What a game in prospect and one City desperately need to win to keep the title race alive, they already trail Liverpool by 7 points and even a draw is going to make things very difficult, a loss, close to impossible. The Reds have bossed recent meetings and even in the only real blip on that card, a 5-0 loss here early last season, the visitors were the better team early and the sending off of Sadio Mane before the break, a game changer. Pool are unbeaten, but should have lost the reverse fixture at Anfield (0-0) with Riyad Mahrez missing a late penalty. Liverpool are averaging 2.1 goals on the road and it is easy to seen them scoring tonight with City, whom I have long spoke about as not being as strong defensively as the goals against column indicates, being without a clean sheet in ten starts and four times giving up 2+ goals in that sequence, including three here at the Etihad to Crytal Palace over Christmas. What City do have is goals themselves and a vast array of attacking options, they have won 9/10 home starts this season averaging 3.5 goals, last season it was 3.21 and a 16-2-1 record here. Main striker Sergio Aguero loves playing host to Pool and has scored in six home games versus the Merseysiders.

 

Liverpool have also traditionally struggled in January in recent seasons and have lost 9/24 through the month under Jurgen Klopp. City boss Pep Guardiola started the mind games early and has been very open about how he intends to play and said his team will attack from the off and continue to do so regardless of score, also of playing with an ultra high defensive line and very high press, especially on keeper Alisson Becker, so, if true to his word, we should be in for a very interesting and entertaining evening. Last seven h2h meetings in Manchester have seen both teams score and I think it will be 7/8 after tonight, but once the dust settles, with three points for City, who can end the Liverpool unbeaten record just like the Reds did to City at Anfield 51 weeks ago in a 4-3 thriller . Hosts have a real problem area at left back and I cannot see them keeping Liverpool out for 90 minutes, but just feel it is vital for them and they will find a way to edge the win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All make plenty of appeal, but after much toing and froing, I think best value is with the "over" which I will take for 2 units.

 

 

 

 

 

Good Luck.