Liverpool host Manchester City on Sunday with the result
likely to be a key factor in who wins the Premier League title.
Leaders Liverpool have enjoyed a remarkable season, based
largely on a stellar attacking unit, while City have been just as impressive,
despite their fall to third due to their commitments in various cup
competitions.
Despite having two games in hand on Brendan Rodgers' men,
the gap of four points between the sides means City can ill-afford defeat at
Anfield.
With Chelsea lurking in second, two points off the top
and hoping for slip-ups from both their rivals, Liverpool know that a 10th
straight Premier League win will put them very much in the driving seat for a
first title since 1990.
However, Rodgers has insisted this weekend's clash is not
necessarily crucial in deciding the destination of the trophy, calling on his
players to relish the run-in.
"It's a significant game. It's two teams who have
done extremely well this season but still have a lot of work to do after
it," he said.
"It's vitally important we stay calm. We showed that
at West Ham (in a hard-fought 2-1 victory) last weekend. People talk about
pressure, but for us it's excitement."
Strikers Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have been
integral to Liverpool's title tilt, contributing 49 of the club's 90 top-flight
goals this term.
Indeed, Suarez needs just three more to overtake the
record of 31 goals in a 38-game Premier League season, which is held jointly by
Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Uruguayan's efforts have helped Liverpool eclipse
City's own impressive goal tally, with Manuel Pellegrini's side having
plundered 84 in their 31 outings.
Sergio Aguero has accounted for 15 of those, and
Pellegrini has been boosted by the news the Argentinian is fit to play at
Anfield following a four-week lay-off with a hamstring problem.
City's Pablo Zabaleta spoke this week of the importance
of his compatriot returning to the fold, but the defender also warned that
Liverpool's prolific strikeforce will require close attention.
"Liverpool score a lot of goals - we know they have
great players in front with Suarez, (Raheem) Sterling and Sturridge. They are
in a great, great moment," Zabaleta told City's official website.
"I think we must work really hard not to concede any
goal. But we have defended well for a few weeks - not conceding many goals - so
we have to be confident."
City have conceded just twice in their last seven Premier
League games, and are unbeaten on the road since a shock 1-0 reverse at
Sunderland in November.
Liverpool, though, have lost just once at Anfield this
season, and if they can make it six home wins in a row on Sunday, the destiny
of the title will remain in their hands.
Both managers have only one major absentee apiece to deal
with, as Liverpool's Jose Enrique and City's Matija Nastasic (both knee) remain
sidelined.
Culled from Soccerway
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