SPORTSMAIL WRITERS HAVE THEIR SAY...

DOMINIC KING

Manchester City 1 Liverpool 1 Reports of City’s demise are exaggerated and they remain an outstanding team. I don’t see them losing this. Liverpool, though, will score — and that should leave it as a stalemate.

CHRIS WHEELER

Manchester City 2 Liverpool 1 Liverpool are in better form and have a more settled team than City, whose key players are coming back from injury. But the champions simply have to win, and will find a way of doing it.

JACK GAUGHAN

Manchester City 3 Liverpool 2 Guardiola has hammered home the need to be more clinical and you would think City will heed that. They will probably require three goals if the seven-point gap is to be narrowed.

MIKE KEEGAN

Manchester City 2 Liverpool 1 City to take an early lead, Liverpool to equalise and then, with time expiring, the home side snatch a dramatic winner to reignite the title race.

MATT BARLOW

Manchester City 2 Liverpool 2 City need to chase the win which should be enough to ensure no repeat of the goalless game at Anfield. But the champions are not at their best and will be vulnerable at the back against a team as quick and potent on the break as Liverpool.

LAURIE WHITWELL

Manchester City 2 Liverpool 1 City have looked fallible in the past few weeks but a match of this magnitude, at home, should bring out their best. And Fernandinho is back.