Manchester City and Liverpool, two of the Premier League's title contenders, are set to clash at the Etihad Stadium today, with both teams eager to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal. Arsenal's draw against Sunderland has added extra significance to this match, as a win for either City or Liverpool would significantly reduce the distance between them and the top spot.

Manchester City currently sits second in the league, six points behind Arsenal, while Liverpool is in third place, just one point behind City. A victory for City would narrow the gap to Arsenal to four points, whereas a win for Liverpool would bring them within five points of the Gunners.

Man City enters the match in strong form, having won six of their last seven games in all competitions. Their recent victories include a 3-1 win against Bournemouth in the Premier League and a dominant 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Liverpool, after a period of inconsistent results, has also found their rhythm, securing a 2-0 league win against Aston Villa and a 1-0 Champions League triumph against Real Madrid.

Team news for Manchester City indicates that Rodri is unlikely to be risked for the game. Pep Guardiola has expressed caution regarding the midfielder's fitness, especially with the upcoming international break. Mateo Kovacic remains a long-term absentee for City. Liverpool is likely to welcome back Alexander Isak to the squad after he recovered from injury. However, they will still be without Alisson and Jeremie Frimpong, who are both sidelined with injuries.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 pm GMT. Chris Kavanagh will be the referee, with Michael Oliver serving as the VAR.

Several factors could determine the outcome of this crucial encounter. Manchester City's home form is a significant advantage, as they have scored a substantial number of their league goals at the Etihad Stadium. Liverpool's improved defense in recent games could pose a challenge to City's attack. The performance of key players such as Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah will also be crucial.

Sky Sports' Lewis Jones suggests that while Erling Haaland is a major goal threat, Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk tends to neutralize his impact, potentially opening up opportunities for other City players like Phil Foden.

The predicted lineups suggest that Manchester City might field Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Foden, Silva, Haaland and Doku while Liverpool could start with Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo and Ekitiké.

Bookmakers favor Manchester City to win the match. However, Liverpool's recent form and their need to close the gap on Arsenal mean they will be highly motivated to secure a positive result.