The warm-ups are done, the players are back in the changing rooms to steal themselves for this. There is always something about these huge games you can sense in the air. The tension and expectation is almost tangible.

Fifteen more minutes to wait.

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl praised "two of the best teams in the world" and says he "would buy a ticket" for the game between the Premier League's frontrunners on Sunday.

Hasenhuttl said he will be tuning in when Manchester City host Liverpool in what could prove a season-defining game for both teams.

"I'd love to watch both of these teams all the time," he said. "I've very often spoken about how good Manchester City are and I'd say that Liverpool are probably the team we have had the most problems against.

"They are both fantastic for the Premier League and I think a lot of leagues in Europe are looking at England and saying how fantastic the title race is.

"It's not like this every year but, for example in Germany, they're looking to see how they could improve it because it's always the same team that wins the league.

"It should be a great game on Sunday. As a fan, I'd buy a ticket for it."

Yeah, good luck with that Ralph.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

I have never seen so many people on a touchline. They could remake “Ben Hur” with the numbers assembled here.

Backroom staff. Media. Ex-players and managers. Members of Manchester City’s exclusive “Tunnel Club” for fans. An actual crowd scene.

You can keep your thoughts on Man City, Liverpool and Man City v Liverpool by taking to Twitter or text.

To tweet us, use the hashtag #bbcfootball. For texts, the number is 81111. Remember that this is UK only and standard message rates apply.

All eyes will be on Etihad Stadium on Sunday as leaders Manchester City face second-placed Liverpool in the Premier League.

Only one point separates the sides with eight games remaining, so we have been asking how you are feeling prior to the game?

Here are some of your comments:

Andy: Really nervous about Sunday's game. I feel City need to go up a few gears as the last two wins have been really laboured and Liverpool don't seem to lose at the moment, but COME ON CITY!

Peter: Very tough game, the best two club teams in world football. Both teams will go for the win, City will dominate possession 60/40, Liverpool have to win, but a draw still gives City the slightest advantage. 2-1 City.

Andy: Liverpool will be more worried than City. 3-1 to the champions!

Boahen: I think City will win against Liverpool.

Anon: With a bit of luck will have full squad to pick from and the class will show through in a difficult game. But it's not the be all to the season, plenty of points to be won or lost for both teams.

The TV feed I'm watching here is absolutely focused on the warm-up of Mohamed Salah.

You'd think whoever was directing it thought he was a pivotal figure in the fixture or something. Like he'd scored in four of his last five Premier League games against Man City, including each of his last three in a row.

I've seen a few people in the build-up to this game calling this the Premier League's greatest ever rivalry.

Now, I don't want to upset anyone here, but I'm not buying that. These two are both great sides and the games between them high in quality and intensity. As discussed the margins between them are miniscule. But the match-up lacks a crucial quality that leaves it below others - nastiness.

For me, the biggest rivalries need some needle. It isn't a proper rivalry until there has been an on-field melee involving all 22 players and both benches, unless one of the managers uses a post-match press conference to declare of the opponent that he'd "love it if we beat them, love it". It isn't a proper rivalry until there has been a fight involving the contents of a buffet.

Man City v Liverpool is all a bit too nice, too respectful. Case in point...

Image source, Getty Images

Small margins.

There is one point between Man City and Liverpool in the table right now. As I said earlier, one point separates them since the start of 2018-19!

And there's more of these little factors dividing the two. To read more about them, have a look at this piece on our site.

I do wonder just what Klopp learns from watching the opposition warm up? Guess that's why he's an incredibly successful elite football manager and I'm some numpty tapping out drivel like this.

But it is not like he's going to be stood there shocked and thinking, 'you know what, that De Bruyne lad looks a good player'.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp doing his usual thing of standing on the halfway line staring at the opposition as they warm up. Wonder has anyone actually ever been psyched out by that?

Manchester City happily going about their business.

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to Sky Sports: "Good. All prepared, all set. Let's go. That is it.

"Didn't think about playing the occasion. I don't know exactly what it means. We are here to win a football game. It is difficult because the opponent are really good. But the rest is the same.

"Both teams will have to defend and have possession. Usually City a bit more than us. We want to extend our own selves as well. There is nothing new. It is just pushing through your idea and trying to get on top of the game.

"If we are clinical I take it. Being clinical is always decisive. You cannot force that. That is not how football works. It would be really cool if we can create a lot. I am sure we will use one or two of them. But to do that we have to do a lot of good stuff. I hope we can keep them away from our goal too."

Manchester City

Man City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports: "Our closest rival in the table right now. Seven left after this fixture, There are 21 points to play and difficult ones for both sides. Today, nobody will be the champion.

"They defend different to teams around the world. I have to adjust something but we have in the past. The quality of the players they have, we have to do something."

On Gabriel Jesus: "His pace and intensity. He is young but has a lot of experience in these games. He did not play a lot. I play players three days before."

If you tune into BBC Radio Manchester at 16:00 BST on Sunday, you'll hear a special, creative piece.

Manchester City v Liverpool, a title race, told as a horse race. Well, it is Grand National weekend after all.

Narrated by the BBC's horse racing commentator, John Hunt, the story matches any drama of the Cheltenham Festival or Aintree.

City's slow start with defeat at Spurs had them playing catch-up - as Liverpool and Chelsea emerged as the frontrunners. All three have recent pedigree of winning big races, big tournaments.

When City beat Chelsea, the pace started to change and they hit the toughest part of the course - the Christmas schedule. It was a breeze for Pep Guardiola's side.

Chelsea fell away. Fancied chancers Manchester United were nowhere to be seen. Liverpool found another level - they also took the first major of the year in the Carabao Cup.

City stumbled over a fence, defeat at home by Spurs. The Blues then lost momentum around the final corner, drawing at Crystal Palace. Liverpool closed to just a length behind.

The Reds started to rein them in - and as we head into the final furlong, it's City by a nose. Hold on to your betting slips, we could be heading for a photo finish.

Image source, BBC Sport

I realise this means very little with regards to the outcome of this game, but the combined Man City-Liverpool team that many of you contributed this week makes for an interesting XI.

It is heavily Liverpool-weighted, with eight of the 11 coming from the Reds. The only City players to make the cut are, unsurprisingly, Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden and Ruben Dias. And the last of those won't be playing today.

City might have managed to sneak a striker into that front three if they had any, you know, strikers. But hey, they're top of the league without one, so who's winning?

These were the scenes earlier as the Man City players made their way into the stadium.

Not pictured: that weird blue gremlin mascot of theirs, dancing up a storm.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

The real glitterati are here at Etihad Stadium for the Premier League's match of the season between Manchester City and Liverpool.

One surprise visitor is Rafael Benitez, one-time Liverpool manager but who has kept a very low profile since January, when he was sacked following a short and toxic spell in charge at Everton. He has been smiling for selfies and signing autographs pitchside.

I think most of us would absolutely love this game to be another 4-3. It probably wouldn't do much for the nerves of Man City or Liverpool, but all us neutrals... yes please.

I stress, I am very much a neutral here, just in case you were wondering if me posting a video of 4-3 Liverpool win from 2018 makes you think I want another Reds win.

I don't care who wins, I just want it to have loads and goals and be so bonkers my fingers end up bleeding from the typing.

This is what it's all about...

Image source, Getty Images

And it's on display at the Etihad today.

Will it still be there at the end of the season?