MANCHESTER CITY v LIVERPOOL
Premier League
Thursday 3rd January 2019
Kickoff: 2000hrs
Pick: Liverpool AH+0.5
Bookmaker: Comeon
Odds: 1.85 (odds taken at 03:01 GMT, 03 Jan 2019)
In arguably the biggest match of the Premier League season so far, Manchester City go toe-to-toe with title rivals Liverpool as the betting tips continue at the Etihad Stadium with the hosts looking to reduce the existing seven point deficit.
Premier League Betting at Comeon
Manchester City Prediction
It all seemed to be going so well for Manchester City in the opening couple of months of the new Premier League season as the hosts looked almost unbeatable as they recorded a 15-match unbeaten sequence which included no fewer than 13 wins during this period.
Draws with Wolves and Liverpool both away from home were the only matches where Manchester City seemingly ‘dropped’ points as Pep Guardiola’s side seemed to be heading for another league title as they grabbed all the plaudits and media attention as each league win passed.
Meanwhile, their closest title rivals, Liverpool, also continued winning and producing consistent performances based on a considerably more solid defensive unit, and when City slipped up against Chelsea, this opened the door for Liverpool to pounce.
Little did City know that defeat at Chelsea would be the start of a Christmas nightmare for tonight’s hosts as they then stumbled to losses against Crystal Palace at home and away at Leicester City which were hammer blows to City’s title ambitions.
Manchester City bounced back with a 3-1 win away at Southampton, but they’ll face an extremely tough test when going head-to-head with Liverpool as the doubts have now crept in as to whether Pep Guardiola’s side can retrieve this situation they now find themselves in.
The hosts obviously still pose a deadly threat to Liverpool, especially at the Etihad Stadium where they possess an impressive record of 9-0-1 35/9 but they come into this crucial clash having lost to Crystal Palace last time out on home turf.
Liverpool Prediction
While Manchester City have stumbled in recent times, Liverpool have continued on their merry way as Jurgen Klopp’s side have strung together an excellent nine-match winning sequence which has not only taken them to the top of the Premier League, but The Reds now have a six point cushion ahead of second placed Tottenham, but also, perhaps even more importantly, a seven point lead over tonight’s hosts, Manchester City.
During this nine-match winning streak, Liverpool have racked up a total of 27 goals and conceded just 3 goals in reply as the visitors now possess what they haven’t had in numerous past seasons – a solid defensive unit.
Indeed, Klopp’s side have kept 12 clean sheets within their 20 matches played to date this season which represents 60% of their matches, and is head and shoulders above the rest of the league as they make their way to the blue side of Manchester on Thursday night.
Liverpool possess an impressive away record of 8-2-0 21/5 which includes winning their last four away matches on the trot with wins at Watford, Burnley, Bournemouth and Wolves, but they’ll equally face their biggest test yet at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.
Betting Tips Verdict
Numerous sources suggest that this clash doesn’t affect the outcome of the rest of the season nor determines the title, but Manchester City will be desperate to at least avoid defeat here as a Liverpool win here would make it extremely difficult for Pep Guardiola’s side to catch the visitors up.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will be keen to just not lose this as they possess a valuable cushion over City and Jurgen Klopp knows he doesn’t need to take any unnecessary risks in gambling and pushing forward here.
I’ll therefore back Liverpool with the generously priced double chance option here.
