The Premier League title race took another twist on Monday night after Manchester City drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. And now Liverpool can reduce the gap to the top to just one point with a win over Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
But whatever happens at the Emirates, next month's meeting at the Etihad between City and Liverpool is expected to be a decisive fixture as to who goes on to lift the trophy in May. Pundits remain divided. For some, Pep Guardiola's side are still favourites, but others were backing Jurgen Klopp's men even before the latest developments.
Gary Neville continues to back City, although he admitted he thought the title race would be a forgone conclusion by now. He told Sky Sports on Monday Night Football: "I wouldn't say it's 50/50, Man City do just edge it. But Liverpool have got five players up front who are an absolute joke.
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"You think about where they [Liverpool] were, AFCON, Salah and Mane going away for a month, I thought that City would be out of sight. You thought City were going to win the league at a canter and they've not done."
Neville wasn't the only pundit to discuss the title race on Monday night. Ex-Everton striker Gary Lineker tweeted after the Palace game and highlighted how close it's become at the Premier League summit. He said: “Getting tighter at the top. Bums will be squeaking.”
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes believes the meeting at the Etihad will be crucial and feels whoever wins that will have enough momentum to win their remaining games. He told Premier League productions earlier this month: “I think, whoever wins that game, they will win the Premier League. I think they will win every other game [from the Etihad meeting onwards]."
Ex-Red Michael Owen refused to be drawn on the discussion and accepts that 'a lot can happen'. He told the ECHO : “No-one can say for certain [who will win the league] and everyone has an opinion. A lot of people thought it was all over a few weeks ago but I always maintain that a lot can happen.
“There was no way both teams were going to go until the end of the season not having a slip-up, and of course they’ve got to play each other as well. There was always going to be that chance.
“It had to be Man City who slipped up next for Liverpool to have this chance. If Liverpool had slipped up, it would have looked ominous."
Ian Wright, however, was backing Jurgen Klopp 's side even before City's latest result. "I still think that Liverpool believe that they might be able to still do it," he said on The Kelly & Wrighty Show.
"I fancy that Liverpool will probably think they can do the Champions League as well. I’m not going to write Liverpool off, I’m going to go with Liverpool [to win the league]."
Jamie Redknapp's comments from last month ring true as he highlighted where titles can be won and lost. He wrote in his column for the Daily Mail : "Titles are won with 1-0s, late winners, and that might be where City live to regret not having a recognised centre0 forward. Time will tell. Right now, Guardiola’s side remain slight favourites for the title, but there’s a long way to go."
