sport news The three wise men on title showdown between Liverpool and Man City

Liverpool and Manchester City go head-to-head on Thursday night in what could be a defining match in the Premier League season.

If Jurgen Klopp's men win, Liverpool have open water, if City win, the title race is well and truly on.

Both these sides haven't got themselves in this position by accident. They have been the best teams in the league this season by some way and it's no easy feat splitting the two, but Sportsmail's three wise men have had their say on the biggest game of the season.

JAMIE REDKNAPP 

Imagine you are a Manchester City player and your manager is telling you all the things he is going to change because Liverpool are coming to town.

Alarm bells would be ringing. Pep Guardiola should not risk doing that. He should just focus on his game and trust in his philosophy, the one that turned City into Premier League champions with a record points total.

Guardiola's players get on the front foot and they're great at it. Even if you get beaten, play your game.

Pep Guardiola should not compromise Man City's style just because Liverpool are in town

Pep Guardiola should not compromise Man City's style just because Liverpool are in town

It would be a mistake to move Aymeric Laporte to left back, Mohamed Salah had his number 

It would be a mistake to move Aymeric Laporte to left back, Mohamed Salah had his number 

Make tactical tweaks, of course, but don't compromise what you're good at. City should be telling themselves they're the champions and can beat anyone if they play the way they know they can.

Jurgen Klopp is without the injured Joe Gomez, who would have made my combined XI alongside Virgil van Dijk if fit, so that is a small boost for City. This fixture has a similar feel to the Champions League second leg between these two at the Etihad last season. City are the home team who will go for it while Liverpool can wait for opportunities to pounce.

Guardiola doesn't get a lot wrong. For me, he's the master, but when City had to overturn a 3-0 deficit in Europe last season, he made mistakes. He played Aymeric Laporte at left back and Mohamed Salah had his number. Laporte could be tasked with trying to stop the Egyptian again on Thursday night.

If not, then it could be Danilo or Oleksandr Zinchenko, who made the mistake which led to Southampton's goal on Sunday.

CHRIS SUTTON

How do you call this one?

Liverpool could wallop City and we wouldn't be surprised. City could win by four or five and we wouldn't be surprised either! Both teams can demolish anyone on their day.

There is still a long way to go so I don't think this is must-win for City. When I won the Premier League title with Blackburn in 1994-95 we were eight points clear with six games to go but weren't crowned

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