Image source, Getty Images

If Liverpool overcome Manchester City on Sunday, it will mark City's fourth defeat in a row in the Premier League.

City have not lost four Premier League games in a row within a single season since 2007, when they suffered five consecutive losses to Blackburn Rovers, Reading, Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic and Chelsea.

They would also surpass the total number of losses - four - they endured in the league throughout the entirety of 2023-24.

Alex Keble
Football tactics writer

Guardiola should field his fastest ball-carrying wingers and encourage quick distribution into their feet when possession turns over.

Jeremy Doku and Savinho, if hit early, can cause damage running at the Liverpool full-backs, undone already this season by Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kaoru Mitoma, Tyler Dibling, and Bukayo Saka.

But there’s an even better way to expose this vulnerability: slot Kevin de Bruyne into the right half-space, the column of the pitch that runs between opposition left-back and centre-back.

De Bruyne, coming back to fitness, is just the kind of player needed to take advantage of space behind Liverpool’s left winger, which is precisely what he did the last time Manchester City beat Liverpool.

In a 4-1 victory in April 2023, De Bruyne lurked out to the right and combined with Riyad Mahrez to punishing effect. City’s tactical formation graphic below shows the number 17 De Bruyne playing wider, as does his pass map from the game.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester City's stunning form reversal has been notable in that there have been no rumblings of discontent from inside the club.

Instead, there is almost stunned silence.

City's collapse is so unexpected, it seems no-one quite knows how to react.

There is faith in manager Pep Guardiola to turn the situation round but he has never lost as many games in a row as he had until the Feyenoord game, and let's face it, that felt like a defeat given how a 3-0 lead with 20 minutes to go turned into a 3-3 draw.

Guardiola has spoken about his team being fragile but it feels they lack confidence, which is something you would never expect of City.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have won just one of their past nine Premier League games against Manchester City (D5 L3), a 1-0 home victory in October 2022.

Manchester City have won just one of their past 21 Premier League away games against Liverpool (D7 L13), beating them 4-1 in February 2021. They have not won at Anfield with fans in attendance since May 2003 (2-1).

Alex Keble
Football tactics writer

Mired in the first crisis of the Pep Guardiola era Manchester City travel to Liverpool with the usual narrative flipped on its head.

This time it’s the reigning champions who must find a way through the league’s best defence.

But there is a route to victory for Guardiola - providing he embraces the end-to-end wildness into which this fixture so often descends; providing he leans into the madness, just a little.

Six of the eight Premier League goals Liverpool have conceded this season were scored in the transition - just after the ball was turned over leaving space for the opposition - and five of those eight goals were created by running directly at, or past, the Liverpool full-backs.

That should be City’s target.

In recent examples – a goal for Brighton and a penalty for Southampton - quick transitions exposed the distance between Liverpool’s full-backs and their retreating wingers and midfielders.

Image source, Getty Images

Coming up, we will look at the tactical battle Manchester City can expect to face at Liverpool.

Arne Slot has enjoyed an unprecedented run of victories at the start of his Liverpool reign - 17 out of 19 games played in all competitions.

Real Madrid were the latest side to come a cropper at Anfield in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Nottingham Forest are the only side to have beaten Slot's side, winning at Anfield, while Arsenal claimed a draw against them at the Emirates.

The question is, will Manchester City's title hopes be over if they lose at Anfield on Sunday?

Take part in our poll at the top of this page and please send us your thoughts via X, WhatsApp or text using the contact details above.

Image source, Getty Images

OK, we have heard from five Premier League managers and the England women's head coach.

Time to take stock and re-focus on Sunday's huge game at Anfield, when the top-flight's top two go head to head.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are used to being the side to beat in recent times, having won four consecutive titles.

This time, it is Arne Slot's Liverpool sitting pretty in top spot, with an eight-point lead over their rivals.

We will hear from Guardiola at 12:30 GMT.

Before then, let's consider the task facing the defending champions.

