With Liverpool dropping points for the second consecutive game after having the opportunity of moving seven points clear of Manchester City, LiveScore takes a look at the key remaining fixtures for the two title favourites as the race for the Premier League heats up.
Both teams face three matches against other top six competition before the end of the season, with City playing Chelsea this weekend in the first of the remaining high-profile contests.
Manchester City vs Chelsea (February 10)
Chelsea pose an immediate threat to Manchester City, with the two Blues' to face each other this upcoming weekend. The west London club played City off the park in their most recent meeting, claiming a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in December. Despite controlling possession and finishing with the majority of the ball, City could not consistently find a way through a vastly improved Chelsea defence and confident attack led by Eden Hazard.
An early chance for Raheem Sterling was really the only clear cut opportunity for the visitors to score, and Chelsea grew into the game with N'Golo Kante particularly pivotal through the middle of the park. Kante popped up to smash in Chelsea's first right before half-time after Hazard, playing in the false nine role, mesmorised three City defenders and cut the ball back for the late-arriving Frenchman.
City were missing Sergio Aguero, the Premier League's most lethal marksman, for the match but he will certainly feature in the return fixture. He was unstoppable against Arsenal on the weekend, scoring after just 48 seconds and completing this hat-trick in the second half as City compounded the pressure on the league-leading Liverpool. You would expect Manchester City to look a vastly different side than the one that lost 2-0 at the Bridge, with Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne now both cemented back in the team after overcoming injuries, but the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain looks to have buoyed the London side and his impressive brace on the weekend against Huddersfield will have City very wary.
Manchester United vs Liverpool (February 24)
Liverpool's first remaining top six features sees them travel to Old Trafford for the next installment of their classic rivalry. With Fulham the only Premier League match to be played for the Red Devils before they host Liverpool, because of the upcoming FA Cup weekend, there is the very strong possibility Ole Gunnar Solskjaer welcomes Jurgen Klopp's men still unbeaten in the Premier League.
Consecutive draws at home to Leicester City and away to West Ham mean Liverpool's once breathable lead over Manchester City has eroded, and they could easily head to this fixture in second place. The two last played mid-December, with Liverpool tearing the Red Devils to shreds at Anfield and running out 3-1 winners with United's goal only coming as a result of an Alisson error. The loss saw manager Jose Mourinho fired and signalled the club's last loss to date.
Manchester United's defence failed to come to terms with Liverpool's attack during the match, with Xherdan Shaqiri playing a starring role with two goals. Both sides face titanic Champions League matches in the lead up however, which will test the depth of both teams. Liverpool host Bayern Munich in the first of their Round of 16 clashes with the German champions on the 19th, while United welcome PSG on the 20th.
Liverpool have not won at Old Trafford since 2014 when the Brendan Rodgers-led side smashed United 3-0 thanks to two goals from Steven Gerrard and one from Luis Suarez. They will need to overcome that hoodoo if they are to keep pace with Manchester City.
Manchester United vs Manchester City (March 16)
Manchester City will make the cross-town trip to face a very different Manchester United side than the one they beat 3-1 earlier this season. Interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has restored faith at Old Trafford, after both fans and players alike became disenfranchised under the tenure of Jose Mourinho who was fired in December. Since his sacking, United are undefeated in 10 matches, including knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup and a win away to Tottenham.
United have the right style and attributes to attack Manchester City. The width, speed and interchangeability they possess out wide in the form of Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford can exploit the Manchester City fullbacks, who like to tuck in and push forward. They also have the unique mismatch of Paul Pogba, who can gallop between the midfield and defensive lines and attack the City centre backs. City will require a huge game out of Fernandinho and/or Gundogan, depending on who gets the defensive role, in attempting to stop the run of Pogba.
It's also likely United turn back to one of Mourinho's more familiar tactics of man-marking, with Ander Herrera offering an elite option in attempting to take a singular player out of the game. We may see Herrera tag Kevin de Bruyne around the park to try and lessen the influence of the Belgian master. That will be an area to watch.
Manchester City will still be favourites heading into this match, even if Solskjaer's side do somehow manage to stay undefeated up until the fixture, but it will certainly be another huge hurdle in City's title hopes.
