Where not so long ago it might have been a title decider, Manchester City and Liverpool meet at The Etihad with very different ambitions – and City can put their rivals in their place.

These two juggernauts come back from the international break with City needing to cut the gap on leaders Arsenal as they strive to hang on to their Premier League crown. 

And they may have to do it minus their goalscoring phenomenon Erling Haaland, who has been hit with an injury. 

For Liverpool, on the other hand, simply getting into the Champions League would represent a success as an underwhelming season reaches crunch time.

Would City slickers miss Haaland?

City have been irresistible in recent weeks. Since their last defeat, a 1-0 reverse at Tottenham two months ago, they have registered eight wins and two draws in 10 and are scoring goals by the barrow load. 

The 3-1 win at Arsenal was critical in keeping them within sight of Mikel Arteta's super-confident pacesetters, while in the last few weeks before the international break they went into absolute overdrive, following up a 7-0 dismantling of Leipzig in the Champions League with a 6-0 romp against Burnley in the FA Cup. 

Central to those routs, of course, was Haaland, who bagged five against Leipzig, three against Burnley and now has an almost obscene 42 goals for the season as he continues to break records for fun. 

He may not, however, be breaking any records against Liverpool because, if the health bulletins are to be believed, there is a good chance he won't be involved, although Pep Guardiola has suggested he may be prepared to risk him if he feels able to play, despite being hampered by a groin injury.

Top Tips

Manchester City/both teams to score @ 21/10 

Riyad Mahrez first scorer @ 15/2 

Over 3.5 Liverpool shots on target @ 6/5

Odds correct at time of publishing and subject to change.

Mahrez a scoring menace off the right flank

Haaland, who hasn't trained this week, would be a massive miss – but not irreplaceable. 

Julian Alvarez, their World Cup-winning frontman, almost forgotten as his feats flounder alongside the gargantuan scoring return of his Norwegian team-mate, will doubtless get the nod if the Norwegian record-setter can't start – and he has yet to let City down. 

In the eight City games Alvarez has started without Haaland, the ex-River Plate ace has scored four goals and had three assists. 

And City have won six of those eight, drawing one. And his goal tally of 12 for a player who has started just 15 times is worthy of real respect. 

In any other side he would be a regular starter. 

Another player who never lets City down – and also has 12 goals to his name – is Riyad Mahrez, a fair bet at 15/2 to score first, especially if he gets penalty duties.

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There's no doubt Liverpool are going through a difficult campaign which isn't going to end with any silverware and may not end with a Champions League place either. 

The sixth-placed Reds find themselves seven points behind Tottenham in fourth with two games in hand, but five behind Newcastle with no games in hand. 

And it's clear that their issues are on the road where they have lost seven times this season, including last time out at Bournemouth of all places, beaten 1-0 when most observers were anticipating a Liverpool landslide six days after clubbing Manchester United 7-0. 

In fact, their record against the top teams is more than decent. They have played seven matches against the five sides ahead of them and won five of them, with an overall goals aggregate of 17-7. 

And one of those wins was 1-0 against City at Anfield in October when Salah grabbed the winner. He has scored in all three City-Liverpool matches this season.

Ropey travellers can still test Ederson

Liverpool have failed to win 10 of 15 since the turn of the year, are clearly travelling badly and are a level away from the side who not so long ago would go toe-to-toe with City in all competitions. 

But what is clear is they seem to be able to raise their games for bigger opponents and it's probably worth backing them at the very least strike a blow or two. 

It's interesting that of their three wins on the road this season, two have come at Tottenham and Newcastle and Jurgen Klopp will be expecting a big, brash finish to the season from a side who have let themselves down. 

Liverpool top the shots-on-target table this season with 5.9 a game and they should find a way of firing off four or more at 6/5 on Saturday.

Steve Davies

• Manchester City F.C.
• Liverpool F.C.
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