Manchester Ciy 1-1 Liverpool

Manchester City welcome Liverpool to the Etihad in what will be a tie which pits 3rd vs 4th. With Chelsea's relentless pursuit for the title showing no signs of faltering, both sides are looking as if they are now playing for a top 4 spot and with the sole intention of securing a coveted Champions League spot for next season. Manchester United were able to overcome Middlesbrough in the days early fixture, so both sides will be under pressure to get the 3 points and widen the gap to 5th place.

Pundit's match predictions: (1 point for correct winner and 1 point for correct result)

1) James Stroud (Charlton fan - 7 points): 3-3 draw. Both defences are weak. Both attacks are strong. This has the making of an entertaining, high scoring game which will end in a draw.

2) Adrian Ross (Chelsea fan - 5 points): 2-2 draw. Mane to continue his impressive form against City. (Mane has 3 goals and 1 assist in his last 3 games against Manchester City)

3=) James Kaye (Arsenal fan - 4 points): 2-1 to Liverpool. City's defence is not good enough to deal with the pace of Mane.

3=) Jordan Parslow (Manchester United fan - 4 points): 1-0 City. City will just edge out their rivals as they significantly strengthen their bid to finish in the top 4.

3=) David Stroud (Chelsea fan - 4 points): 1-1 draw. The game will not live up to the hype and both sides will be disappointed as they come away with a draw.

6) James Rolt (Chelsea fan - 3 points): 3-1 to Liverpool. Firmino to get on the score-sheet as the away side come away from Manchester with the spoils.

7) Luke Marsh (Manchester United fan - 2 points): 3-0 to Manchester City. City will see off their opponents as they record a comfortable win.

Manchester City come into the game having been dumped out of the Champions League by Monaco in mid-week. They will undoubtedly still be disappointed with their exit against a team that they were favourites to beat, but a win in today's match up would help to ease the pain inflicted by that exit. Liverpool will be the fresher of the two teams, having had a week's rest since their battling 2-1 victory against Manchester City. They will also be buoyed by the fact that they usually fair well against the leagues best sides, having not lost to a top 10 team all season. They have also won 4 of the last 4 against today's opponents So Liverpool come into the game the fresher side and also in good form against the leagues best sides; but will they be able to makes these advantages count?

The teams lined up as follows:

Manchester City: Caballero, Fernandinho, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy, Toure, Sane, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Aguero

Subs: Bravo, Sagna, Fernando, Nolito, Kolarov, Iheanacho, Garcia

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino

Subs: Karius, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold. Woodburn, Lucas, Lovren, Origi

Kick off:

Manchester City probably edged opening proceedings and their work rate without the ball was preventing Liverpool from playing. Although they were able to get past the Liverpool full backs on numerous occasions using the pace of Sane and Sterling, their final product was often lacking and thus they could not convert these menacing positions into goal-scoring opportunities.

The games first real opportunity fell to Manchester City in the 20th minute. Sane was released down the left and he surged into the box, but Mignolet was able to keep out his effort. However, the ball fell fortunately for the on-rushing Silva, but he could not control his volley and thus his effort fizzed narrowly wide.

Minutes later Yaya Toure was perhaps fortunate not too be sent off as he caught Emre Can on the shoulder with his studs. The challenge could easily have been considered to be dangerous, and the Ivorian was lucky to walk away with a booking. 

The game had suddenly burst into life and Liverpool nearly scored from the resulting free-kick. The ball was swung into the box and found its way to Mane, but the winger's effort was blocked by a City defender and subsequently cleared.

Mane managed to get in behind the Manchester City defence minutes later and only had Caballero to beat, but fell down under contact from Otamendi as he shot. There was contact, although it was completely unintentional and was probably more Mane making contact with Otamendi than the other way round.

This had turned into an entertaining, end-to-end game and this time Milner did well to divert Sane's dangerous low cross away for a corner with Sterling poised to convert.