Liverpool vs Tottenham (March 31)
Arguably Liverpool's biggest test to come, the Reds host a Tottenham side that has very quietly moved within striking distance of a top two finish. Where they hold perhaps their greatest advantage is both in Tottenham's away record, which is the worst of the top six, and manager Mauricio Pochettino's record against Jurgen Klopp, which holds just one win from eight attempts.
Their previous meeting saw Liverpool secure an impressive 2-1 win at Wembley, a ground where Tottenham have been almost unbeatable this season. A late goal from Eric Lamela flattered Spurs who, despite a significant proportion of possession, failed to threaten the goal of Alisson.
Both clubs will be fresh off the international break, so we will see rejuvenated teams that may only be separated by a result or two. Mousa Dembele was Tottenham's best in their previous meeting, proving to be Spurs' most reliable source of possession, so his transfer to the Chinese Super League means they will be looking to someone else to control midfield. Their defence has looked incredibly suspect at times this season, particularly away from home, so this will be no easy task for a Tottenham side that no one is really taking seriously for the title as it stands.
But they deserve credit for the position they find themselves in and their ability to cope with major injuries to Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Harry Winks has come on in midfield in recent weeks and is proving to be a real player of the future for Spurs, while Liverpool's once red hot rotation in the middle of the park has hit a bit of a slump - with Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita out of form, Fabinho suffering from niggling injuries and James Milner being required to fill in across the field with defensive injuries mounting. It will be a must win for both teams.
Liverpool vs Chelsea (April 13)
Liverpool's final top six clash of a season which could bring the club its maiden Premier League title will be against Chelsea at Anfield. With Liverpool facing matches against Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town and Newcastle to round out three of their final four games, this could be the most important game of their season. A win over the Blues may just put them in position to close out the season against three teams that are all facing relegation, with a final game at home to Wolves the only fixture of measureable concern to come.
The Reds were lucky to even draw a point from their previous meeting at the end of September, where a Daniel Sturridge stunner in the 89th minute cancelled out Eden Hazard's early goal in a game that Liverpool struggled throughout. Chelsea, then undefeated after a hugely promising start under new manager Maurizio Sarri, have since been vastly more inconsistent, at times looking unconfident at the back despite the stellar play of record signing Kepa Arrizabalaga in goals. Midfield is still a huge area of concern for Chelsea, with Jorginho underwhelming alongside N'Golo Kante.
Liverpool have looked vulnerable on the counter attack this season, particularly when they push both fullbacks forward and their colossal centre half Virgil van Dijk joins the attack. The passing range of David Luiz could come into play with Chelsea looking to strike on the break with Eden Hazard and Willian, so look for the Blues to play through their skillful defender, particularly given their issues in midfield.
Liverpool will also look to exploit the tendencies Marcos Alonso getting forward when in possession. Alonso rampaging down the left flank could become a point of attack for the Reds, with Mo Salah occupying the right wing role. His speed could prove a huge issue for Chelsea should they not have the defensive cover of Luiz and Antonio Rudiger being extremely disciplined in protecting that side of their defence.
The Reds certainly have the advantage and will be favourites to better the result they forced at Stamford Bridge, but with just four games to go following this fixture it will be an extremely nervy atmosphere at Anfield.
Manchester City vs Tottenham (April 20)
The last of Manchester City's battles with top six opponents will come in late April at home to Tottenham. Given Spurs currently sit just two points behind the Citizens and five points off the lead, this match potentially could have the added wrinkle of a third team competing for Premier League glory.
The reverse fixture saw City 1-0 winners at Wembley, with an early Riyad Mahrez goal the only difference. Spurs though have taken advantage of recent slip-ups from both Liverpool and Manchester City, winners of three consecutive matches despite the absence of Harry Kane and Dele Alli. South Korean forward Son Heung-min has been a revelation this season, banging in 10 goals and adding five assists for the club. He will be crucial in adding a complementary goal-threat to Kane.
Tottenham's largest hurdle to overcome appears in the record of their manager Mauricio Pochettino against his counterpart Pep Guardiola. In 14 matches between the pair Pochettino has come out victorious only twice. Spurs' away form also is the worst of the top six, so they will be up against it during a crucial period of the season. We may well know after this match who the likely Premier League champion will be.
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