England

Image source, Getty Images

England defender Lucy Bronze is among five Lionesses to be nominated for the Fifa Best award, along with Lauren Hemp, Keira Walsh, Mary Earps and Beth Mead.

Bronze was asked whether she was surprised that Georgia Stanway was not nominated: "Yeah. Georgia has been consistent for so many years, not just this year. When I think about the Euros [in 2022 when England won] and some of our best players were the likes of Keira [Walsh] and Georgia.

"I think their work in the England team goes unnoticed all the time because the media likes to focus on goalscorers or individual moments. You have these players who turn up week in, week out and do the job they have been asked to do and give 100%. That is Georgia Stanway."

• Read more on the nominations for the women's and men's Fifa Best awards.

Just a reminder that Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to be appointed as the Leicester City manager.

We will bring you more on that story as and when the Dutchman's appointment is confirmed.

Leicester City

A final word from Leicester City caretaker manager Ben Dawson on whether he's been told how long he will be in charge for: "No, my immediate focus and my immediate future is the game tomorrow. What happens beyond that, who knows? Myself and all the staff that are still here will continue to work hard for the football club for as long as that is."

Leicester City

Leicester City caretaker manager Ben Dawson on how the players have reacted to Steve Cooper's departure: "I think the players shared some of that unexpectedness early in the week. There is quite a lot of them in the group that have been in similar situations before where a manager has lost his job and they know that is the time when all eyes will be on them. They have been professional, they have worked well and that's all that we can ask of them at this moment in time."

Leicester City

Ben Dawson on whether the current group of Leicester City players are good enough to stay in the Premier League: "Absolutely. I see them work every day. I have done since I arrived at the football club. They are good footballers. Yes, at times, you need a little bit of luck here and there and I think that balances out across the season, but from what I see on a daily basis in terms of their endeavour and quality, I think they've got more than enough to stay in this league."

England

England boss Sarina Wiegman on Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze, who has 126 international caps: "I think Lucy is maybe the most competitive player I've ever worked with. She also has an incredible game understanding but oversees the pictures too.

"She is more than just her own [game]. She is so helpful to every other player on the pitch but also to us. Her physicality in the game is really great. She is amazing and a very important player to our team."

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City

Ben Dawson on Leicester City team news: "Harry [Winks] is the only one really. He is recovering well, but tomorrow will probably come too early for him. Hopefully he will join the squad again soon."

Leicester City

More from Leicester City caretaker manager Ben Dawson on images that circulated of the squad in Denmark at their Christmas party: "First and foremost, the lads had a couple of days off and it's their decision what they do with their time off. The issue you mentioned, the club have dealt with pretty quickly early in the week. Everybody has moved on and the lads have been really professional and worked well."

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on potential incomings in January: "I’ve already had a few minutes with [Tottenham technical director] Johan [Lange] about a strategy for January. Last year, we did some business which helped us. We’ve got a lot of injuries but a lot of clubs have. At some point it is going to come home to roost, you will either get a diminished product or clubs will have to carry bigger squads."

Leicester City

Leicester City caretaker manager Ben Dawson on if he can shed any light on the potential appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy: "Nothing at the moment. I was hoping you could shed some light on the situation. We probably know as much as you do and we're just continuing and focusing on the game tomorrow."

Image source, Getty Images

England

Sarina Wiegman on England squad to face the United States Wwomen's National Team [USWNT] at Wembley on Saturday: "The squad is good, everyone is on the pitch. Also Maya [Le Tissier] is on the pitch, non-contact today, but looking good."

On Le Tissier's concussion: "She is not rushed back. After the game she had headaches so then it's all up to the medical team. She went into the concussion protocols, we are really following this protocol and every day she has done really well and she will be assessed again today. What is also part of that protocol is that a neutral person will finalise that protocol."

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on team news: "From last night, at this stage we have a clean bill of health. I think everything is alright from last night. It is unlikely but [Cristian] Romero is the closest [to returning]. Probably unlikely but I am not ruling him out. He has got to get through some things today and a session tomorrow.

"Solanke is fine, Richy [Richarlison] is out until the New Year."