Premier League: Liverpool vs Manchester City match preview

A look ahead to Sunday’s Premier League fixture at Anfield

Fernandinho and David Silva celebrate following a Manchester City goal against Liverpool last weekend (Getty Images)

This fixture last season was billed as a ‘title decider’, Liverpool won on the day but City beat them to league glory.

This time round it’s a little bit different but the stakes are just as high; City are still gunning for the title but their hosts are hoping to improve their chances of getting a top four spot.

Since the turn of the year Brendan Rodgers’ side are looking like the team that was fighting for the title last April, now playing with the freedom and expression that made them so watchable last season.

A dogged 2-0 win at Southampton extended their unbeaten league run to ten games as they are mounting a real case for a Champions League place at just the right time in the season.

City, meanwhile boosted their title hopes with a rampant 5-0 win over Newcastle, closing the gap on Chelsea in the process and they know a win at Anfield will really put the pressure on Jose Mourinho’s men as they are out of league action this weekend.

A former red, in the shape of Luis Suarez, dented City’s Champions League hopes in midweek but Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping Liverpool will be off colour from their own European travels as they faced a 4,300 mile round trip to Turkey on Thursday.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 12pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Man City 3 (Jovetic 2, Aguero) Liverpool 1 (Zabaleta og), Premier League, August 2014

Liverpool 3 (Sterling, Skrtel, Coutinho) Man City 2 (Silva, Johnson og), Premier League, April 2014

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

STATS…

Liverpool have won more points (16) in their last six matches than anyone else in the last six matches.

Raheem Sterling’s goal against Southampton put him joint top-scorer with Steven Gerrard on six goals.

Man City have had a league-high 16.9 shots per game.

The last time Man City won at Anfield was in May 2003 when Nicolas Anelka scored a double in a 2-1 win.

ODDS…

Liverpool to win: 3

Man City to win: 2.55

Draw: 3.5

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 12pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm