Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the final Premier League match of 2016, and what a game it is to see the year out! It is Liverpool vs. Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp vs. Pep Guardiola and the two highest scorers in the division going head to head as they look to keep up with league leaders Chelsea. It promises to be a thrilling contest but, before we look more closely at both sides, let's have a look at the team news...

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Can; Lallana, Mane, Firmino

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Karius, Moreno, Lucas, Alexander-Arnold, Ejaria, Origi, Sturridge

MAN CITY STARTING XI: Bravo; Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov; Toure, Fernandinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling; Aguero

MAN CITY SUBS: Caballero, Clichy, Sagna, Fernando, A Garcia, Iheanacho, Navas

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, as far as Liverpool are concerned there is just the one change from the team that thrashed Stoke City last time out, with Emre Can returning to the starting XI. His inclusion in midfield sees Divock Origi drop to the bench further forward, where the Belgian will sit alongside Daniel Sturridge who is once again left out from the start despite having finally opened his Premier League account for the season against the Potters on Tuesday.

Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, the latter of whom will be leaving for the African Cup of Nations next month, both retain their places up front, while Adam Lallana is the man pushed further forward from the midfield trio that started against Stoke. Lallana has arguably been Liverpool's best player this season having been directly involved in more goals than any other midfielder in the Premier League, scoring seven times and creating another six. His energy and willingness to press from the front could cause the likes of John Stones problems today.

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Alongside Can in the midfield three are Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum, both of whom have quietly impressed throughout the campaign so far. Neither have made too many headlines, with the obvious exception being Henderson's stunning goal against Chelsea, but they have helped Liverpool to dominate games from the middle of the park, both due to their work rate off the ball and quality on it.

There are no changes in defence for the Reds this afternoon as Ragnar Klavan continues to deputise for the injured Joel Matip alongside Lovren. Nathaniel Clyne also keeps his place on the right flank, while James Milner plays against his former club having scored the last time the two teams met here. In goal, Simon Mignolet is once again given the gloves despite his questionable role in Stoke's goal on Tuesday. Loris Karius once again has to make do with a place on the bench.

The headline news from the Manchester City camp is the return of Sergio Aguero to the starting lineup, with the Argentine making his comeback following a four-game ban for his red card against Chelsea earlier this month. Aguero has four goals in previous meetings with Liverpool, but he has never managed to score in seven previous visits to Anfield - five with Manchester City and two with Atletico Madrid. Breaking that duck today would be a perfect return to action for the striker.

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Aguero is one of three changes to the side that beat Hull City 3-0 last time out, with the other two coming in defence as Pablo Zabaleta returns from injury and Aleksandar Kolarov also earns a recall. Sagna and Clichy drop to the bench as a result, but there is a place in the starting lineup for John Stones, who limped off after less than 20 minutes of the Boxing Day win over Hull. This is his first return to Merseyside since leaving Everton in the summer, and it will be interesting to see how he copes with Liverpool's pressing style.

Nolito is the man to make way for Aguero, with the Spaniard dropping out of the matchday squad entirely today. As a result of Aguero's return, Kevin de Bruyne drops back into a more familiar attacking midfield role, where he is more than capable of pulling the strings and picking apart this Liverpool defence. Indeed, the Belgian has produced a league-high nine assists in the top flight this season - already just one short of his tally from the whole of last season.

De Bruyne is joined in that attacking midfield trio by David Silva and Raheem Sterling, the latter of whom will be expecting a less-than-warm welcome back to Anfield. The winger has been beginning to rediscover his early-season form again recently, though, so Liverpool will need to keep a close eye on him today. Sitting a little further back in midfield is the rejuvenated Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, who will need to quell the counter-attacking talents of this Liverpool side as much as they need to launch attacks of their own today.

There are plenty of intriguing battles all over the field, then, and this one is all set up to provide a blockbuster finish to 2016 - a year that will go down as one of the most remarkable and unpredictable in Premier League history. It has certainly been kind to Liverpool for the most part, with Jurgen Klopp moulding the team into his image and turning them from Europa League challengers to possible title candidates.

