If there is a more daunting trip for Liverpool this season than Manchester City, it is likely a shortlist of one.

One of the shortest away-days of the campaign of less than 40 miles brings one of the toughest assignments for Arne Slot, and if there is a more difficult venue for the Reds this term then it is likely only league leaders Arsenal. And that is a debatable point.

Ordinarily then, particularly for a place where wins have been scant across the last decade - just two in the Premier League in 10 years - a draw would not represent a poor return.

But given Liverpool head to east Manchester with an eight-point deficit to Mikel Arteta's Gunners - a gap that would have been 10 were it not for Sunderland's late equaliser on Saturday night - it's tempting to label Sunday's game as...