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For the first time since the 2009 semifinal between Manchester United and Arsenal, the Champions League is set to witness an all-English fixture in the knockout rounds.
And the stakes couldn't possibly be higher. Liverpool and Manchester City have both had very contrasting seasons, but this could be their most important fixture to date.
The Reds are one of only four teams to have defeated City this season, and that combined with the unpredictability that they bring will make this a mouthwatering clash for every neutral.
With a top-four spot more or less confirmed in the Premier League, Liverpool will be focussing all their attention on the Champions League. Even with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid (and not to mention City) all in contention, Liverpool are seen by many as unexpected dark horses.
As tempting as lifting the Premier League trophy at home against their biggest rivals might be, Guardiola will know all too well which of the two matches this week is more important. A 16-point lead at the top means it would take something miraculous for them to blow the league title from here.
The Champions League, on the other hand, is the one trophy that eluded Pep at Bayern, and he'll certainly know the incredible impact that winning it with City would have on his career.
So with one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season coming up, we take a look at a Liverpool and City combined XI.
GK: Ederson
City made Brazilian shot-stopper Ederson the second most expensive goalkeeper in history when they signed him from Benfica for £35 million (Sky Sports). Liverpool themselves might be set to break a record if they sign Roma's Allison in the summer.
But the Reds' goalkeeping options right now aren't so appealing. Mignolet is erratic at best, and Karius is still a work in progress.
Ederson, on the other hand, has the second highest number of clean sheets in the Premier League, albeit with the most dominant side the tournament has ever seen. He's probably one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now when it comes to using his feet, right up there with Manuel Neuer.
And his reflexes aren't half as bad either. While City's flashy midfielders and forwards might be hogging all the limelight this season, this man doesn't quite get the credit that he deserves.
RB: Kyle Walker
The former Spurs man cost a hefty £53 million in the summer (The Guardian) as part of Guardiola's massive squad overhaul, and he's been paying back that fee with his performances.
Walker's electric pace and constant eagerness to attack is tailor-made for Pep's tactical system.
In spite of another right-back arriving in the summer (Danilo), the fact that Walker is almost always the undisputed starter speaks volumes of his form this season, and he's also set to play a starring role for England in Russia.
With Clyne's long-term injury problems and Alexander-Arnold's inexperience, Liverpool are ill-equipped in this part of the pitch, and will certainly not relish the thought of facing Leroy Sane.
CB: Virgil van Dijk
The Dutchman has perhaps not completely justified his steep price tag (The Guardian) since arriving at Anfield in the winter, but there's no doubting his talent.
Having also been recently appointed as captain of the Dutch national team, the 26-year-old already has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. It won't be easy facing the likes of Silva, de Bruyne and Sane on Wednesday, but Klopp will be hoping his record signing will rise to the occasion.
City have a few world class names at the back as well, but the only one who has been able to nail down his spot in the starting XI has been Otamendi. Stones started the season on a high note, but has struggled since, and so has Vincent Kompany following the acquisition of Laporte in the winter.
CB: Nicolas Otamendi
The Argentine endured a very rough start to life in England, but this season has seen him develop tremendously under Pep's tutelage.
He's comfortable with the ball (a basic requirement for Guardiola), a facet of his game that will be severely tested against Liverpool's Geigenpressing. He's commanding inside the box, and has an astounding 92% passing accuracy.
He'll be looking forward to facing that front three again - Firmino, Salah and Mane were one of the few attacking lineups who've got the better of him this season.
LB: Andrew Robertson
This one is bound to raise some eyebrows - after all, City have the best defensive record in the league this season, and Robertson was relegated with Hull City last year before joining Liverpool (BBC Sport).
But ever since Mendy got injured, City have oscillated between Delph, Danilo and Zinchenko at left-back (none of whom are natural left backs), without ever really sticking with one of them. Robertson, on the other hand, has been phenomenal ever since he gained Klopp's trust.
The young Scot is perhaps best remembered for that 76-yard press against City at Anfield earlier this season when his incredible pace and persistence almost led to a goal for Firmino. The Reds will be hoping for more of the same on Wednesday.
CDM: Fernandinho
There were definitely some doubts about the Brazilian going into this season, especially about his age, but his performances have silenced his critics.
Fernandinho is the midfield pivot that allows his colleagues to work their magic higher up the pitch. His work rate is tremendous, he's made the second most number of passes in the league after Otamendi, and he provides the link between defence and midfield that is so crucial for City's well-oiled machine to work.
And he's got a wicked shot as well. His shooting is one quality that hasn't been talked about enough, and he's scored a couple of long range beauties for City this season.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne
Of course, he's there in this XI.
De Bruyne's qualities and performances this season have been analysed and praised at length this season, and he deserves every single plaudit that he's received. His transition from attacking midfielder to central midfielder has been seamless and spectacularly successful.
With 7 goals and 15 assists already in the Premier League, De Bruyne is making a very strong case for the PFA Player of the Year award. He'll be City's most important player on Wednesday, and a lot will hinge on the kind of performance he puts in.
CM: David Silva
No reason to break up City's midfield trio. Liverpool have a few good players here in Can and Wijnaldum, but its a testament to the Citizens' incredible array of options in midfield that 32-year old David Silva is still miles ahead of them.
The ageless Spaniard has 8 goals and 11 assists in spite of playing in 5 games lesser than De Bruyne. He's still a first choice midfielder for Spain in spite of them having several younger options like Thiago, Saul, Koke and Isco, and that's saying something.
Keeping Silva and De Bruyne in check will be a humongous task for Klopp, and it could very well end up deciding the final outcome.
LW: Leroy Sane
The young German's career trajectory has only gone upwards since he broke through at Schalke. At the beginning of this season, he would have been nowhere close to the German starting XI, but his incredible form has made it unthinkable for Joachim Low to line up his side without the 22-year-old in Russia.
With 9 goals and 11 assists in the league, his mazy runs, blistering pace, wonderful link-up play and partnership with his teammates have seen him become one of the guaranteed names on the teamsheet every week.
He will absolutely relish the opportunity of going up against either Gomez or Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
ST: Sergio Aguero
Gabriel Jesus started against Everton during the weekend, so Pep is likely to go with Aguero up front.
The Argentine has been in sublime form this season with 21 league goals in just 24 appearances in spite of Jesus giving him some fierce competition. Firmino has been in great form as well, but Aguero edges him out on stats.
When he announced last week that he would return to Argentina after letting his contract run out, he would surely have broken several Man City hearts. The man is a modern day legend for the Citizens - their leading goalscorer and the architect of the greatest moment of their club's history. This season has been no different.
RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
The single biggest reason why Liverpool haven't been written off yet. His mind-blowing form this season has been beyond every Liverpool fan's wildest dreams.
With 29 goals already in the Premier League, he has equalled Drogba's record for most number of goals by an African in a single season. Guardiola admitted that he didn't really look forward to facing Liverpool's front three, and Salah has been at the heart of every incredible attacking move created by them.