Chelsea have been setting the pace recently, and they have just made it a record-equalling 13 straight wins by beating Stoke City to move nine points clear, but Liverpool are currently best placed to challenge Antonio Conte's side this term. Certainly, the Reds seem to have the firepower for a title challenge, boasting the best attacking record in the division - a full six goals better off than the next highest-scoring team before today.

Indeed, the Reds have now scored 100 Premier League goals under Jurgen Klopp and 86 in 2016 alone - their highest tally in a calendar year since they netted 87 in 1985. The main question mark over Liverpool's title credentials surrounds their defensive record - much like it did with the near-miss of 2013-14. They have the worst defensive record in the top six of the table, conceding 21 goals which, before today, was more than 15th-placed Middlesbrough.

Things have been improving on that front for Liverpool, though, and they come into this match having kept five clean sheets in their last eight outings in all competitions - the same number as they had managed in their previous 22 games. Their fierce attacking record also means that they are a very tough team to beat, with only Burnley and Bournemouth managing it so far this season - surprise losses on both occasions. They have lost just one of their last 20 outings in all competitions, winning 15 of those, while that record stands at one defeat in 16 Premier League games.

Another victory this evening would see Liverpool set a new club record for the Premier League era of 43 points at the halfway stage of the season. The current record stands at 42 points from the 2008-09 campaign, when they finished second in the table, and beating that record would give confidence that this could finally be their year to end their title drought. Of course, the race is still in the hands of relentless Chelsea, but they will drop points between now and the end of the season and Liverpool must continue to ensure that they are in a position to capitalise when they do.

Home advantage has proved to be important for Liverpool so far this season under the big new Main Stand at Anfield, with the Reds having won eight and lost none of their 10 matches in front of their own fans across all competitions. Indeed, their unbeaten streak at Anfield stretches all the way back to January, since when they have gone 23 games without defeat. Their 10 home games this season have yielded 29 goals, while they have conceded only eight at the other end.

Liverpool's unbeaten record at home in the Premier League goes back even further, with a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on January 17 being their only loss at Anfield in the league this calendar year. Since then they have won 10 and drawn six of their 16 outings - the longest run in the division and Liverpool's longest streak since a 31-game run from December 2007 to August 2009. The Reds are one of only two teams to still be unbeaten in front of their home fans this season, while only Chelsea and Tottenham have amassed more points at home. Liverpool are also the highest home scorers in the league, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that they have played fewer games than any other team at home.

Liverpool may be the top home goalscorers in the division, but Manchester City boast the best attacking record away from home so far this season, so this should be a very intriguing contest. For City's part, they can ill-afford many more slip-ups with Chelsea so dominant in their own results, and a defeat this evening would leave them 10 points adrift of the leaders heading into 2017. Indeed, it could also see them drop out of the top four if both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur win tomorrow.

This, then, is a huge game for Man City as they look to leapfrog Liverpool into second place, and Pep Guardiola has seen his side return to form in recent weeks. They come into this match having won three consecutive games for the first time since their perfect start to the campaign, when they won their opening 10 matches under Guardiola in all competitions. After that brilliant start came to an end, and prior to their recent winning run, they won just four of 15 games, so it has been a much-needed improvement.

Whether too much damage was done in that run remains to be seen, though, and while results have been good, performances have not quite been up to the standards City set themselves in the opening weeks of the campaign. Boxing Day saw them pick up a 3-0 victory over Hull City, but that result flattered them and for an hour of that game they looked under-par as Hull managed to frustrate them. A similar performance in the opening hour here could see Liverpool out of sight.

City's strengths and problems are similar to those of Liverpool in many ways. Goals are not an issue for Guardiola's side - before today only Liverpool had scored more in the Premier League - but it is keeping them out at the other end which has caused them the most problems. Only Liverpool have conceded more in the top six of the table, while they are yet to keep consecutive Premier League clean sheets under Guardiola - a run they have a chance to end this evening.

Like Klopp, though, Guardiola prioritises scoring goals over keeping them out at the other end and City have only failed to find the back of the net in one of their last 26 Premier League outings, scoring 58 times in that run. They have been particularly prolific away from home this season, scoring at least two goals in eight of their nine Premier League games on the road. The one exception saw them beaten 2-0 by Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Liverpool may well try to replicate Tottenham's performance from that day this evening, and interestingly it is City's only away game against a team in the top five so far this season. Their overall record on the road is good - only Chelsea have amassed more points - but they are yet to face the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal on the road so it remains to be seen whether they can do it against the biggest teams. Spurs found them out a little with their victory, although it should also be noted that City have beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford this season.

