MY ACCOUNT
Saturday could prove a decisive day in the Premier League title race with Manchester City and Liverpool both in action.
City hold a narrow one-point advantage over the Reds at the top of the table heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
But with both teams in such imperious form, any slip-up could prove costly in the battle to be crowned champions.
Reds ready for quick turnaround
Liverpool claimed an impressive 2-0 victory over Villarreal during the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday.
But Jurgen Klopp’s men do not have time to savour that success as they travel to Newcastle for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
That quick turnaround should not disrupt the Reds too much as they will head to St James’ Park having won 12 of their last 13 league fixtures.
They are also yet to taste defeat this calendar year.
The Merseysiders are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with Newcastle, claiming six wins and four draws, including their 3-1 success when the two teams met at Anfield in December.
That being said, Newcastle are a different side these days and have gone from relegation candidates to a top-half team under boss Eddie Howe.
The Magpies are also on an imperious home run, winning each of their last six fixtures on Tyneside, although Wolves were the only one of those sides currently above them in the standings.
A clash with Quadruple-chasing Liverpool will undoubtedly mark a step up for the Magpies and it is difficult to see anything other than an away win.
City cannot afford any slips
If Liverpool do claim all three points from their trip to the North East, then City will head into their evening clash with Leeds at Elland Road having slipped down to second.
Like their title rivals, Pep Guardiola’s team come into the weekend off the back of a win in the Champions League, beating Real Madrid 4-3 in a pulsating clash.
And City are currently on a mightily impressive 15-game unbeaten away run in the Premier League.
Leeds did prove a bogey team for City last season, taking four points off the eventual champions.
Still, they could not repeat those heroics at the Etihad Stadium earlier this term as the Citizens ran out comprehensive 7-0 winners.
While a similarly emphatic result seems unlikely this time around, City should still have more than enough to get over the line, even if Leeds come into the match on a five-game unbeaten run that has boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation.
Goals could also be on the agenda in West Yorkshire as only rock-bottom Norwich have conceded more in the top flight than Leeds this term, while City have kept just one clean sheet in four and have scored 14 times over that period.
