Owen Hargreaves, Peter Crouch and Joleon Lescott all agree that the gap between Liverpool and Manchester City is as big as it's ever been in recent years.
The Reds host Pep Guardiola's side at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, with eight places and 13 points between the two, although Jurgen Klopp's side do have a game in hand. While City are enjoying an unbeaten start to the campaign and reaping the rewards of signing Erling Haaland - the Norwegian has 15 goals in nine league games - Liverpool have made their worst start to a season in 10 years after losing 3-2 at Arsenal last time out.
Respective moods around the club could not be more different, and when City come to Merseyside on Sunday they do so with the chance to pull 16 points clear of their closest title rivals from the past five seasons. And speaking on BT Sport after City's 0-0 draw at Copenhagen, the punditry trio agreed that Guardiola's side are clear favourites and as far away from their hosts as they have ever been in recent years.
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"Thirteen points separate the two sides, for Liverpool it’s must-win, not just to save their season and top four," Hargreaves said. "It’s probably the biggest gap we’ve seen between the two, the two best clubs in Europe we’ve seen in recent seasons. A huge game for Liverpool and to change their season but it’s hard to look past City when they’re firing, you can’t look past them."
Former Reds striker Crouch said: "It’s not quite the game of the last couple of seasons. Liverpool seem to be suffering at the moment and City seem to be flying, adding Haaland to the mix, it does feel one-sided. We can’t read too much into tonight, they’ve managed to rest three key players in Foden, Silva and Haaland - fresh for the weekend. You have to fancy City."
While Lescott added: "I think City go into this one as favourites, I think everyone knows that due to the form of Liverpool but the way City are playing as well. Look, it doesn’t give them the divine right to win the game but City go into this game big favourites, more than recent seasons."
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