City did actually go on a run of three consecutive away defeats not too long ago, but since then they have won four and lost just one of their matches on the road. That defeat was a chastening 4-2 loss at he hands of Leicester City, but they bounced back with the 3-0 win over Hull last time out and can now put together consecutive away wins for the first time in more than a month.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Anfield, which means that it is time for a prediction! This fixture has provided goals galore in recent years, and it is Liverpool who have had City's number more often than not in the Premier League. I am hoping for another entertaining affair this evening, and as it's the final league game of 2016 I'll go for a big prediction - 4-2 to Liverpool!

Goals do seem to be guaranteed at the very least tonight, with Liverpool never having failed to score in their previous 19 home Premier League games against Manchester City. Indeed, it is 22 top-flight visits to Anfield since City last kept a clean sheet, and on the most recent one they conceded three times as goals from Lallana, Milner and Firmino gave the Reds a convincing victory in March.

Indeed, Liverpool scored seven goals in the two league meetings between these sides last season, also running out 4-1 winners at the Etihad Stadium last November - one of the early highlights of Klopp's reign. City did get revenge with a penalty shootout victory in the League Cup final, but in the league they have lost their last three meetings with Liverpool. A home win this evening will give the Reds four in a row over City for the first time since 1981.

For all of their money and recent success, City's record at Anfield is still a miserable one. They have only won one of their previous 19 Premier League visits here, with that coming all the way back in May 2003 when Nicolas Anelka scored a brace against his former club in a 2-1 victory. They have lost 13 and drawn five of the remaining games, and are currently on a 14-match winless streak at Anfield in all competitions.

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp obviously know each other well from their time together in the Bundesliga, and it is the Spaniard who has the superior record from that time. He won four of his eight Bundesliga meetings with Klopp, drawing three and losing just once. That solitary defeat came at the Westfalenstadion in April 2014 when Guardiola's Bayern Munich side had already wrapped up the league title.

KICKOFF: Here we go! The final Premier League match of 2016 gets underway, and it is a huge one for both sides. Manchester City kick us off!

Man City have an early chance from a free kick in a good position, which was won by the pantomime villain Sterling. Kolarov lines it up, but slams it straight into the wall.

Sterling has seen a lot of the ball in these opening exchanges, and it is notable that the Liverpool players are quick to pounce on him - perhaps fired up by the boisterous crowd.

Man City have seen the better of the opening exchanges here, with Liverpool yet to really get into any attacking rhythm.

YELLOW CARD! Klavan picks up an early yellow card here for a foul on Aguero.

One chance, one goal for Liverpool! They draw first blood at Anfield through a bullet header from Wijnaldum! Lallana is given too much space on the left flank and he hangs a cross into the middle that Wijnaldum attacks really well. He meets it perfectly and steers his header into the bottom corner.

That goal should really settle Liverpool down after what had been a relatively slow start to the game from the home side. City, meanwhile, will want a response quickly.

Aguero looks to provide that quick response by slaloming into a decent shooting position just outside the area, but his attempt with the outside of his boot goes comfortably wide.

Liverpool seem fairly content to let City have the majority of the ball at the moment, focusing instead on hitting the visitors on the counter. That is how their goal came, and they can afford to just sit back and draw City out a bit more now.

I questioned in the build-up to this match how City would be able to cope with Liverpool's pressing style, but the hosts aren't playing like that at the moment. They are keeping their shape and sitting back challenging City to break them down.

Lallana's assist for that opening goal means that no midfielder in Europe's top five leagues has been directly involved in more goals this season. His seven assists is also his best haul for a single campaign, and we're not even halfway through the season!

City have enjoyed almost 60% possession in this match so far, but the majority of it has come on the halfway line with the two centre-backs. City are yet to really trouble Mignolet for all of their possession today.

Nothing delights this Anfield crowd quite as much as Sterling trying something and it not coming off. One of the biggest cheers of the night greets a cross from the winger which sails straight over the bar.

