Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini can look forward to the return of Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri and David Silva while Vincent Kompany is expected to be fit after being sidelined from international duty with a calf strain. Pablo Zabaleta is back in training following a three week absence with knee ligament problems. Fabian Delph and Wilfried Bony picked up knocks against Aston Villa and there are no dates set for their return

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho injured his knee against Crystal Palace and joins Jordan Henderson, Dean Sturridge, Joe Flanagan, Danny Ings and Joe Gomez on the absentee list.   James Milner is expected to have recovered from a hamstring injury and will be in contention for a place in midfield while Jordan Ibe is expected to have shaken off his knock. Kala Toure and Jordan Rossiter are also due back from their respective injury problems but not sure to figure in Klopp’s plans .

Possible Line-ups

Manchester City: 4-2-3-1 formation: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolorov; Toure, Fernando; Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Aguero

Liverpool: 4-3-2-1 formation: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Milner, Lucas, Can; Lallana, Coutinho; Benteke

Statistics

• Manchester City have won 7, drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
• Liverpool have won 4, drawn 5 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Manchester City have scored an average of 2.9 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Manchester City’s previous 10 matches
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Liverpool’s previous 10 matches

Prediction

Manchester City can draw on more fire power after the disappointing 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in the previous game. The return of David Silva and Sergio Aguero will provide more creativity and a bigger goal threat as City look to maintain their lead in the Premier League title race. Pellegrini’s side has won five out of six home league games and the visit of Liverpool will provide the biggest test since the 2-1 defeat against West Ham in September as the majority of visitors to the Etihad have been struggling to find any consistent form this season.

Liverpool lost for the first time under Jurgen Klopp when beaten 3-1 by bogey team Crystal Palace at Anfield last time. The Reds dominated possession and territory but failed to test the Palace keeper often enough due to some wayward shooting. Klopp has set up his team to press high up the pitch but individual error continue to be a cause for concern. Liverpool have kept one clean sheet in the last nine league games so are likely to have to score at least twice to leave with all three points, which they have only achieved one this season when beating Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge at the end of October.

Manchester City have won the last four league meetings against Liverpool at the Etihad and both teams have scored in each of the last eight head to heads in all competitions. There’s good reason on current form to think this trend can continue and forms the basis of the match predictions

NaijaBet Odds

As at this post  has Manchester City 1.59  odd to win the match on NaijaBet while  Liverpool has 5.07 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 4.01.