RUBEN DIAS is the defensive leader Manchester City have craved to fill Vincent Kompany’s boots.
And the Portuguese centre-back can help them finally smash the Anfield hoodoo which has haunted the club for the last four decades.
That is the view of former Etihad captain Richard Dunne, who has been hugely impressed by the winning mentality Dias has brought to the club.
The former Republic of Ireland international, 41, was in the line-up when City last triumphed at Liverpool, a 2-1 win under Kevin Keegan in May 2003.
And he feels they have a great chance to put the record straight on Sunday, with £64.5million rock Dias at the heart of their defence.
The former Benfica man, 23, has helped CIty keep 13 clean sheets out of the 19 Premier League games he has played.
In other competitions there have been a further five shut-outs from seven starts.
In fact, City have conceded only four goals in their last 20 games — and much of that has been down to Dias.
Dunne said: “I feel like City have been crying out for a leader since Vincent Kompany left.
“Even towards the end of his time at the club, when he didn’t play as often, you’d say it was a bit of a weak spot for City.
“But Dias coming in has changed all that.
“He’s the talker in that defence, the one who gets them organised, even though he’s younger than Aymeric Laporte and John Stones.”
When City shipped five goals at home to Leicester in just their second game of the season, there were fears boss Pep Guardiola’s men were in decline.
But Dias joined the following day and made it clear right from the start what he was all about.
Dunne said: “I remember watching his first interview and he said he was a winner — and you can see that he is.
“He’s made a huge impact on the team since he came in.
“He seems to take great pleasure in clean sheets, he really celebrates them at the full-time whistle.
“City’s defenders like to play out from the back but with Dias his first thought is to clear the ball. With him, they are not making errors any more.
“Dias has also had a huge impact on John Stones, although he’s the type of player who can make anyone that plays alongside him look better.
“They just look really strong defensively and they’ll be full of confidence for Sunday now.
“I don’t think Dias and Virgil van Dijk are similar in terms of styles of play, but in terms of the impact they’ve made you could certainly compare them.”
City know they will be in for a big test against the Reds, despite the indifferent recent form of the defending champions.
But surely there will never be a better time to lay their Anfield hoodoo to rest, with no fans on the Kop and Jurgen Klopp’s men failing to score in their last three home matches.
Amazingly, the victory Dunne enjoyed there in 2003 was the only one the club has managed in almost 40 years.
The one before that was way back on Boxing Day 1981, when Asa Hartford, Kevin Reeves and Kevin Bond scored in a 3-1 win.
Dunne said: “It’s mad that it’s been 18 years since City last won at Anfield considering everything they’ve achieved in the meantime.
“I remember the game well, two goals from Nicolas Anelka, one of them late on, and Peter Schmeichel making a lot of saves.
“City have given themselves a bit of breathing space with this winning run they’ve been on but you’ve got to say it’s a must-win game for Liverpool now.
“This would be the perfect time for City to set the record straight and get that win.”
