Premier League: Manchester City v Liverpool match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League match at the Etihad

Daniel Sturridge (left) and Luis Suarez started together for the first time on Saturday (AFP)

With Manchester United playing Fulham on Saturday, there seems every chance that Manchester City could be all of 10 points adrift of their fierce rivals when they play Liverpool on Sunday.

City turned around an 8-point deficit to take the title last year of course, but there is no question that with 14 games remaining, Roberto Mancini’s men can ill-afford any more dropped points, as was the case at QPR during the week.

Mancini was at the Emirates on Wednesday night to scout his opponents and he is likely to have been impressed with Liverpool, who looked well worth their 2-0 lead midway through the second half. Yet inconsistency has been a central theme of Liverpool for a couple of seasons now and the two goals they conceded in a three-minute spell to let Arsenal back in highlighted the work that still needs to be done.

Brendan Rogers added Philippe Coutinho to his squad on deadline day and the Brazilian should bolster an attack already well-strengthened by the arrival of Daniel Sturridge earlier in the window. However, the latest arrival will not play a part this weekend.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 4.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

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

Liverpool 2 (Gerrard, Bellamy) Manchester City 2 (de Jong, Dzeko) Carling Cup, January, 2012

Manchester City 0 Liverpool 1 (Gerrard) Carling Cup, January, 2012

STATS...

Manchester City have kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League

Liverpool have won just three of their 12 Premier League away games

There have been five draws for the last eight times these sides met in the Premier League

Liverpool have still yet to beat a side in the top 10 of the Premier League this season

ODDS...

Man City to win: 1.87

Liverpool to win: 4.5

Draw: 3.95

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 4.00pm. Highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm.