Manchester City could draw level with Liverpool on 62 points at the top of the Premier League table tonight.
Guardiola’s men travel to Liverpool to take on Everton and a win would put them in joint first place. Although Liverpool would have a game in hand, a Manchester City win would pressurize the faltering Reds even further.
That’s what this title race is about at the moment – pressure, and who is able to deal with it better.
Manchester City and Liverpool have been like boxers slugging at each other over the last few months. With neither side able to consolidate their advantage when they have it, the momentum could again shift tonight.
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Two consecutive 1 – 1 draws at home for Liverpool has seen their lead at the top fall from seven to just three points. Just as Liverpool capitalized on City’s blip earlier in the season, the Blues have the chance to claw back a deficit that at one point looked insurmountable.
In truth, Liverpool have not played well in the month of January. They had the chance to extend their lead over to City to 10 points when they went to the Etihad at the start of the month. However, City beat them 2 – 1 and since then they scraped past Crystal Palace and Wolves until the wins dried up.
Disappointing home draws against Leicester and West Ham have opened the door again for Manchester City.
This is where pressure again comes into play. Jurgen Klopp vented his frustration after the West Ham game, calling the referee ‘arrogant’.
During City’s 3 – 1 home win against Arsenal on Sunday, Guardiola often looked anxious, a sign of the building stress.
Tonight, in the only Premier League fixture of the day, all eyes will be on City and Guardiola. On paper, City should have too much for Everton. But with so much at stake, will the pressure influence their performance?
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City are 1/4 with Paddy Power to come away from Goodison Park with a win.
