Man City vs Liverpool predictions made as Alan Shearer, Paul Merson and Chris Sutton disagree

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

It's Manchester City versus Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium today (4.30pm kick-off) and it's a vitally important match.City boss Pep Guardiola may have wondered just when runaway leaders Arsenal were going to concede a goal let alone lose during the embargoed section of his pre-Liverpool press conference on Friday.But after 10 straight wins in all competitions, during which time they conceded just one goal, the Gunners' slipped up at surprise package Sunderland on Saturday night as they were forced to settle for a dramatic 2-2 draw.READ MORE: Erling Haaland makes revealing Liverpool admission and explains explosive Man City formREAD MORE: Hugo Ekitike shares true feelings on Arne Slot treatment at Liverpool - 'He's on my back'Brian Brobbey's injury-time equaliser for the high-flying Black Cats means both City and the Reds have the chance to cut the gap to Mikel Arteta's men this afternoon.Victory for the hosts and they would move up to second and within four points of Arsenal. If you look at form, there's only one winner here and that's City but I'm not going to look at it that way.Virgil van Dijk will be up against Erling Haaland and I think he will win that battle against the City striker.

When you have Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as your three in midfield against City, you have got to be the favourites."Prediction: Manchester City 1-3 LiverpoolChris SuttonThe former striker, who won the title alongside Shearer for Blackburn, wrote in his BBC Sport column: "Did Liverpool turn a corner with their great win over Real Madrid in midweek? Maybe, but this will show us where they are really at."I feel like a lot of the time these two teams have cancelled each other out when they have met in recent years, but this time it feels like a game they both have to try to win - and it is City I am backing to come out on top."Whoever wins this, I feel like both teams are fighting for second place anyway, because I don't see anyone catching Arsenal now."People sometimes get angry when I say things like that but I do think they will win the title from here and I have changed my prediction from before the season started, when I went for Liverpool."I don't often do that so early, but I don't think Liverpool can win it any more - we've already seen in the first 10 games how, defensively, they are too vulnerable, and then you look at how good Arsenal are at the back."It is a similar story with City.

I feel they will need Rodri at his very best to push the Gunners, but his injury problems don't appear to be over."Prediction: Manchester City 2 Liverpool 1Harry RedknappThe former Tottenham Hotspur boss told football betting site BetVictor: "The big one, and I’ll be honest, I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen! City are always to hard to beat at the Etihad and Liverpool have struggled in away games over the last month.Prediction: Manchester City 2 Liverpool 1