Manchester City and Liverpool meet at Etihad Stadium on Sunday in a huge Premier League encounter that could go a long way to deciding the destination of the title.
Pep Guardiola’s leaders start on 73 points – one ahead of the Reds – with just seven games left after this weekend.
While Liverpool arrive in Manchester on the back of a 10-match winning run in the top flight, City – who are going for a fourth title in five seasons – have dropped five points in their past five games since winning 4-0 at Norwich on 12 February.
Victory for the Reds would see them finish a day top of the table for the first time since 1 October.
Of the last eight Premier League meetings between the top two sides to take place within the final 10 games of the season, the team in second has won seven times, including each of the past five in a row.
Liverpool, who have already won the Carabao Cup, can still win a historic quadruple, while City are also chasing success in the Champions League and FA Cup as well as the league.
“There is a lot to go for and for those you need momentum and you need rhythm,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
The Premier League’s top two clubs have scored 147 goals between them in the competition this season, with Liverpool scoring 77 of those – seven more than City.
“Maybe in the final third they are more ‘wow’, more powerful for the quality of the players, but from what I see there are many things where we are close, we work quite similarly,” said Guardiola.
Data experts Nielsen Gracenote say victory for City will increase their chance of winning the league to 86%. But an away win will make Liverpool favourites with a 68% chance of finishing first.
City full-back Kyle Walker is back in contention after serving a European suspension in midweek, while Phil Foden – who scored when the sides drew 2-2 at Anfield in October – could return to the starting line-up after coming off the bench to help his side beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Foden has scored in each of his past three Premier League games against Liverpool, and could become just the second player to score in four straight appearances against the Reds in the competition after Jamie Vardy (five between 2016 and 2017).
