Liverpool v Manchester City is the headline English Premier League match taking place on Sunday and we also take a look at the game between Aston Villa and Spurs.
Villa 1.35/1 Draw 3/1 Spurs 16/10
Villa were in Europa Conference League Round of 16 action on Thursday away to Ajax and they played out a 0-0 draw.
Fourth placed Villa have won 4 of their last 5 league games but with the top 3 also in really good shape they remain 6 points behind third placed Arsenal. They let a 2-0 lead slip at Luton last weekend but recovered to win 3-2 and their most recent home game saw them beat Forest 4-2. Villa's long unbeaten home run had previously been ended by Newcastle (3-1) and the Man United (2-1) also won on their visit here.
Spurs put together a 3 goal blitz in 11 minutes in the later stages of their 3-1 home win over Palace last weekend. The EPL and qualifying for the Champions League next season is their sole focus for the remainder of the campaign and those 3 points saw them finish the round in fifth place with 6 points worth of daylight over sixth placed Man United. Looking up they are 5 points behind their opponents here but they do have a game in hand. A fourth place finish guarantees UCL football next season, fifth may also be good enough but that will not be determined for some time.
Spurs have played 2 just away fixtures since the turn of the year, 2-2 draws at Manchester United and Everton, games which they will feel they should have won. They have kept just 1 clean sheet in their last 17 league games.
The Verdict
Villa won the first league meeting this season 2-1 in London at a time when Spurs were way under strength.
I'm going to take a chance on Son, likely to play through the middle with Richarlison injured, to score the first goal of the match at a reasonably healthy price boost from Sportingbet.
Bets: 1st goalscorer Son was 5/1 now 6/1 with Sportingbet
Liverpool 19/10 Draw 2.85/1 Man City 5/4
Liverpool were in Europa League action on Thursday away to Sparta Prague and they coasted to a 5-1 win with Mo Salah appearing off the bench late on.
With the EFL Cup banked Liverpool, again featuring a number of youngsters, scored at the death to beat Forest 1-0 away from home last week to remain 1 point clear of their opponents here and 2 better off than third placed Arsenal who host Brentford a day before this match takes place. Nunez scored that late goal on his return from injury.
City came through the second leg of their UCL Round of 16 clash at home to FC Copenhagen with a 3-1 win on the night (6-2 aggregate) and they rested the likes of De Bruyne, Foden, Bernado Silva and Walker. A 3-1 win over United in last weeks Manchester derby means that since losing a league game 1-0 at Villa in early December City have reeled off 10 wins and 2 draws in the EPL.
The first league meeting this season finished 1-1 in Manchester towards the end of November with Haaland giving City a 1-0 first half lead and Alexander-Arnold levelled things up on 80 minutes. Last season Liverpool won this fixture 1-0 but City were 4-1 winners in the return in Manchester.
The Verdict
Had this match taken place a couple of weeks ago I would have no hesitation in going with City but the likely return of Salah and Nunez will be a huge boost to Liverpool.
I'll look deep into the exotics for a bet and in the player assists market with Betway Luis Diaz gets the vote for Liverpool . Kevin de Bruyne was pretty quiet in the derby against United but he did set up 4 for Haaland in a recent FA Cup tie at Luton and was rested in midweek. I will pin my hopes on him to tee someone up for City
Bets: Player Assists Luis Diaz 1+ at 52/10 with Betway
Player Assists De Bruyne 1+ at 52/10 with Betway
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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