Liverpool vs Manchester City: Anfield showdown could shape the Premier League run-in

Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday and, while the fixture may not be the decisive title showdown of recent seasons, it still promises to be a defining moment in this season’s title race — as well as the battle for Champions League football next term.

As the season enters February, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal sit atop the Premier League table on 53 points, six clear of City after 24 games and comfortably ahead of Liverpool, who are languishing in sixth.

The Gunners look firmly in control of the title race after a consistent run of form. City are second but appear to be struggling for momentum, with just one win in their past six league matches, and Pep Guardiola’s side view this weekend’s trip to Anfield as an opportunity to rediscover belief.

Liverpool’s campaign has been inconsistent. They recently snapped a poor run with a strong 4-1 victory over Newcastle, but questions remain over whether Arne Slot’s side can sustain a push for Europe’s top table once again next season, with their title hopes having long since faded.

City thrashed the Reds 3-0 in their last league meeting at The Etihad in November. Yet home advantage has often been Liverpool’s sharpest weapon against Guardiola’s Citizens, with Anfield providing the backdrop for statement victories in recent seasons.

Another such performance would not only ensure Liverpool keep pace with their rivals at the top end of the table, it could potentially bring City’s title challenge to an abrupt halt.

Such is the unpredictable nature of the Premier League, however, that Arsenal are not guaranteed maximum points at home to Fulham on Saturday. The Cottagers showed their fighting spirit in a narrow 3-2 defeat to a resurgent Manchester United and have recorded an impressive win over Chelsea, as well as draws with both Liverpool and City in recent weeks. 

Should the Citizens once again exploit Liverpool’s ongoing defensive frailties on Merseyside, it could further fuel calls for Slot’s tenure to be cut short. Victories for Manchester United against Tottenham and for Chelsea against struggling Wolves on Saturday could see Liverpool cut further adrift of the fifth and final Champions League spot.

An intriguing sub-plot to Sunday’s clash is that Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso, touted as a potential successor to Slot, is also regarded by some as an ideal long-term Guardiola replacement.

With Liverpool’s defence emaciated by injuries and their failure to strengthen in the transfer window baffling, Koppites may also be forced to watch ‘the one that got away’. England centre-back Marc Guehi is expected to line up for City after sealing a January move from Crystal Palace, having come close to joining the Reds in the previous window. 

Whether it proves decisive or merely revealing, this weekend feels loaded with consequence. For City, Anfield represents a chance to reassert authority and keep Arsenal honest. For Liverpool, it is another high-stakes examination of a project still searching for stability and direction.

Elsewhere, slip-ups at the top and pressure below underline how quickly narratives can shift in this league. In a Premier League season defined by fine margins and fading certainties, the coming weekend may not crown champions – but it will certainly shape who stays in the race, and who is left chasing shadows.