'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQf/2gAIAQEAAAAAnrn/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAECEAAAAA//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAeEAACAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAwIRBAUAIRJhkf/aAAgBAQABPwDdb5gdt55KEMyEpxXJkFiIXfcuo1ZIP2uKVrJKgVykIEAx88BMjXs33z//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAH/2gAIAQIBAT8AS2//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACADH/2gAIAQMBAT8AAOX/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Historically, Liverpool and Manchester City is not as great a rivalry as Liverpool vs Everton, or Manchester City vs Manchester United. For the first decade of this century, Manchester City was not in the race for even a top 4 finish, whereas Liverpool was mostly a shadow of what they had been previously.
However, during the past two seasons, it can be easily argued that Liverpool vs Manchester City is the most intense match in England, if not all of Europe. Two brilliant squads at their peak, led by the two best managers in the world, competing for England's biggest prize week in and week out, now go head-to-head for temporary bragging rights.
Every Liverpool vs Manchester City game during the past two seasons has been an amazing watch - be it the 4-3 at Anfield where Liverpool ended City's unbeaten run, or the 2-1 at the Etihad last season which was pivotal in City's recapturing of the title.
Now with City 6 points behind the Reds, the two teams will meet at Anfield in what is the most awaited clash so far in the Premier League this season. Jurgen Klopp and his men will be looking to extend their lead at the top, whereas Pep Guardiola and his team will aim to move closer to their rivals with a victory.
Here are three reasons why we think that Liverpool will be the ones who come out on top in this battle, in a fixture which will have major title ramifications.
#1 The Anfield factor
The last time Liverpool lost a game at Anfield in the Premier League was on April 23, 2017, when Crystal Palace beat the Reds. To put this into context, it has been 862 days since Jurgen Klopp and his men have lost a home game in England's top division.
This is a staggering record that no other team in England comes even close to matching currently. Manchester City, on the other hand, lost at home to Wolves just a few weeks ago.
The task that faces Guardiola and his men is massive. Anfield is a stadium known for its atmosphere, often described as "hellish" by opposing teams and managers. Guardiola knows all about this, as back in 2018, it was Liverpool who ended his team's unbeaten run in the Premier League at Anfield, in a game where the Cityzens were 4-1 down at one point and did not know what had hit them.
In the Champions League, City lost 3-0 at the same venue, as Guardiola and his men were again outclassed.
So when Manchester City arrive at Liverpool on Sunday, they are not only facing 11 men at the top of their game; they also face a hostile crowd of over 50,000 who will make the evening a living nightmare for them.
Also check out:Premier League Table Champions League table EPL fixtures
#2 The absence of Aymeric Laporte leaves City vulnerable at the back
Although Liverpool themselves will be without Joel Matip for the game, who has established himself as one of the best centre backs in the Premier League, the absence of Aymeric Laporte will be more crucial in this contest.
Since being signed in 2018 by the Cityzens, Laporte has without a doubt been the best defender for the team. A commanding presence at the back who is one of the best passers of the ball in a team filled with great passers, Laporte's absence in the City backline has not gone unnoticed.
Guardiola and his team have already dropped six points in the league this season post the injury to the French international. Those two losses have come against Norwich City and Wolves - imagine the damage an in-form Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino can cause to a vulnerable defence.
Even though Liverpool have also been defensively weaker than last season, the Reds have stepped up in big games and have only dropped points against Manchester United, not conceding more than one goal in any of those games.
As such, the Manchester City defence is more exposed without the presence of their main man, and that is a major advantage for Jurgen Klopp and his team.
#3 Mentality monsters - Liverpool are unbeaten and unbroken so far
In Liverpool's last five games, they have gone into half time trailing on four occasions - out of those four, they have come out victorious thrice, as a draw away at Old Trafford is the only blemish in a perfect record.
Of course, the former part of the statistic is something that Klopp would like to correct, as being behind is not something to take pride in. However, Liverpool have shown that when facing adversity, the team simply does not give up.
The Reds have scored more last-minute goals than any other club in Premier League history - the Sadio Mane and James Milner winners this season being the latest examples. Liverpool have tasted defeat in only one of their last 43 league games, which is another staggering record that no team comes close to right now.
This season, Liverpool looked down and out against Manchester United and Aston Villa, until the players decided that was not the case. Klopp has instilled a sense of belief into the team, a never-say-die attitude wherein the players give everything they have got.
Despite not playing as well as they did last season, the Reds have gathered 31 points out of a possible 33 this season, and are yet to be beaten.
There is no doubt that they have not faced an opponent as good as Manchester City yet, but with their talent and mentality, Liverpool should be the slight favourites to come out on top at the end of this fixture.
