Premier League: Liverpool v Manchester City match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's fixture at Anfield

Manuel Pellegrini makes a point from the touchline (EPA)

In a game that has been billed as a title showdown, City travel to Anfield knowing that by full-time only one of these two teams will have their fate in their own hands.

Liverpool are in scintillating form, having won nine league games in a row, and sit top of the table. However City, who have two games in hand and are only four points behind, will fancy their chances of picking up at least the point they need to keep in the box seat.

This fixture has finished 2-2 in each of the last two seasons, and a third consecutive draw would suit the visitors.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 1.37pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Manchester City 2 (Kompany, Negredo) Liverpool 1 (Coutinho), Premier League, December 2013

Manchester City 2 (Dzeko, Aguero) Liverpool 2 (Sturridge, Gerrard), Premier League, February 2013

Liverpool 2 (Skrtel , Suarez) Manchester City 2 (Toure, Tevez), Premier League, August 2012

STATS…

Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League in 2014

Southampton are the only team to stop the reds scoring at Anfield this season, back in September.

After playing Liverpool, City will have just one game against a team in the top half remaining, another trip to Merseyside to face Everton.

These two teams are the top two scorers in the league this season – Liverpool have notched 90 times while City have scored 84 goals. Chelsea are third with 65 goals.

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last five league games against Liverpool.

Luis Suarez needs just two goals to equal the record number for a 38-game Premier League season. He is currently on 29, trailing Alan Shearer (1996/96) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2007/08)

CLASSIC MATCH – Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool, May 5 1996

Far from the title decider of today, City went into this, the final game of the season, in the relegation zone, knowing that even a win against Roy Evans’ Liverpool wouldn’t guarantee their safety. Liverpool raced into a two-goal lead before half-time, but an Uwe Rosler penalty and a goal from Steve Lomas got City level. The home side, erroneously thinking that other results were going their way, ran the clock down, before discovering, too late, that Southampton had drawn at Wimbledon. City were relegated on goal difference.

ODDS…

Liverpool to win: 2.37

Manchester City to win: 2.87

Draw: 3.5

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 1.37pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm