Liverpool have been setting a searing pace at the top of the Premier League and the Reds have been especially formidable at Anfield where they have dropped just four of the 39 points on offer so far, though they have been finding ways to win just about everywhere else too.

Just like they did at Nottingham Forest last weekend, Liverpool have an uncanny knack for digging out results from difficult circumstances and many of their recent victories were secured without key injured players – but just how sustainable is that practice?

Alisson Becker, Trent-Alexander Arnold, Joel Matip, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones and possibly Ibrahima Konate will be missing again on Sunday, and though Jurgen Klopp’s genius has allowed Liverpool to make light of their personnel crisis, the weakened Reds are hard to back against a full-strength City.

The Anfield factor should never be dismissed however, and that along with City’s poor record on Merseyside means the visitors are also too risky a pick up in the match result stakes here.

Instead, look to goalmouth action on Sunday where over 2.5 goals and BTTS both look like viable options. Nine of the last ten encounters between these antagonists produced goals at both ends, while at least three goals were registered in seven of the same contests.

Liverpool and City have scored 126 Premier League goals between them this season and both forward lines have performers in red-hot form. In addition, only three grounds have seen more action than Anfield this season in terms of goals, so expect to be entertained again.

While star duo Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and Erling Haaland (Man City) are likely to be included as anytime goalscorer options in thousands of bet slips on Sunday, there is better value to be had elsewhere in the shots markets.

Uruguayan international Darwin Nunez is one of the Premier League’s reliable performers in terms of raw output and the 24-year-old has cracked at least one attempt on target in 11 of his last 13 appearances for the Reds.

He racked up four shots against City in Liverpool’s reverse fixture against the champions in November, one of which tested Ederson, and Nunez could sting the Brazilian’s palms at least once again on Sunday.

Virgil van Dijk was among five Liverpool players to register a shot in that 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium and the giant Dutchman’s unmatched ability to make first contact on any ball swung into the box from set pieces has allowed him to have a shot in 14 of his last 17 Premier League appearances, and he’s always worth squeezing into coupons as a shots market option.

For City, Phil Foden has arguably been hitting his best career form this season and the silky schemer showcased his match-winning ability again last weekend with two goals in the Manchester derby.

Foden hit the target with three of the four shots he took against Liverpool in November and the 23-year-old registered nine accurate shots combined in his last three Premier League run-outs for City.

The England starlet sat out City’s Champions League win over Copenhagen in midweek, so he should have extra energy to wield at Anfield as a result. Expect Foden to carry considerable threat again.

Liverpool are one of four Premier League teams sitting on an average of 60%+ possession per game this season, though they posted just a 40% possession figure when they faced City at the Etihad Stadium in November and an even skinnier 36.8% when the rivals last met at Anfield (Oct ’22).

Jurgen Klopp will expect his troops to see far less of the ball than usual again on Sunday, and with less control over the ball likely, Liverpool’s corner count could also drop.

City (7.96) meanwhile, have been winning more corners per away game than anyone else in England’s top tier this term, and they won 15 combined across their last two encounters with Liverpool.

The Cityzens have won seven or more corners in 100% of their last ten Premier League fixtures overall and their consistency in that realm opens up some avenues to explore in the markets.

Backing City to win over 3.5 corners at Anfield looks like a safe way to add some depth to your bet builder, while taking the visitors with a +1.0 corner handicap should also be of interest.

City haven’t lost the corner battle in 11 Premier League matches and in their last six meetings with Liverpool in all competitions, so expect them to dominate again.

Only two clubs in the Premier League (including City) have collected fewer yellow cards than Liverpool this season, though the Reds are the division’s fourth-worst offenders when it comes to average fouls committed per game (12.4), highlighting the Merseysiders’ mastery of the tactical offence.

Midfield trio Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have all been serial foulers this season, and should be in the thick of the centre-pitch skirmishes again on Sunday, though Hungarian Szoboszlai offers the best value in the markets.

The 23-year-old fouled at least once in eight of his last 12 Premier League appearances, though he gave away a game-high three free kicks when Liverpool last faced City in November, while he committed another three in games against Newcastle and Chelsea earlier in the campaign, suggesting he cranks up his aggression levels against bigger-name opponents.

Szoboszlai should be a safe pick-up to commit at least one foul again at Anfield, as should combative striker and team-mate Darwin Nunez, who has been cautioned more often than any other Liverpool player in the Premier League this season.

The Uruguayan was among those to commit a foul when Liverpool and City last locked horns in November and he has also sinned 11 times in his last eight domestic appearances for the Reds combined.

For City, Spanish anchorman Rodri is the obvious choice, however, the unpalatable prices in that direction mean it’s probably worth steering clear. Instead, backing Kevin De Bruyne to commit one or more fouls appeals.

The Belgian has a mean streak that is often overshadowed by his world class creative skillset and De Bruyne has fouled in three of his five Premier League starts this season and in five of his eight run-outs in the division overall.

The 32-year-old also gave away at least one free kick in three of his last four appearances against Liverpool, so he is worth tracking closely again here.