City have been more than impressive on the domestic front this season and are unsurprisingly installed as the favourites in the match betting, although punters can get 13/8 about the side that has won 6-1 at Manchester United and 5-1 at Tottenham.

The Blues have won 11 and drawn one of their opening 12 games to establish a five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League but history is against them in the big match on Sunday.

Liverpool have only lost once at Anfield in 22 games and 30 years against City and that came in 2003, while they coasted to a 3-0 win in this fixture last year.

City have strengthened since then but it was still a squad capable of finishing third in the table last time around, while the Reds have also spent big to improve the options available to boss Kenny Dalglish.

Although Liverpool boast an unbeaten home record in the league this term, they have drawn four of the six games, whilst finding the back of the net has also been a problem with just eight goals scored in front of their own fans.

The defence has been miserly though so the star-studded forward ranks of the leaders may not find it as easy – despite amassing 42 goals in the 12 games so far, and scoring at least three goals in their last six top-flight games.

Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko have both hit double figures this term and need to be considered in the goalscoring markets, although Mario Balotelli (5/1 First/Last Goalscorer, 11/8 Anytime) could be the one to side with after scoring nine in his last 10 games.

It may pay to wait for team news on that front while Liverpool have plenty of options of their own so who starts up front is open to question – with the exception of Luis Suarez, although he has scored just four goals in the Premier League this term.

City’s is by far and away the best attack and their defence has not been too shabby either, but with the Reds’ defence in good form as well, this could turn out to be a tight one (Under 2.5 Goals 10/11, Over 2.5 Goals 4/5).

What may work in Liverpool’s favour though, not withstanding the recent record in the fixture, is the fact that City’s Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread after the 2-1 defeat at Napoli in midweek and they may struggle to put those troubles behind them.

The Reds have also gone nine matches unbeaten, won 2-1 at Chelsea last week, have not lost in eight (W6 D2) against the Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea, while they have had a full week to prepare.

Swansea have made a promising start to their first season in the Premier League, not least because of their home form, and they have been installed as 5/4 favourites to pick up another three points against Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium.

The Swans have been beaten just once – by Manchester United – on home soil, winning three and drawing two, and have only let in two goals, the best home defensive record in the division.

Villa are yet to win away this season – their worst start since 2003 – and are available at 12/5 to make it a first on Sunday, with the draw on offer at 9/4.

There was no disgrace in losing at Tottenham last Monday but the manner of the defeat would have been a little worrying as they offered little threat, mustering just three shots in the 90 minutes.

In fairness to boss Alex McLeish, the Villans have been tough to beat on the road in the sense that they have drawn four of their six games and with a tough run of fixtures in December coming up, one should expect a response from the West Midlands  giants.

It is difficult to see this one being full of goals given the scoring record of the two sides so a draw could be the best way to go at 9/4.

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Everton v Man United 12.00

United of course will be looking to put the so-many-wrongs of last Sunday’s 6-1 humiliation on home soil to arch rivals Manchester City behind them and are 4/5 favourites in the match betting to do precisely that.

Diehard Red Devils may point to the sending off just after half-time when the score was 1-0 and the fact that three goals were scored in the dying moments as reasons not to get too carried away by the defeat, but defensive frailties have been there for all to see for some time.

Only Chelsea will know how they only managed to score one at Old Trafford while Basel will be disappointed with a 3-3 draw in Manchester after missing a hatful.

Stoke, Liverpool and Norwich may all feel they could have got more than they did as well…but Manchester City put it all together to reap the rewards.

Goodison Park has been a hard place for Unuited to go in recent seasons (not least on the back of a hammering) as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have picked up just two points from their last three visits.

David Moyes side look a big price at 4/1 to emerge with the three points but given their struggles in front of goal, 5/2 on the draw looks a distinct possibility.

Chelsea v Arsenal 12.45

Chelsea’s good run came to an end at Loftus Road last weekend but they had been reduced to nine men, and even then Andre Villas-Boas’ side created enough chances to win, let alone draw.

Back on home soil, Chelsea will be a tough nut to crack having already won four from four and there is every chance that record will continue against the Gunners (Chelsea 8/13, Draw 14/5, Arsenal 5/1 in the match betting).

The Gunners have shown improved form of late, winning seven of the last eight, but they are yet to win away from home in the Premier League this season, while enduring the division’s joint-worst defensive record after conceding four goals in four games.

West Brom v Liverpool 17.30

Roy Hodgson’s side have started to recover from a disappointing start to the season and should have plenty of confidence going into the clash and are priced at a tempting 3/1.

Successive wins over derby rivals Wolves and Aston Villa have pushed the Baggies up to 12th in the table, and they won this fixture last season 2-1 – despite Hodgson having left Anfield.

Liverpool’s progress has faltered slightly after successive draws but they only have themselves to blame after missing a host of chances against Manchester United and Norwich.

The Reds are evens favourites in the match betting to convert opportunities into three points but given the fact they have only kept clean sheets against sides that have been reduced to ten men, West Brom may well be able at least to secure a draw, currently on offer at 12/5.

Elsewhere, Norwich have shown that they can mix it with the big boys and should be able to justify evens favouritism by recording a third straight home win over Blackburn, who have yet to win on the road this season in the top flight.

Swansea have also surprised many with their start to life in the Premier League and are the only team to have not conceded a single goal at home this season.

Whether that is enough to tempt punters in at 11/10 remains open to question as they have managed just five goals at home, while it is worth remembering that Bolton’s two wins this season have both come on the road.

Sunderland have hardly made the Stadium of Light a fortress this season which makes it tough to call the match against poor travellers Aston Villa, as it is with Wigan and Fulham, who boast just two wins between them, although Man City look to be the day’s safest bet against Wolves at the Etihad, following the second string’s 5-2 demolition job at Molineux in the Carling Cup.

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The Denmark international joined from Juventus before the transfer window closed and the midfielder featured from the start against West Brom last Sunday in what was his first full league appearance for the Reds.

It was also the first time he had started a game alongside star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and the experienced former FC Copenhagen player admitted it could take him a bit longer to gel with his team-mates.

“I feel comfortable here. The match against West Brom was the first game with Fernando and the captain so you have to learn how they want the ball,” said Poulsen.

“Fernando is a strong player and can do things at speed and can do things one against one.

“You also feel Steven and Fernando have a good eye for each other and you saw that against West Brom – I hope it will get even better.”

Poulsen did play in the two-legged Europa League play-off win over Trabzonspor and, after a busy summer with Denmark at the World Cup, he admits he is still scratching around for his full fitness and match sharpness (Liverpool 7/2 – to win a major trophy this season).

“When I came here I had not played since the World Cup so I feel I need some time to get into the rhythm,” added the 30-year-old.

“But last Thursday (in the second leg against Trabzonspor) I did better than in the first game.

“We have a lot of games so with Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani leaving we need quality players for the team because for the next six months we will have a game every four days.

“I hope after the international break we can come strong again and pick up a lot of points up in the coming months.”

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