Manchester City vs. Liverpool: Preview and TV schedule

Things really couldn’t have setup much better for the EPL’s Boxing Day main event as the league leaders Liverpool meet third placed Manchester City at the Ethiad. City are just one point behind the Reds and depending on what Arsenal does against West Ham, they could take over the top spot with a victory.

Defeating a red hot Liverpool side could be tricky though, especially with City’s injured riddled defense being tasked with trying to slow down Luis Suárez. The Uruguayan striker has 19 league goals this season and is in remarkable form at the moment. Despite that, City still appear to have an edge thanks to their dominating home form this season where they’ve yet to drop a point.

Brendan Rodgers will still be missing three key players and has done his best to defuse the pressure building on his players in the media this week. His comments claiming that the title is City’s to lose raised some eyebrows but it’s a classic attempt at mind games.

Manuel Pellegrini will be missing leading scorer Sergio Agüero who remains sidelined with a calf problem.

City remain thin at the back with Agüero, Zabaleta, Richards and Mastasic. Striker Stevan Jovetic missed the Fulham match with an illness but could be available. Gerrard, Sturridge and Enrique remain sidelined for Liverpool and they could be joined by Jon Flanagan if his hamstring isn’t well enough.

Projected lineups