Premier League preview and odds: Liverpool vs Manchester City

Published on: 30/12/2016

Premier League preview and odds: Liverpool vs Manchester City

December 31, 2016 17:30pm - Anfield

Referee: C. Pawson

Premier League

Liverpool will look to maintain the pressure on the league leaders Chelsea when they welcome top-four rivals Manchester City to Anfield on Saturday. The visitors themselves could leapfrog their hosts with a win, while defeat could see them drop out of the top four.

Liverpool unbeaten in five Premier League matches

Despite a run of 16 Premier League games featuring just one defeat, Liverpool remain six points adrift of pace-setters Chelsea. All the Reds can do is keep racking up the points in the hope that their rivals` incredible winning streak eventually comes to an end.

Jurgen Klopp`s men are unbeaten in the last 16 league games on homes soil, with their last defeat coming against the `other` team from Manchester almost a year ago. They come into this game on the back of a 4-1 home thrashing of Stoke City. Prior to that, they claimed a morale-boosting 1-0 victory in the Merseyside derby at Everton.

The Anfield side have played less games on home soil than every other team (due to their stadium construction) but have scored also scored more goals, with a total of 25 from the eight games they have played.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are in a position where they could end up as high as second and as low as fifth this weekend depending on how other results pan out.

Pep Guardiola`s men have rallied following a minor blip and are now looking for their fourth-straight win in the league. They have won seven of their nine away games this term and have scored two or more goals in all but one of them.

Team news

The home side have been dogged by injuries all season and will continue without Joel Matip (ankle), Philippe Countinho (ankle), Adam Bogdan (ACL), Danny Ings (meniscus), Joe Gomez (Achilles) and Sheyi Ojo, while Marko Grujic is still a doubt with a tendon problem.

Meanwhile, the visitors will have to make do without the injured duo of Ilkay Gundogan (knee) and Vincent Kompany (knee), while John Stones has a knee problem and remains a doubt.

Recent form (League):

Liverpool: WWWDL

Manchester City: WWWLL

Betting odds and tips

With two high-scoring and attack-minded teams on the pitch, this game is set to be the highlight of the weekend`s roster. Liverpool have only failed to score at home once this term and have netted 25 times in eight home matches, while City are the league`s highest scorers on the road with a total of 22 goals from the nine games they have played.

However, the home side have turned Anfield into a fortress this season and should be favourites to come out on top in what should be an open and entertaining goal-fest.

You can back the Liverpool/Both Teams to Score at a best price of 3/1 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 30/12/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (30/12/2016 18:06:21) but are subject to change.