Liverpool and Manchester City meet on Sunday in a game which could have a huge impact on the Premier League title.
The gap between the rivals could be 11 points if the game at Anfield goes to the form book.
Leaders Liverpool have won 17 of their 19 games under Arne Slot, while struggling City - now down to fourth in the table - had lost five in a row before blowing a 3-0 lead to draw with Feyenoord in their midweek Champions League encounter.
"Considering they were first and second going into the weekend, the unique thing about Sunday's game, really, is that all the pressure is on City," said BBC pundit Danny Murphy.
"For City, the impact of a defeat is massive, but so would be the impact of a win. All of a sudden the champions would be back, and there would be a huge shift in confidence and belief for them, because it keeps their season alive. It is massive for them.
"For Liverpool, if you break it down, while it will be another great result if they win, and disappointing if they lose, this is actually one of those weird occasions where it is almost like a free hit, and they can almost enjoy it."
How big could game be in title race?
Liverpool are currently eight points clear of Manchester City and could end the weekend 11 in front of the defending champions if they win.
Only three teams have ever lifted the Premier League after trailing the leaders by that many points or more - Manchester United in 1992-93 and 1995-96, and Arsenal in 1997-98.
But if City can claim a crucial success, that gap would be down to five points and suddenly only be a bad week from Liverpool off the number one spot they have occupied for so much of the past six seasons.
Even if they lose, you can never entirely write off a side that has only lost four Premier League games after Christmas across the past three seasons combined.
However, there are few signs from Pep Guardiola's current charges that they are capable of going on one of those juggernaut runs where they destroy everyone in their path.
"If Manchester City lose at Anfield on Sunday, they would leave themselves the biggest mountain they've ever had to climb to win the title," said ex-Liverpool midfielder Murphy.
"Pep Guardiola's side have been the one team in recent years who have been capable of clawing back big deficits to become champions but, this time, from what we have seen from them recently, I think 11 points would be too much for them to make up."
A Liverpool victory will also take them nine clear of Arsenal, who moved up to second place with an impressive 5-2 win at West Ham on Saturday. Chelsea will join the Gunners on 25 points should they beat Aston Villa in Sunday's earlier game.
"If Liverpool win, although it makes them favourites for the title, it is no way decisive at this stage," continued Murphy. "They are under a new manager and, at the moment, things are going well and they have had no serious injuries to contend with. But there might be a spell later in the season where they do have a little wobble."
While City are bidding for a fifth title in a row, Liverpool are aiming for only their second in the Premier League era.
The Reds have won just one of their past nine Premier League games against City, but Guardiola has only ever tasted victory at Anfield once, back in February 2021 when no fans were present due to Covid-19 restrictions.
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