Liverpool vs Manchester City

Anfield sets the stage for a mouth-watering Premier League top-table six-pointer between pacesetters Liverpool and perennial champions Manchester City.

Liverpool reigned supreme in midweek Europa League action, thumping Sparta Prague 5-1 on the road in the first leg of their last-16 tie to make it seven consecutive wins in all competitions. Jurgen Klopp’s side preserved their one-point lead at the Premier League summit last week by the skin of their teeth, with Darwin Nunez netting a last-gasp winner in a 1-0 triumph at Nottingham Forest. Beating Manchester City at home for only the second time in their last four league attempts (W1, D1, L1) would solidify Liverpool’s bid to draw level with Manchester United’s record 20 Premier League titles. There’s no better place than Anfield to help the Reds fulfill their dreams, as they’ve only lost once in their last 55 home league outings (W42, D12).

If there’s any side capable of challenging Liverpool’s home dominance, it’s Manchester City, a side that has won their last nine away games across all competitions while netting 3+ goals in six. However, Anfield hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Citizens by any stretch of the imagination, as evidenced by just one win from their last 20 top-flight visits (D6, L13). Pep Guardiola will be keen to turn those fortunes around and settle the score with his arch-nemesis Klopp, who boasts a slightly better H2H record ahead of their 30th managerial clash (W12, D6, L11). The Spaniard can take confidence from last weekend’s come-from-behind 3-1 win against crosstown rivals Manchester United. City followed that success with an identical triumph against Copenhagen in midweek Champions League action, making it three multi-goal margin wins in a row.