Liverpool vs. Manchester City Odds and Picks
By: Al Hain-Cole
Goal.com
Having gone head-to-head in last season's Premier League title race, Liverpool and Manchester City have an early chance to resume their rivalry at the Etihad Stadium on Monday (3 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network).
Five consecutive wins saw Manuel Pellegrini's men clinch the championship last campaign, and having begun this season with a 2-0 victory at Newcastle, they are -125 favorites with the LVH SuperBook to extend their winning streak to seven in a row here.
Liverpool have not claimed an away league victory against these opponents since coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 back in 2008 but are available at +325 to emerge victorious this time out.
Four of the last six meetings between the sides have resulted in draws, and you can get odds of +280 on them sharing the spoils once again this time out.
In a way it was fitting that this pair were left fighting it out for the title last season, as their attacking prowess probably made them the two most exciting teams to watch, not least the most prolific.
Not only did both strike over 100 goals in the league, but they provided two of the season's most exhilarating encounters, with City winning 2-1 at home before seeming to hand the Reds the advantage in the title race with a 3-2 defeat at Anfield.
If anything, that defeat and a subsequent 2-2 draw against Sunderland provided the champions with a wake-up call, prompting them to refocus and enter a winning streak they are yet to relinquish.
Their professional performance in Newcastle suggests the hosts will enter this match fully confident of laying down a marker in the defense of their crown by securing a fourth victory in five home games against these opponents.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers' men demonstrated in last weekend’s slender win over Southampton the same weak underbelly that eventually cost them in the title race, meaning those -125 odds seem generous on them proving their downfall at the home of the champions.
Even without Luis Suarez, though, Liverpool's attacking philosophy should be enough to ensure an entertaining spectacle. While the LVH's posted total is 3 goals, sports books elsewhere have hung 2.5 goals for the total, and it's well worth backing OVER 2.5 goals being scored for the seventh consecutive meeting between the sides, and 15th in 16 league games for the guests.