It is a top of the table showdown today at the Etihad stadium when reigning champions, Manchester City take on their closest challenger, Liverpool in a clash that could determine where the Premier League trophy will be headed at the end of the season.
With just one point separating both teams, the Citizens who bid for a sixth Premier League crown suffered a dent after two draws and a loss to Southampton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham respectively gave the Reds the golden opportunity to catch up with them on the table.
Manchester City’s fate lies in their own hands and can increase the lead to four points if they can defeat their visitors heading into the final seven games of the season.
City will take an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions into today’s top-of-the-table battle-winning six of them, including each of their last three – and they have conceded a mere two goals in that stretch; no mean feat with the effervescent Ruben Dias watching on from the treatment room.
Conceding just 18 goals in 30 Premier League games this season unsurprisingly gives City the label of the division’s best defensive side this term, while 40 goals on home soil is also the best of its kind – even if Liverpool have gleaned more points on familiar territory this season.
Not since October have City failed to find the back of the net in a Premier League game at the Etihad – winning eight of their last nine such matches alongside that shock defeat to Tottenham – but Liverpool have all the motivation that they need to consign City to a potentially fatal defeat.
Regardless of the winner today, the title won’t be decided in Etihad as both teams may drop points in any of the remaining games but definitely, the winner will have the better chance of winning the league.
