It’s a huge game, maybe not quite a title decider just yet, but these clashes between champions and contenders can be just as important to the teams mentally as the actual result is to the league table.
Liverpool have that air of invincibility about them – only losing once in 50 league games will give you that – but that one loss was the crucial one at the Etihad in January that kept City in the title race.
They still had to perform miracles to actually win it by a point, but that game will certainly be playing on Liverpool’s minds, whether they can turn that into extra motivation to extend their lead to nine points over the champions remain to be seen.
Jurgen Klopp certainly arrives here in better shape, and not just because of the 45-game unbeaten streak his side enjoy in their Premier League stronghold of Anfield.
City are nursing some big-name injuries, namely goalkeeper Ederson who was ruled out on Friday. With his other defensive problems already well known, Pep Guardiola now has to play back-up goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in front of makeshift centre back Fernandinho.
Liverpool’s usually impeccable defence has been more fallible this term, with both teams scoring in their last eight straight games, while City have only failed to find the net six times in 62 Premier League away games under Guardiola – an away goal seems a certainty.
After going seven games at Anfield without scoring, Sergio Aguero can finally break that duck, as he’s in great form and will especially fancy his chances if lining up against Dejan Lovren. For the Reds, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah get the headlines, but City often find Roberto Firmino hard to deal with. He's got four goals in eight games and has also scored and assisted in three games against the champions.
A draw actually wouldn’t be the worst result for either side right now, but in these big games you need everybody to stand up, so with question marks at the back for City, you have to give Liverpool the edge.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City
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Wolves are on a six-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. Impressive, but only two of them have been wins.
Granted, they are getting points one way or another but Nuno Espirito Santo's side are becoming draw specialists. They have shared the points in seven of 11 matches this season, which is astonishing. Surely not again here?
These sides met in the Carabao Cup 10 days ago, Villa coming out on top, but this one really is tough to call.
Wolves played in the Europa League on Thursday and their home form has not been great this term, winning one of five, while Villa's away form has not been great either, losing four of five. It really does feel like I am talking myself into a draw here.
For this reason, the preference is to avoid the result markets. Instead, the more appealing option is on homegrown hero Jack Grealish to shine in their derby match.
He sat out the cup win at Villa Park as well as the narrow defeat to Liverpool through injury and he will be raring to go here. In his last three appearances, he has scored twice and is really looking like a key man for Dean Smith's side after making the step up this season.
He can consider himself unfortunate not to be in Gareth Southgate's squad for the forthcoming internationals, but the England boss admits he is on his radar and 'very close' to a call (see below tweet).
Given the positions he gets into, his shooting rate (three or more efforts in three of their last four games) and Wolves being potentially leggy, the 6/1 price on the Villa captain to score anytime looks excellent for a small play on Sunday.
Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Aston Villa
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