Not a decider – but a giant step along the way
All eyes will be on the Etihad Stadium this afternoon for what many think will be the title decider.
I don’t believe it’s as straightforward as that but, certainly, if there is a winner today then that side will take a giant stride towards the Premier League.
What I am sure about is that both Manchester City and Liverpool will entertain and try to take the three points.
In recent seasons the standard set by the two teams has been incredible. They have been an absolute credit to the game of football.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are fantastic managers.
They have set the bar extremely high and the way they produce a standard of football every week, domestically and in Europe, is unbelievable.
They are both winners and will want to emerge from this game with all three points.
City are the Champions and the team to beat.
It will not be easy to go to their place and win. But if any side can do it, then it is Liverpool.
The tactical battle will also be fascinating. But how do you try to stop so many talented players on both sides? How do you stop such a well-drilled team?
Those are the questions the managers and staff will have been looking for answers to in the past couple of days.
However, above all of that, they will encourage their players to play with freedom and express themselves. That’s what makes this fixture so special.
In what is likely to be an end-toend 90 minutes, I’m going to go for a Liverpool victory.
But that does not mean that Jurgen will be guaranteed to win the title.
All it will tell everyone is that we are two points ahead with seven games remaining.
It would be a lovely position to be in but nothing would be taken for granted by anyone inside the football club.