London: Manchester City and Liverpool resume their epic battle for the Premier League title Sunday after a midweek of contrasting Champions League fortunes, with both sides facing perilous fixtures.
City travel to Crystal Palace trailing Jurgen Klopp’s men by two points, but still with the title in their hands thanks to a game in hand.
However, the visit to Selhurst Park kicks off a tough run of fixtures in which Pep Guardiola’s men host Tottenham twice, play Manchester United at Old Trafford and face a tricky trip to Burnley.
The 1-0 defeat at Spurs in Tuesday’s first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal snapped a 14-game winning streak and means Guardiola has huge calls to make with his team selection this weekend.
Victory for City to go back on top would flip the pressure onto Liverpool’s shoulders just minutes before they kick off against Chelsea at Anfield.
Chelsea are the only visiting side to have won at Anfield this season thanks to a wonderful Eden Hazard solo goal that sealed a 2-1 victory in the League Cup back in September.
Chelsea are likely to be back down in fourth spot by the time they kick off, as Tottenham host already relegated Huddersfield Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men have to be wary of a Champions League hangover and need to prepare for another period without striker Harry Kane as they aim to qualify for next season’s edition of Europe’s top competition.
The England captain is expected to miss the rest of the season after injuring the same left ankle that forced him to miss seven matches earlier this year in the win over City Tuesday.
Manchester United are just as desperate to be in the top four but defeats to Arsenal and Wolves during a run of four losses in five games in all competitions have seen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men slip back down to sixth.
They have also been knocked out of the FA Cup and are on the brink of Champions League elimination after losing 1-0 to Barcelona at Old Trafford Wednesday.
A reaction at home to mid-table West Ham is an absolute must if they are to remain in contention for the top four, with a tough run of Everton, City and Chelsea to come in their following three Premier League games.
AFP