You Bet | Manchester City attack can exploit Liverpool's defensive weaknesses
Liverpool rightly favourites for weekend's big game, but have to come flying out of the blocks
Wembley should have been centre stage this weekend for the FA Cup semi-finals, but instead most of the spotlight will be on Anfield on Sunday for the English Premier League showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City.
Even at this late stage of the season it is not quite a title decider, especially with Chelsea still involved, but there is no doubt that Sunday's match brings together the league's two most entertaining teams.
Even at this late stage of the season it is not quite a title decider, especially with Chelsea still involved
Liverpool have scored 90 goals in 33 games (a Premier League record at this stage of the season) and City are not far behind with 84 in 31, almost identical scoring rates. Not surprisingly, their games have been the highest-scoring, with matches involving Liverpool averaging 3.94 goals per game, City's 3.65.
The contrast with Chelsea is stark: their matches average 2.7 goals per game and they have scored 25 goals fewer than Liverpool.
Liverpool v City therefore looks likely to be an open game and the most obvious bet, albeit at short odds, is over 2.5 goals, which occurred in the reverse fixture (a 2-1 win for City) and in seven of the last 10 league meetings between the sides.
Picking a winner is more difficult, although Liverpool are rightly favourites given their superb home record of 14 wins out of 16. They have won all three home games so far against other teams from the big six by an aggregate of 10 goals to one.
The problem with Liverpool all season has been that their defence is vulnerable, although their superb front six have papered over the cracks at Anfield by keeping the opposition pinned back. Liverpool have conceded 13 goals at home compared with 27 away - of the leading teams, only Arsenal have a wider discrepancy between their home and away defensive figures. But it will not be so easy to stop City coming forward.