Labelling today’s league match at Anfield the biggest in 24 years for Liverpool is not hyperbole. Should anything but three points be earned by the home side, Manchester City will enter the driver’s seat, with Liverpool relegated to the role of a passenger awaiting a bump in the road to give them the edge once again; the returning Sergio Aguero will be desperate to ensure his team is at the wheel come this evening. The game being played today, 48 hours away from the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, is not decisive, but it is undeniably pivotal.

Following their defeat at the Etihad over the Christmas period, Liverpool have tasted victory in all but one game (a 2-1 loss to Chelsea three days later), and are continuing to build on a 14 match unbeaten run since the turn of the year. Pellegrini’s side are also forgetting how it feels to leave a stadium having earned no points; the last time they suffered defeat was two months ago against Chelsea. A team undefeated in 2014 facing off against a side who have won 16 and drawn three of their last 20 league games is the heaviest of weighted clashes, and it goes without saying that this has the potential to be a Premier League classic.

And yet, seven months ago, Liverpool weren’t expected to be in this position. Brendan Rodgers has led his team to the summit of the Premier League table after managing a seventh place finish last season. Of course, the 49 goals plundered by Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have helped, but Rodgers deserves the majority of the credit for pushing a side predicted to challenge for a Europa League spot to within five games of the title.

The fact there are only five games until the season’s end makes this match all the more important, and while fans of both sides will likely find that they already have no fingernails left to bite, neutrals are sure to be eagerly awaiting a game that promises numerous goals and some of the most attractive football in Europe. Having scored an astonishing 174 goals between them since the gameweek one, it’s safe to assume that Liverpool and Manchester City will not be keeping clean sheets today, and it wouldn’t be unwise to state that whoever walks away with victory will lift the Premier League trophy on May 11th.

Team News

Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers’ squad is showing a full bill of health aside from left-back Jose Enrique, whose season was confirmed as being over last week following his struggle to overcome a knee injury suffered in October. Daniel Agger is available again after sitting out the defeat of West Ham last Sunday, but Rodgers has a selection headache after watching Mamadou Sakho play well against The Hammers. Joe Allen could also return to the squad should an extra man in midfield be needed. Forgotten man Sebastian Coates, on loan at his previous club Nacional, returned to action mid-week for the first time since damaging his cruciate ligament in August.

Man City

Defensive rock Vincent Kompany limped off during training yesterday but is expected to be fit and included in the starting line-up; as are Sergio Aguero (who has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury) and Yaya Toure. Matija Nastasic remains unavailable because of a knee problem.





