The Premier League's most anticipated match at the start of the new year when Manchester City hosted Liverpool at Etihad Stadium.
Defending champions City slipped to third after taking three defeats in the last five matches, seven points adrift of Liverpool, who currently top the standings and are still unbeaten so far in the league.
Pep Guardiola's forces realistically need to stop the pace of Jurgen Klopp's side's victory if City want to retain their title and victory here will make City minimize the distance with the leaders.
His last 1-3 win at Southampton and playing in front of his own supporters will be a capital of enthusiasm for Pep Guardiola's troops, but they must remain vigilant because Liverpool are difficult opponents to stop.
On the other hand, Liverpool remain the club that has not been defeated this season. The Reds have sat at the top of the standings after incised a winning streak in the last nine matches, including embarrassing Arsenal with a score of 5-1 at Anfield.
The win will be the 10th in a row in the league, the Reds have so far passed every test they have encountered this season, but the match will be the biggest test for Jurgen Klopp's forces in domestic competition and victory will be strongest statement of their title credentials.
Manchester CityEstimated line up: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko; Bernardo, Fernandinho, Silva; Sterling, Aguero, Sane
Liverpool Estimated line up: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson; Mane, Firmino, Keita; Wrong
last five meetings
Liverpool won their last visit to the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League quarter-finals last season and have only lost one of their last four away matches against City.
Man City managed to thwart a series of three successive defeats in this competition with a goalless draw at Anfield in October.
10/10/18 Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
07/26/18 Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool
04/11/18 Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool
04/04/18 Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City
1/14/18 Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City
Five Last Matches Manchester City
12/30/18 Southampton 1-3 Manchester City
12/26/18 Leicester 2-1 Manchester City
12/22/18 Manchester City 2-3 Crystal Palace
12/19/18 Leicester 1-2 Manchester City
12/15/18 Manchester City 3-1 Everton
Liverpool's last five matches
30/12/18 Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal
12/26/18 Liverpool 4-0 Newcastle
12/22/18 Wolves 0-2 Liverpool
12/16/18 Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United
12/12/18 Liverpool 1-0 Napoli
Prediction
Man City 1-1 Liverpool
Odds @3.93 scorumbet
Apart from the record of the meeting of the two previous teams, both City and Liverpool both had the chance to win but the draw was the best.
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