(Football news) After 27 games in the 2023–24 season, just one spot and one point separate Liverpool and Manchester City, though Arsenal has the ability to move both teams up before Sunday’s big matchup starts.

Although there is still a chance for Klopp and Guardiola to square off in this year’s FA Cup final, their tantalizing match this weekend will be their penultimate meeting with valuable Premier League points and complete control of the title race on the line.

Thanks to their latest Premier League winning goal on record and the 10th latest in the history of the competition – since data became available – the crown is currently the Reds’ to lose, as Darwin Nunez came up with an extraordinary 99th-minute header to down Nottingham Forest last weekend, earning Liverpool’s first Premier League win at the City Ground in the process.

Whether the Reds’ winner should have stood has been a hot-button topic – referee Paul Tierney awarded an incorrect drop-ball according to the laws of the game – and as Nottingham Forest players and staff lost their rag at full time, Liverpool rejoiced in maintaining their one-point lead over the Citizens at the summit of the table.

However, Klopp’s side will be demoted to the runners-up spot if Arsenal overcome Brentford on Saturday, and the Reds arrive back on Merseyside following a taxing – but worthwhile – Czech Republic jaunt, demolishing Sparta Prague 5-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 showdown.

The epet Arena annihilation of the Maroons marked Liverpool’s seventh successive win across all tournaments since last month’s 3-1 beating at the hands of Arsenal, and the Reds boast an identical triumphant streak at home, where they are now without defeat in 29 straight fixtures since Real Madrid’s Champions League crushing 13 months ago.

In six of Liverpool’s past seven Anfield games, the opponent has also scored three goals or more. However, given that the hosts have only kept one clean sheet in their previous nine home games, an equally dominant Man City has every right to envision themselves as the life of the party.

Guardiola’s team started March with back-to-back Premier League blockbusters. However, after being caught off guard by a Marcus Rashford rocket against Manchester United last weekend, the Citizens completed their anticipated comeback thanks to goals from hotshots Phil Foden (two) and Erling Haaland, who made up for one of the worst misses in the history of the competition.

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