City try a long ball over the top of the Liverpool defence which Aguero takes down brilliantly inside the area, but before he can finish it the linesman's flag is correctly raised.

Craig Pawson has a word with Fernandinho following a foul on Lallana, with the crowd baying for a yellow card. The referee keeps his cards in his pocket this time, but that looks like a final warning for Fernandinho.

SHOT! Good football again from Liverpool as they force City into a mistake and immediately look to pounce. Firmino and Mane combine to find Wijnaldum, but this time the midfielder's effort is high and wide of the target.

Very nearly a chance for Liverpool again as Milner lifts a brilliant pass into the path of Firmino, but his control just lets him down. He would have been one on one with the keeper had he taken that in his stride!

SHOT! Liverpool are beginning to see more sights of goal here. Can is the latest to have a go, cutting onto his right foot on the edge of the box before firing an effort just too high and wide when looking for the top corner.

Nervy moments for Liverpool as Mignolet comes a long way off his line to mop up a ball over the top. Aguero is chasing him down, but Mignolet lifts the ball over the Argentine's head before passing it over another City player out to Milner.

City have not been able to come up with anything of note in an attacking sense in this game, particularly since Liverpool took the lead. The visitors have seen more of the ball, but it is Liverpool who are in control of this game.

Really good pressing from Liverpool as they force City back all the way to Bravo. There just doesn't seem to be any route forward for the visitors at the moment.

Liverpool have done a good job of preventing City's match-winners from getting on the ball so far. We have seen very little of De Bruyne, Aguero or Silva in an attacking sense so far.

Silva does get on the ball in a promising position here, floating a pass over to the left side of the area where Kolarov is waiting. The full-back volleys a first-time effort back across the area, but it is behind all of the blue shirts.

It has been a little better from City in the last few minutes here. They have gained more control over the match but are still yet to trouble Mignolet in the Liverpool goal.

City's brightest attacking moment so far comes as Firmino gifts possession to De Bruyne in a good position. The Belgian immediately drives to the edge of the box, ghosting past Klavan in the process, but the Liverpool defender recovers to get a block on the eventual shot.

Almost a huge chance for Liverpool to get a second! Toure gives the ball away and Firmino and Lallana immediately pounce. Firmino pokes it through to Lallana, who looks to be clean through on goal, but the linesman's flag is correctly raised. A big opportunity goes begging for the hosts.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

The first half comes to an end at Anfield, then, and it is Liverpool who go into the break with a deserved lead over Manchester City. Clear cut chances have been few and far between at either end of the pitch, but it is Liverpool who have enjoyed the greater control over the game for the most part.

The only goal of the game so far came after just eight minutes, and it was a fine header from Georginio Wijnaldum that gave Liverpool the lead. Lallana delivered a good ball into the box, and Wijnaldum timed his run to perfection to plant a bullet header into the bottom corner. It was Lallana's seventh assist of the season, and both the cross, the run and the finish were perfect.

Aside from that, there has not been as much goalmouth action as we would have expected from the league's two highest-scoring teams. Wijnaldum and Can have both missed the target with efforts from just outside the area, but the only shot on target in this match so far was Wijnaldum's goal.

City have enjoyed more of the possession so far, but they have had just three touches inside the Liverpool box and Mignolet has not been called into action at all so far. City need to get the likes of Aguero, De Bruyne and Silva on the ball more in dangerous areas, but so far they have been prevented from doing so by a disciplined Liverpool performance. Guardiola will be demanding more from his side in the second half.

KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for the second half at Anfield as they look to close the gap on leaders Chelsea back to six points.

CHANCE! Almost a chance in the opening minute of the second half as Lallana breaks forward before giving the ball to Firmino. A cross eventually finds its way to Clyne inside the area, but the ball doesn't sit up for him to shoot and the chance goes begging.

Craig Pawson comes over to have a chat with Lallana and Zabaleta, just calming things down following a brief and minor flare-up between the two.

Liverpool have made a good, bright start to this second half. They are seeing more of the ball than City and look capable of creating something when they come forward too.

Man City just can't seem to get on the ball at the moment, particularly in a dangerous position. If Guardiola read them the riot act at half time then they don't seem to have responded.

