Paul Merson disagrees with Chris Sutton over Liverpool vs Man City prediction

Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have disagreed with their predictions for Liverpool vs Man City in the Premier League, with the sides set to meet at Anfield this Sunday

Paul Merson and Chris Sutton.(Image: Getty Images)

Paul Merson and Chris Sutton are both predicting that Manchester City will fail to beat Liverpool this weekend — with the former going big on this being a pivotal moment in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal will take on Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday and could go nine points clear at the summit. Liverpool vs Manchester City is then a day later, with the pressure set to be on Pep Guardiola's men to either keep up or get back in the race regardless of other results.

"I'd be shocked if Liverpool lost this football match," Merson wrote for Sportskeeda. "They have bounced back well after conceding that last-minute winner against Bournemouth. Ten goals in the two games since then shows they are clicking in attack.

"Manchester City always let in goals. You check their results and if you've never watched them games, you would think they were flying. But the reality is that they have given away chance after chance in these games.

"Liverpool are not lackadaisical in front of goal. Manchester City, meanwhile, are all over the place at the back and could be blown away at Anfield.

"Liverpool attack is really clicking with Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah. It's like Manchester City have Rayan Cherki but Liverpool have three X-factors lined up next to each other as part of their front three.

Arne Slot during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Newcastle were really good in the first 30 minutes against Liverpool the other day. If City can play like Newcastle did there, it could be a different story.

"But if the game opens up and it becomes a 'you have a shot, we have a shot' type of match, then Liverpool will run away with it.

"Manchester City have to win this game. Even a draw would mean the title race is over because Arsenal would still have an eight-point lead. I expect the title race to be done this weekend, so Liverpool win."

While Merson is confident that Arne Slot's men will pick up the three points, Sutton believes a draw could be on the cards.

"It will be interesting to see if Guardiola starts with Marmoush up front ahead of Haaland after his two goals against Newcastle in midweek, but their attack looks strong anyway with Cherki and Semenyo in the team," Sutton wrote for BBC Sport.

"The same applies to Liverpool, who have got a striker in form in Hugo Ekitike, while Florian Wirtz is playing with confidence too.

"Manchester City will have moments where they will create chances, but Liverpool are going to have opportunities at the other end as well — there will be a few goals in this game."

Liverpool.com says: A draw would be a decent result in normal circumstances but if Manchester United and Chelsea have both won by that point, which is more than possible, then the Reds will really need to get another win on the board.