The match we’ve all been waiting for!

Folks, this is the big one. The real one. The Champions against the favourites, the top dogs, the best. Call them what you may: Liverpool v City is the one! 

This might sound controversial following their slump, but Liverpool have been brilliant this season. Yes yes, we know they endured a four-game streak without a goal, but with all things considered, they are still in a healthy position, despite a lack of healthy centre backs…

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”> Virgil van Dijk<br> Joe Gomez<br> Joel Matip<br> Fabinho<br><br>Klopp: &quot;If you have a centre-half available at a reasonable price, with the quality we need, send me a message.&quot;<br><br>Time to slide in Klopp&#39;s DMs… <a href=”https://t.co/TLwD7kG87O”>pic.twitter.com/TLwD7kG87O</a></p>&mdash; Casumo Sports (@CasumoSports) <a href=”https://twitter.com/CasumoSports/status/1355863538477236231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 31, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

I am pouring the pity over Klopp’s men as their luck has been rotten, yet there they are, still within a shot of the title. Pep Guardiola’s men have been brilliant. They endured an injury/sickness crises in the first part of the season too, but certain players have stepped up well and suddenly they have an impenetrable defence. 13 goals conceded in 20 games (at the time of writing) is formidable and they also top the goal scoring charts too, having scored the same amount as Manchester United, despite playing one less. It is at this time of the season that the table begins to settle, and it never lies. Being top 20 games in is brilliant, it’s deserved and has made City clear title favourites at 7/25 or 1.28.

This match is at Anfield, and last season you’d say that would swing the pendulum in Liverpool’s favour. With no crowds however, the playing field is even. Some clubs are affected more by this, and I’d have to say a team like Liverpool rely on their twelfth man a little more than others. Nothing comes close to the Anfield atmosphere in the Premier League, and the defending champions certainly miss their fans. 

It’s hard to see City drop points. Even their 1-0 over Sheffield United was good, as those are the type of games Champions do need to win. United failed to beat the Blades at home, de-railing their title charge and now we’re in a two horse race. It’s a race which City can take charge of on Sunday, it’s a race which Liverpool need to stay in, at least for the sake of the neutrals. 

At the time of writing, Manchester City were on a 12-match winning streak, which is the longest in Europe’s top five leagues. They play Burnley on the Wednesday before Liverpool and a win there, priced at 2/9 or 1.22 would stretch their winning streak to an incredible 13 games. It’s incredible, and all of this in Pep Guardiola’s extended year as he has never spent this long in charge of one club. We all thought he wouldn’t be capable of re building a squad, but here we are singing his praises again. People have said that winning the title this year would make him the best Premier League manager ever, but the younger generations perhaps don’t recall the brilliance of Sir Alex Ferguson, winner of 13 Premier League titles in a 26 year reign at Old Trafford. Look who the noisy neighbours are now, City!