Preview: Manchester City vs. Liverpool

Manchester City have the chance to close down a seven-point gap between themselves and leaders Manchester United if they can pick up a victory against Liverpool this Sunday.

The current English champions face a tough home fixture against the Reds, who managed to secure a 2-2 draw against City at the start of the campaign at Anfield in August.

City slipped in their quest to retain the Premier League title in midweek when they were held to a goalless draw by Queens Park Rangers, while Brendan Rodgers's side sit in seventh in the table following a 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday.

City will line up without captain Vincent Kompany as he continues to struggle with a calf injury, while the North-West side will compete in their first official game without striker Mario Balotelli, who finalised a move to AC Milan yesterday.

Meanwhile, new Liverpool signing Philippe Coutinho could make his debut on Sunday from the bench, while Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are expected to lead the line for the Merseyside outfit.

Recent form

Man City: DWWWW

Liverpool: DWLWW

Possible starting lineups

Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy; Barry, Garcia; Milner, Silva, Aguero; Dzeko

Liverpool: Reina; Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson; Henderson, Lucas; Suarez, Gerrard, Sterling; Sturridge

Sports Mole says: 1-1