Manchester City and Liverpool, who have made the strongest runs in recent weeks in the race for the fourth Champions League qualification spot from the English Premier League, meet in a crucial showdown tomorrow that could have a major bearing on the final outcome.
Plans are afoot to introduce a play-off for fourth place, thereby extending the competition and excitement that makes the league so popular, but this year's battle does not need any stimulus. The four teams that occupy fourth to seventh are separated by just three points, with fourth-placed City and Aston Villa (seventh) having a game in hand over Liverpool (fifth) and Tottenham (sixth).
The picture looked a little different at the turn of the year, with Tottenham in fourth place and Liverpool the stragglers of the quartet, four points behind Tottenham. Since then, Liverpool have been the best performers of that group, taking 11 points in the first six weeks of 2010. City are next best with 10, followed by Villa with seven and stuttering Spurs on six.
In truth, none of the four teams has been in great form, but the battle looks set to remain close and exciting on the season run-in. Liverpool arrive at Eastlands with only one defeat in seven games in all competitions since their FA Cup exit against Championship strugglers Reading. That defeat was 1-0 away to Arsenal 10 days ago and that was only the second goal they conceded during that run - the other was a last-minute equaliser for Stoke City in the 1-1 at the Britannia stadium a month ago.
In the absence of Fernando Torres, Liverpool have renewed their push for fourth place by going back to basics and making sure they don't give anything away at the back, but that is a limited approach and they could come unstuck against City.
Without Torres, Rafa Benitez's side find it difficult to score on a regular basis - especially on the road - and that means they will be looking to shut out a City side that has scored in 29 out of 31 home league games since the start of last season. City's home goals average in that period is 2.26 goals per game, which is bettered only by Manchester United (way ahead of the rest on 2.46 goals per game).
