'It's not like the other leagues, where if you're placed third or fourth on the table and play against an 18th- or 19th-ranked team, you win easily. You can lose that game easily if you're not 100 per cent prepared. This is the best league, the toughest league, so I love to be here,' he added.

Form Heading Into Sunday

Manchester City, managed by Enzo Maresca, arrive at Anfield on the back of a perfect start to the season — five wins from five Premier League games. Their most recent outing before the international break was a wildly entertaining 5-3 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium. City also hammered Liverpool 4-0 in an FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad in April, and won all three meetings between the sides last season, including a 3-0 league victory at the Etihad and a dramatic late comeback win at Anfield in February.

Liverpool, meanwhile, head into the game with two wins and three draws from their opening five league fixtures, placing them sixth in the table. Their last outing was a narrow 1-0 win at Bournemouth, keeping them unbeaten across all competitions through seven games this season.

Liverpool's Defensive Concern

Kerkez also acknowledged that Liverpool's early-season defensive record has been a source of frustration within the camp. 'It's been really disappointing to concede so many goals early on in the season — especially as defenders, we want clean sheets,' he said. He revealed that the squad used the international break to address those lapses. 'We had meetings, we had video analysis for the defenders always, so we want to improve a lot in that regard, and we can with the quality we have, and we should. We know we must be better at the back.'

This comes amid broader scrutiny of Liverpool's defensive organisation in the early weeks of the new campaign, a recurring theme whenever the side has struggled to hold leads or shut out opponents.

What the Match Means

A win for Liverpool on Sunday could close the gap significantly at the top of the table, while a City victory would extend their lead and put early-season pressure on the chasing pack. Notably, Anfield has been a fortress in recent seasons, and City's ability to win there last term made it one of the defining moments of that title race. With both sides having shaken off international break fatigue, the contest promises to be a genuine litmus test for Liverpool's ambitions this campaign.

Sunday's result could reshape the early narrative of the 2024-25 Premier League season and set the tone for the months ahead.