‘People like that’: Teenage Man City player isn’t fazed by £34m Liverpool star’s ‘challenge’

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Manchester City’s Rico Lewis doesn’t seem particularly fazed about facing Mohamed Salah on Thursday. He could start against Liverpool.

Rico Lewis could start against Liverpool on Thursday as Manchester City host an EFL Cup tie between the two. That may see the teenager come up against Mohamed Salah – even if they technically play on opposite flanks.

But Lewis, who has two starts for City thus far, relishes the challenge of Liverpool’s no.11. He knows he’ll come out better for it, no matter what happens.

“You’ve just got to take the challenge as it comes,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “If I play I’ll do the best I can, that’s all I really can do

“Playing against people like [Salah] will only make you a better player. If you play well or struggle you’re going to learn regardless.”

Rico Lewis vs Mohamed Salah

We expect Lewis would start at right-back for City, meaning it’s more likely to be Darwin Nunez or Fabio Carvalho that he faces. But honestly, we have no idea what kind of side Jurgen Klopp will put out.

Liverpool also play on Monday, after all. On the one hand, he might want to rest his stars for the Premier League game. On the other, this is a great chance to generate some momentum after the World Cup break.

And Salah hasn’t played since mid-November. Not competitively, anyway. We imagine he’s itching to go and there’s a very good chance that he gets an hour at the Etihad.

But we also expect Klopp to start some teenagers of his own. Ben Doak, for one, is training with the seniors and Stefan Bajcetic could certainly start as the Reds’ holding midfielder.

Roberto Firmino, Thiago, and Andy Robertson could all use a runout like Salah after missing the World Cup.