Mike Sawbridge: 5.30am in Brisbane. Cup of tea made and ready for THE game. Come on Reds.

Thomas Wood: Why is the City/Liv game being built up as a “top of the table clash”? In reality they’re the best two in the league but the last time I checked @SpursOfficial, external we’re still 2nd

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

Never quite sure if it's the football version of boxing's pre-fight stare-out but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp makes a habit of standing watching the opposition's warm up from a vantage point in the centre circle.

He has been standing particularly close to Manchester City while they go through their paces. Psychological warfare? Or maybe he just likes their warm-up routine.

Francis Edwards: Klopp needs to find a settled midfield. It’s clear he’s unsure on Henderson. What does he offer? He tackles well, but can’t pass the ball further than five yards or run with it.

Khan Karn: Really wanted to see Keita start ahead of Hendo. He’s much better in big games, smarter player and sharper in the final third

Colin Todd: Agree 100% with Waddle, Fernadinho is a massive player for City. He did forget to mention the amount of fouls (professional) he gets away with. Vinnie Jones, Robbie Savage always got held to account by refs/media, strange Fernadinho gets away with it.

Virgil van Dijk has been a wonderful aquisition, even at that eye-watering price. Proof that sometimes it is worth paying whatever it takes to get what you want. What you need.

Don't tell my wife I said that though - she wants us to break the bank to get a utility room when we move house. Definitely not worth it.

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

He's an organiser and he talks. He knows when to head it, clear it and his decision-making has been excellent.

He's been unbelievable. His reading of the game and class on the ball make him an all-round centre half - a modern-day centre half.

Vincent Kompany is leading the rousing in the City camp as they go through their warm-up routines. An early goal would work wonders for the defending champions - and the neutrals.

Please, can we not have another 0-0? That's all we ask...

Hands up if you thought £75m on a centre-half was madness?

Yep, me too.

Image source, Reuters

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

Virgil van Dijk has made Liverpool better. But people forget about the goalkeeper, he has been unbelievable, Andrew Robertson has been different class - Joe Gomez made them better, Trent Alexander-Arnold made them better - Van Dijk gets the plaudits, but let's not forget the rest of them.

It's less than two years since Pep spent the thick end of £100m on full-backs. Are we thinking that there is still work to do in that department?

Liverpool are in the tunnel, huddled around Jurgen Klopp. Atmosphere = five pints down in an all-dayer.

Rarely seen a happier camp. And why not?

Lee Nicholls: Got the feel of a champions league knockout game this. Liverpool get an ‘away goal’ and City have to score 2 - must win!

Tom McCarron: A solid defence for City vs sound, reliable midfield selections for Liverpool. Think will be a cagey opening 20 mins

Sho: Pep's choice of fullbacks clearly shows his lack of faith in Walker in my opinion. Liverpool have to exploit the wings. However there's far more creativity in City's midfield. Klopp has gone for the workers today.

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

With his hat-trick against Arsenal last time out, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino became the highest scoring Brazilian player in Premier League history (43 goals).

He’s been involved in six goals in his seven Premier League games against Man City (three goals, three assists).

City may trail Liverpool by seven points going into tonight's game but it was quite a different tale at this stage last year.

City were 15 points clear of Manchester United after 20 games - and 20 (TWENTY) ahead of Liverpool.

So have Liverpool improved or City waned? Or both?

Kyle: I hope Liverpool win the title but lose tonight. A Liverpool win means they could win the title at a canter and when 1 team runs away with it, it gets boring. A City win has them and Tottenham firmly in the title race and what an end to the season we have

Kaushik Gorai: I am a Liverpool fan and perhaps the only person to say this. No matter what the result today, both the teams can go out to win the title in May. People do not realise how long the season is. We are just halfway through it!

Rezaa Sait: Leaving out Kyle Walker is a big statement. Laporte at Left Back? This doesn't look good.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 26 Premier League matches Jordan Henderson has started - the joint-longest run for the Reds in the competition (Yossi Benayoun also 26 between March 2008 and August 2009).

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

Fernandinho is a massive player for Manchester City - he is a very good footballer as much as his positional sense is great.

He's got a very responsible job of not getting involved and not following the ball, he's protecting the back four and screening.

He's got such an important role and he does it really well.

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

This is only the ninth time a team has remained unbeaten after 20 fixtures of a top-flight season, with Liverpool now achieving the feat twice.

Sheffield United, in 1899-1900, are the only side unbeaten at this stage who didn't finish the season as champions.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola will know defeat is not an option for City. If they lose then all statistics and logic suggest it will take a Liverpool collapse on a scale that looks simply unforeseeable to revive City's hopes of a second successive title.

The Premier League season is packed with imponderables but a Liverpool win would effectively mean they must lose at least three of their last 17 games, having lost none of their previous 21. And that's assuming City go undefeated.

Liverpool's fixture list also looks favourable. After tonight they will have only three of the top six left to play, with two of those games - against Chelsea and Tottenham - at Anfield.

A draw against City would suit Liverpool more but history tells us this approach will not enter Jurgen Klopp's head.

Read more from Phil here

Anthony Brace: Been City fan 34 years but am very nervous about our back line tonight. Think LFC are bound to score

Kevin Johnson: Right selection for @LFC - glad De Bruyne not in starting XI for @ManCity

Chris Lincoln: Mane and Robertson are in business

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola says "nobody trusts" Manchester City as his side prepares to face Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The Spaniard said: "I know today nobody trusts us. Everyone is talking about 'if we lose' - but we can win.

"We cannot expect to be 12 or 13 points in front at Christmas like last season. That has happened once in our lifetime, it happened last season.

"This is a new season and the opponent is so strong. For me, that is an immense and huge motivation."