SAVE! City finally have their first shot on target, but it is an easy one for Mignolet. Aguero finds shooting space for the first time tonight and has a snapshot from 25 yards, but it is straight at the Liverpool keeper.

CLOSE! City's threat is finally beginning to grow here. Silva is the man to finally get his foot on the ball this time as he ducks inside onto his left foot and shoots from the edge of the box, but it goes narrowly wide of the far post.

CHANCE! Half a chance for City again here as Toure pings a beauty of a diagonal pass over to Sterling, who makes a good run in behind the defence. The winger is at full stretch, though, and can only turn the ball into the side-netting.

SAVE! Another save for Mignolet to make, but it is another simple one. A corner is played directly out to Kolarov on the edge of the area and he tries a first-time volley which deflects into the arms of Mignolet. It would have gone a long way wide had it not taken a deflection on the way through.

This has been much better from Man City in the last six or seven minutes - by far their best spell of the game. De Bruyne has a chance to create something as the ball arrives to him inside the box, but his cross is blocked by Wijnaldum. City's momentum is really growing now.

Henderson needs a bit of treatment here, which could turn into a good thing for Liverpool as it has slowed things down a bit just as City were beginning to get into their stride.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Henderson will not be able to continue here, so on comes Divock Origi in his place.

Liverpool have a good chance to break here as they pour forward in numbers. Mane knocks it out wide to Firmino, who has Origi in the middle, but the Brazilian tries to trick his way past Kolarov and goes down, only for Craig Pawson to wave his claims away.

There is a frantic feel to this game at the moment, and I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in this game. It hasn't been as action-packed as I expected, but this one still feels like there is more drama to come.

City are very much on top at the moment - they have enjoyed 89% possession in the last five minutes. Liverpool are struggling to keep hold of the ball, while City are looking more dangerous with the possession they do have.

Bravo channels his inner Mignolet with a take-on of his own, skipping past Mane as the Liverpool striker chased him down. Risky stuff from the City keeper, but it came off.

It has been a scrappy second half in many ways so far. Neither team has been able to keep the ball as well as they did in the first half.

YELLOW CARD! Can goes into the book for a lunge on Sterling. No complaints there.

It is so frantic at the moment. The Liverpool fans are urging their side to get forward but City are keeping the pressure on the home side, who have their backs to the wall at the moment.

Liverpool are in for a nervy final 10 minutes here if this continues. City are looking more and more dangerous and Liverpool will do well to withstand this pressure. A second goal may be Liverpool's best chance of claiming all three points here.

Better from the hosts as Lallana gets in down the left flank before cutting back on himself and giving the ball to Firmino. The Brazilian then ducks and dives past two blue shirts but gives the ball away as the attack breaks down.

Almost a chance for Liverpool from a corner as Mane finds a bit of space, but can't get enough on his header at the front post. Lovren almost gets to the ball at the back post, but a City defender makes an important interception first.

Again, Liverpool almost get into a good scoring position as the ball breaks for Clyne inside the area, but it is nicked off his toe just before the full-back can pull the trigger.

MAN CITY SUB: Pep Guardiola finally makes his first change of the evening as Jesus Navas replaces Zabaleta.

City want a free kick in a dangerous position as Lallana just leans in to Silva after Aguero had let the ball run through. Craig Pawson says no, though.

MAN CITY SUB: Another change for the visitors as Kelechi Iheanacho comes on in place of Toure.

LIVERPOOL SUB: The hosts respond with a change of their own, with Lucas Leiva replacing Mane for what could well be his last appearance for the club if reports are to be believed.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of this match.

YELLOW CARD! Otamendi goes into the book late on for a handball deep in his own corner.

There is a brief stoppage here as a steward removes a flare that was thrown onto the pitch by Man City fans.

Referee Craig Pawson blows his final whistle, and Anfield erupts in jubilation as Liverpool end the year on a high with victory over Manchester City. Georginio Wijnaldum scored the only goal of the game after just eight minutes, thumping a header past Bravo from Lallana's cross. The Reds close the gap on leaders Chelsea back to six points, and also move four points clear of Man City in third.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's game and throughout 2016. I will leave you with our match report for this game, and be sure to stick around for reaction from both camps too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now, and a very happy New Year to you all. See you in 2017!