Manchester City vs. Liverpool predictions, odds: Experts pick Premier League top of the table showdown

A top of the table clash like few others the Premier League has delivered in recent years, Liverpool’s trip to Manchester City on Sunday could be the match where the title is decided. A strong statement given there are seven games to play after these two face off at the Etihad Stadium, but such are the remorseless standards these two are setting it seems perfectly feasible, if not likely, that the points one or both of these teams drop this weekend will be the last they give up.

City hold the slenderest of advantages going into Sunday’s game, leading Liverpool by a point but with goal difference favoring their opponents. Will the Premier League holders still be at the top of the table come full time? Our writers look ahead to the biggest game of the season.

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Matchups to watch

One Man City matchup to watch: In general City’s build-up play this season has tended to gravitate towards the left. It seems eminently imaginable they will probe that flank to an even greater degree to test Trent Alexander-Arnold through Raheem Sterling, who has started to hit a really impressive vein of form of late. If Liverpool’s right back risks bombing too high up the pitch then wait for Sterling and company to roast him in behind.

One Liverpool matchup to watch: While I’d love to say Alexander-Arnold is the guy to watch just because I’ll be keeping my eyes on him but against a team that likes to posses like Manchester City, it will be how Fabinho tracks Kevin de Bruyne. Fabinho has been an excellent shield for the Liverpool defense and his performance will go a long way to seeing if they can win this game.

Most likely to score a goal for Man City: Phil Foden has an exceptional record in this fixture of late, scoring in three of the last four games and is perhaps in the best form of his career so far. His cameo turned the tide against Atletico Madrid in midweek, and he will surely be rewarded with a start and then seems well-placed to deliver.

Likely goal scorers

Most likely to score a goal for Liverpool: Sadio Mane. While all the attention is on Mohamed Salah, and now Luis Diaz, Mane somehow finds a way to slip past opposing defenses. With 12 goals already in the Premier League, while he isn’t hitting the highs of a few years ago, that doesn’t mean that he won’t get the job done.

Which keeper is most likely to keep a clean sheet? It is as hard to pick a difference between Alisson and Ederson in this game as it is in the battle to be Brazil’s number one, not least because both Liverpool and City look like impressive defensive forces on current form. There’s the finest of margins between them but I’ll back Ederson in a game where the hosts are likely to shade the possession and shot battle.

Man of the match

Man of the Match pick for Man City: De Bruyne is motoring through the gears at just the right moment, and much like Foden, he has tended to sparkle of late against City’s greatest rival. His last four league and European games have brought four goals, an assist and 16 chances created. He may well be the difference.

Man of the Match pick for Liverpool: Fabinho. If Liverpool are to emerge with a win, Fabinho will need to play out of his mind. Other players may get the goals and assists but Fabinho’s performance will be so important. If City doesn’t pay attention, he could knock in a goal as well to add to his five on the season.

Prediction

Match prediction: Man City 2, Liverpool 1. For all the drama that this rivalry brings the truth is it has been a rather one-sided contest over recent years with Pep Guardiola winning seven and losing just one of the last 12 top-flight meetings. There is something about the Reds that City have seemingly puzzled out and that might just be enough for them to shade the game on Sunday.