BBC football analyst Pat Nevin looks at why defender Virgil van Dijk has made such an impact since joining Liverpool, and why there is more to come.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

So, what happens to Manchester City’s season if they lose tonight?

As Pep Guardiola has explained in his programme notes, falling 10 points behind Liverpool with 17 games to go will not see the defending champions give up on title race, let alone mean the end of City’s campaign.

"No matter what the result tonight, the season will not be done - we have many things for which to fight,” says Pep.

"There are still four trophies to play for. We have the FA Cup this weekend, a Carabao Cup semi-final and the knock-out stages of the Champions League as well as the Premier League.”

Image source, .

Man City: Ederson, Stones, Kompany, Laporte, Danilo, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Sane. Subs: Walker, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus, Muric.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Mane. Subs: Fabinho, Keita, Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Mignolet, Shaqiri.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Image source, .

Didn't Laporte play at left-back against Liverpool last season? At Anfield in the Champions League?

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

It's interesting Jurgen Klopp goes with both James Milner and Jordan Henderson in the middle, they will be dogged to try and get that ball back.

Is that Aymeric Laporte in at left-back for Manchester City? It will be interesting to see how Liverpool line up against him, will they leave a wide player out to pin him back?

Image source, Getty Images

Sergio Agüero has scored in all six of his home league appearances against Liverpool. He has 249 career league goals.

Paul Challoner: Been watching @LFC for over 50 years and can't recall ever being this nervous over a mid-season game!!

Abdul Said: I am one of 10% of the people who think City will win tonight, and I give 100% sure there will be plenty of mistakes for both teams, entertainment and basket of goals.

Haseeb: Title no. 19 for Liverpool in year 2019. Am I being too optimist or.... superstitious?

Thoughts on those line-ups?

Man City: Ederson, Stones, Kompany, Laporte, Danilo, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Sane. Subs: Walker, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus, Muric.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Mane. Subs: Fabinho, Keita, Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Mignolet, Shaqiri.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

An intriguing selection from Pep as John Stones starts alongside Laporte and Kompany. Stones at full-back? Or is it a back three?

We shall see. Leroy Sane also returns as Zinchenko and Mahrez drop out.

Liverpool recall Jordan Henderson and James Milner into midfield. Fabinho and Shaqiri miss out.

Full team news to come.

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Manchester City are "still the best team in the world", despite his side being top of the Premier League and seven points ahead of the champions.

City have lost two of their past three league games and are third, a point behind second-placed Tottenham.

But Klopp said facing City is "one of the most difficult games you can play in the modern football world".

"We have to be prepared as good as possible, we have to be brave, we have to be full of desire, angry, like in all the other games," said Klopp.

Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke's proposed loan move to Crystal Palace is off because of concerns over his fitness.

Palace manager Roy Hodgson confirmed the 21-year-old was a target for the January transfer window on Sunday.

But Solanke has not made a first-team appearance for Liverpool this season and was ruled out of recent matches because of a muscle problem.

Palace need a striker who is available to play immediately.

Team news coming your way shortly...

Image source, Reuters

How critical could this moment be when we look back at this season in years to come?

Manchester City had a last-minute penalty at Anfield back in October, but Riyad Mahrez lashed it over the top,

How may the season have shaped up had City won that game? How would Liverpool have reacted to a defeat?

We shall never know...

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Lots of fans of both sides taking a snap of this giant mural on the side of the Etihad Stadium before kick-off.

Tonight’s result could go a long way to deciding whether City will just need to change the year next summer… or get a different image all together.

Sulaimon has done his maths.

Gurpreet B: Man City can't win the title today but they sure can lose it...

Abhie: Hoping for a Pep masterclass and a Salah fake injury to shift the focus. 3-1 City.

Sulaimon Adelekan: As it stands now, a win for Liverpool and it's a 10 points lead over Manchester City, a loss it's 4 points. But we all know the league title isn't won in January so it's still game on no matter the result tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola has lost seven matches against Jurgen Klopp, more than versus anyone else in his managerial career. The pair have faced each other 15 times, with Guardiola winning five (excluding penalty shootouts).

Read more: Why is Jurgen Klopp Pep Guardiola's 'Kryptonite'?

Chris Waddle
Ex-Spurs and England winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Liverpool could be 10 points ahead and I would still say Manchester City could chase them down.

There wasn't a team that could chase City down last season, when Leicester won the league there wasn't a team that could chase them down.

City are capable of losing tonight and going on a run where they win 10, 11 in a row.