Defending champions Manchester City saw their title hopes dealt a blow in midweek as they slipped seven points behind city rivals Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

And Roberto Mancini’s men will know that they can afford to concede no further ground when they host Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

With Manchester United in action on Saturday, the Citizens could find themselves as many as 10 points adrift of the Red Devils by the time that they take to the field at Etihad Stadium and, thus, victory for Mancini’s men – chalked up at 17/20 (1.85) with BetVictor – is essential this weekend.

Liverpool led 2-0 against Arsenal in midweek so the Reds would have been disappointed to have to settle for a point as the Gunners pegged them back to force a 2-2 draw, and the visitors are are chalked up at 100/30 (4.33) with BetVictor to secure all three points on Sunday while the same firm go 14/5 (3.80) that the match ends in a draw.

BetVictor offer a hugely tempting 9/5 (2.80) quote that the opening goal – of what promises to be a hugely entertaining game – comes inside the opening 38 minutes. And that is an outstanding price when it is considered that the opening goal in Liverpool’s last 12 matches in all competitions, has come within that period  – with goals both for and against the Anfield club.

Argentine striker Sergio Aguero is expected to lead the Citizens’ attack against the Reds at Etihad this weekend and BetVictor go 17/4 (5.25) that Aguero bags the opening goal, while his fellow countryman Carlos Tevez is also available at 17/4 (5.25) with the same firm to break Sunday’s deadlock.

Liverpool, though, will hope that it is another South American striker, Uruguayan Luis Suarez, who steals the headlines here.

Suarez has scored an astonishing eight goals in his last seven matches for Liverpool and is outstanding value at 13/2 (7.50) to score the opening goal against a Manchester City side set to be without captain Vincent Kompany for this weekend’s clash.

The stage is set for a thriller and, subsequently, the 9/5 (2.80) with BetVictor for the opening goal to be scored should be snapped up here, while Luis Suarez should be taken at a juicy 13/2 (7.50) to be the man to get the ball rolling with the opening goal of the game.

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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has revealed he will stay at Anfield regardless of whether the club qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The Uruguay international has scored 17 league goals so far this season, despite the Reds’ suffering from inconsistency which has left them seven points short of fourth place.

But, two years on from his arrival on Merseyside from Ajax, the club’s No.7 has insisted he will not leave even if an unlikely late battle for fourth is not sustained.

“I will wait until the end of the season and see how we are doing,” he told the Daily Mail.

“We won’t know until then how we are doing and what our position is so I am prepared to wait until that time.

“But I want to say now that, if you want to know what will happen to me if we don’t qualify for the Champions League, then I will say this: I have a contract with Liverpool and I am very happy here. I will stay.”

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard recently described the 26-year-old as the best forward he has ever played alongside, and the striker was full of praise in return.

“I get goose pimples when I hear he said that,” he added. “In my country, we call it Carne de Gallina. Like the skin of a chicken. That’s how I feel.

“Gerrard is such a good player and what he said about me I will never forget. It’s unbelievable. He has such a good record over many years in the English game and is a great example to all the players here, especially to me.

“We all respect him. He has won almost everything and if anything goes wrong on the pitch he never tells the players off. He just speaks to them afterwards and when he speaks to them you can take it as a fact that he is right. He is just trying to help people.

“Steven has also said things to me in private that I will never forget, about things that have happened and things that I can do here. These are conversations that players have. People don’t hear them but they are so important. They make a difference to a person like me, to my career and my life.

“The ones we had are private but say everything about him. Steven has given me motivation to carry on and do well with what he has said. He has helped me hugely.”

The game is likely to have come too soon for Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany (calf), while the same can be said about Micah Richards (knee) who is edging closer to a return.

Brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure remain on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast, meaning Roberto Mancini is unlikely to make too many changes.

Phillip Coutinho could feature from the bench on Sunday after completing his switch from Inter whilst Jose Reina (hip) is set to continue in goal after returning against Arsenal in midweek.

Andre Wisdom will probably continue at right-back despite the probable return of Jose Enrique, with Glen Johnson filling in at left-back despite his battles with a hamstring strain.

Martin Kelly (knee) is a long-term absentee, and is only expected back at the end of March.

• Luis Suarez is integral to Liverpool‘s goal output – he has 22 in all competitions, and his nearest team-mate is Steven Gerrard with just six.

• Steven Gerrard (pictured) is the only midfielder or striker to play every minute of every Premier League game this season.

• Liverpool have scored in their last 11 Premier League games, only Man Utd (12) are on a longer current run.