Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Liverpool, six points clear at the top of the Premier League table, host Manchester City in what could be one of the decisive games of the 2019/20 campaign.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are priced at 33/20 in Premier League odds to claim three points this weekend and a win will put Liverpool firmly in control of the title race.
The Reds will be fired up and ready for war on Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool have gone 45 matches since their last home defeat in the Premier League – an incredible achievement.
Anfield has been a fortress for the Reds in recent times, with Liverpool winning 13 of their 14 home leagues games in 2019.
Fans of the Merseyside club will be expecting big things ahead of Sunday’s clash.
There isn’t much to split the two teams in the betting but Liverpool will be buoyed by Manchester City’s growing injury list, particularly as goalkeeper Ederson is a major doubt.
With that in mind, the Reds are likely to put City under pressure – Klopp is insistent on pressing high up the pitch and Liverpool won’t change their tactics.
The 2018/19 Champions League winner are top of the table so why would they tweak a winning formula?
888sport punters can back Liverpool at 23/20 to score over 1.5 goals on Sunday and that could turn out to be the bet of the weekend.
This has landed in 16 consecutive home games in all competitions and Klopp’s side will be confident of notching a couple of goals.
Manchester City will be without a number of first team players for Sunday’s trip to Anfield and Pep Guardiola will be sweating over the fitness of Ederson and David Silva.
Fans making the short trip west on the M62 will have real concerns over that City back four.
Fernandinho has been an excellent servant to the club but he looks so out of place in the middle of City’s back four.
There is no real replacement for Aymeric Laporte – he is one of the first names on the teamsheet in most combined Liverpool – Manchester City XIs.
Without a doubt, City’s biggest strength is their depth in midfield. Shifting Fernandinho to centre-half is not a problem when you have Ilkay Gundogan as a replacement.
The Germany international can be City’s midfield general at a hostile Anfield this weekend.
Going forward, City are clinical and we could see former Liverpool star Raheem Sterling make a major impact.
The City frontman has bagged 26 goals and three assists in 29 appearances in 2019/20 and he is worth a punt at 2/1 to score on Sunday.
There is an awful lot riding on this fixture but victory isn’t the be all and end all just yet.
Pep Guardiola will be hoping that City are still in the hunt come January and Laporte’s return in the second half of the campaign should give the visitors a real boost.
The Premier League title race won’t be over if Liverpool win but the Reds will have taken a huge stride towards their maiden success in England’s modern top flight.
A draw or an away win keeps it interesting for neutrals and City could rise to the challenge.
Liverpool dropped points in their recent trip to Old Trafford – fans will be hoping for a more aggressive approach.
Attack City early and test this back four; Guardiola’s side may crumble if the intense Anfield atmosphere gets Liverpool going.
TIP: Liverpool to win (33/20 with 888sport)
LONGSHOT: Sadio Mane to score and Liverpool to win (4/1 with 888sport)
PREDICTED SCORE: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City (16/1 with 888sport)
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Frank Augstein / AP Photo*