The game went through a bit of a lull towards the middle of the half, but amazingly the game was still level as City wasted a guilt-edged chance. De Bruyne's defence splitting pass provided Sane with time and space in the box, and the German used it well as he rolled an inviting ball across the goal mouth. Sterling looked poised to convert but somehow did not make any contact under pressure from Milner, and Fernandinho could not get his effort on target either.

Seconds later Liverpool created a number of chances of their own as both Firmino and Lallana rifled in powerful strikes, but on both occasions Caballero was equal to their efforts.

Another chance fell the way of Liverpool just before the end of the half, but Stones did extremely well to deny Matip with the goal gaping.

Half Time: 0-0

Somehow, neither side had broken the deadlock and thus both sides went into the break level. Both teams had their opportunities to score the opening goal of the game; with Sterling in particular culpable for not scoring with the goal gaping. But at 0-0, the game was still very much in the balance which laid the foundations for an entertaining second half where both sides go out in search of acquiring a vital 3 points.

Liverpool started strongly in the second half and they were rewarded for their efforts as they won an early penalty. Can played a delicious ball over the top to Firmino who found himself with time and space, and the Brazilian won his side a spot kick as he was brought down by a desperate Gael Clichy. Milner stepped up, and he would send Caballero the wrong way as he recorded a goal against his former club. With that conversion Milner is now 7/7 in penalties this season. (0-1)

Firmino could have doubled his tally on the 60th minute as he found himself with only Caballero to beat, but the Argentine did well to deny the Liverpool man.

Liverpool would be made to rue that miss as Manchester City restored parity through Aguero. De Bruyne found space on the right wing and he delivered a ball of high quality in the box, and Aguero could not miss when the opportunity presented itself. (1-1)

Manchester City were on a high and seemed to have gained confidence following the goal. They nearly took the lead themselves as Aguero did brilliantly to work space for himself  in the box, but he slipped at the vital moment and De Bruyne could only hit the loose ball against the post.

This time Liverpool should have taken the lead following a superb passage of play. Wijnaldum, Firmino and Lallana linked up brilliantly and it looked as if the latter would easily tap home, but he inexplicably missed the ball with the goal gaping. A miss that is definitely up there for miss of the season and it could be telling in the race for the top 4.

The Englishman had an opportunity to atone for his error minutes later, but could only blaze his shot wide when in the box. Needless to say it was not a good few minutes for the Englishman.

With time whittling down a goal would surely win the tie. Aguero had a chance to win the game as Silva supplied him in the box, but the angle was narrow and the Argentine could not get his effort on target.

The Argentine had another guilt edge opportunity in stoppage time. De Bruyne did magnificently to get to the byline and hand up an inviting ball to Aguero, but when the opportunity came he could not compose himself and his effort blazed way over the bar.

That would be the last opportunity to win the game and thus the game would end as a draw.

Full Time: 1-1

Wow. The game started off slow, but the game would erupt into life in the second half as both sides played their part in an entertaining draw. Although both sides could not be separated, both Aguero and Lallana would walk away from this game knowing that they could easily have won a vital 3 points for their side.

Nevertheless, both sides would probably have been content with a draw at the start of play. Manchester City remain in 3rd place with 57 points from 28 games, Liverpool one place below them in 4th with 56 points from 29 games.

Player Ratings:

Manchester City: Caballero(6) Fernandinho(6) Stones(6) Otamendi(6) Clichy(6) Toure(6) Sane(7) De Bruyne(7) Silva(6) Sterling(6) Aguero(7)

Subs: Sagna(6) Fernando(6)

Liverpool: Mignolet(6) Clyne(6) Matip(6) Klavan(6) Milner(6) Can(7) Wijnaldum(7) Lallana(6) Mane(7) Coutinho(6) Firmino(7)

Subs: Lucas(5) Origi(5)

Man of the Match: Kevin De Bruyne

Honourable mention: Emre Can