Liverpool v Man City: Klopp and Pep meet again as Aguero returns
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Between them, Liverpool and Manchester City have scored 84 Premier League goals already this season. The two sides both still harbour title ambitions, meaning that neither can afford to draw on Merseyside in what should be a thrilling finale to 2016.
Both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have bemoaned the fixture list, which on paper at least, appears to give table toppers Chelsea plenty more rest over the busy festive period.
But the pair – former title rivals in the Bundesliga – both know that a draw or defeat here will hand Antonio Conte’s Blues another advantage in the chase for the English crown.
The two sides enter this Anfield clash each seeking a fourth-successive win, and Guardiola is boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero from his four-match suspension.
But the Argentine ace’s return isn’t enough to stop the bookies pricing Liverpool up as 13/10 favourites, with City the 2/1 outsiders.
The Reds are unbeaten at home this season, with only Manchester United and West Ham managing to come away with a point.
Though the Citizens have won seven of their nine away fixtures, they haven’t won a league game on this part of Merseyside since 2003.
Each of the last nine league meetings has seen over 2.5 goals, and with so much attacking talent on show here, a repeat looks assured at 8/13.
And plenty will be swayed by the 6/4 on over 3.5 goals, with that market coming good in eight Liverpool games and six City contests already this term.
Similarly, seven of the last eight league clashes have seen both teams net, and 1/2 says that occurs again.
With Liverpool keeping just two clean sheets at Anfield, and City netting in all bar one away games, goals look guaranteed.
That man Aguero leads the first goalscorer betting at 4/1, with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane each a tempting 13/2.
But both of those Liverpool stars are behind the in-form Divock Origi, who is 11/2 to score first.
Klopp and Guardiola are yet to meet in the Premier League, so this should be a thrilling encounter.
And Liverpool fans will be happy to know that their manager has a solid record against the former Barcelona coach, picking up three wins and a draw during their time as rivals in Germany.
So it seems 2016 is set to bow out with a bang, as two of the finest managers in the world go head-to-head in arguably the greatest league in the world.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
