* It’s been quite a week for Manchester City. On Wednesday they were all but eliminated by Liverpool in the first leg of this UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarter-final tie (3-0). That disastrous 3-0 defeat at Anfield was followed up by a weekend derby defeat to Manchester United. They led their rivals 2-0 at home, but ended up losing 3-2 after a second-half capitulation. This is undoubtedly a psychological stet-back, but a repeat of September’s 5-0 home win over Liverpool here would be more than sufficient.

* Liverpool, for their part, played out a much less dramatic local derby of their own on Saturday, drawing 0-0 against Everton with a significantly rotated squad. After the match, Jurgen Klopp was happy with a mature display from his team and stated: “I like that the boys really did it in a smart way and they didn’t get involved in any fights.”

* In the managerial duel, Klopp now boasts seven wins in 13 matches against Pep Guardiola - no other coach in the English top flight comes remotely close. Goals are also inevitable here. The last five games between the sides at the Etihad have seen 19 goals - an average of 3.8 goals per match.

* Should Liverpool avoid calamity, it will be the first time since the 2007/08 edition of the UCL that they have reached the semi-final stage. Getting a sixth premier European trophy would put the Reds up to third in the all-time winners’ table.

* Players to watch: Star striker Sergio Aguero is fit again, and will be looking for goals. He has banged in 30 in 38 appearances so far this season (in all competitions).

* With slight doubts around Mohamed Salah, Liverpool fans will look to Sadio Mané. The pacey winger has two goals in his last three games, scored in the first leg, and has seven goals from nine UCL appearances this season.

* Stat attack: City have won by at least three goals on nine occasion this season. A slim slither of hope, but a slither nonetheless.
Liverpool have scored first in five out of their last six games against City.