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The Premier Battle

This PL season is rolling out like a spellbinding tale, keeping you at the edge your seat – just a solitary point now distinguishes the fate of the top two

Banging up to the date, Liverpool's stalemate in the Merseyside derby threw the title race wide open, enabling rivals Manchester City to leapfrog into the top spot with a slender one point lead. Now, with only nine games to spare, it promises a leviathan of battle between the two hotshots right down to the wire as they hunt for the precious prize.

Manchester City

The premier league centurions bested every team last season as they pumped in 106 goals to reel in the title. Come the face-off at Etihad against the Reds, the Cityzens were out on the pitch like passionate dogs in heat, managing to chew off three points by bagging a 2-1 victory. By doing so, they also punched a hole in Liverpool's confidence as Klopp's side evidently dipped in form, paving way for the 'sky blues' to catch up and soon overtake. Since then, the club has registered consistent victories as Liverpool continued to blow the lead away. Managed by Pep Guardiola, the noisy neighbours sit atop table with a point more than the Reds, as of now, and have to play Spurs at home before they visit their crosstown rivals Manchester United for another cracking game. And, not to forget, the renowned fixtures at this point of the season could very well decide the tilt of the title. Going into the last few games, City will remember the three titles they have won since the outset of this decade or so. Interestingly, two of them were attained when they were running hot on the leaders' heel, ultimately being handed the crown on the final day of the season. This apparently reflects the much required steely nerves and unwavering belief to pull off such a showstopper, not once but twice. Given the hectic schedule that screams a flurry of matches as the season advances to its end, Pep's players will need the same grits more than ever to retain the title – a fascinating feat that has not been achieved by any of the defending champions since 2009.

Liverpool

The pressure is mounting on Liverpool as they look to end their 29-year wait for the Premier League crown. Having played some sublime football over the course of the season, the Reds have lost only once but have played seven draws that have ultimately dethroned them as table-toppers. Eventually, there's some tension in and around Anfield regarding the title credentials as only nine games remain.

A team that depends heavily on its attacking trio comprising of Salah, Firmino and Mane has been misfiring for a while now. As seen against Everton and in the past few games, the Reds have not been as prolific in front of the goal and the struggle to find the net has been more conspicuous than ever. Manchester City, on the other hand, has abounding firepower, in terms of not only its attackers but also a midfield that steps up whenever needed – something that is Liverpool's need of the hour. In the coming days, Anfield will bear witness to two fixtures against the 'top six' i.e., against Chelsea and Spurs.

Given the Premier League's unpredictability, the men in red may find their coveted prize after a long wait – though Cityzens are unlikely to ever be too far behind.

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