Marquee matchup: Liverpool, City's growing grudge closes 2016

Liverpool and Manchester City previously had an understanding: the enemy of your enemy is your friend.

The blue side, reeling from chairman Peter Swales funding the unattainable whims and arrogance of manager Malcolm Allison in the late-1970s, was eventually condemned to third tier football in the late 1990s. The club relied on an alcoholic and heavy-set £35,000 defender called Andy Morrison to drag it from those depths, but City was hardly a threat to Liverpool or, more importantly, Manchester United for some time.

In the same period, the Reds dominated the 1980s; the decade encompassed seven seasons where they went on to win the old First Division, in addition to two FA Cups, three League Cups, and two European Cups. Although Liverpool jumped aside from the freight train that was United under Alex Ferguson in the 1990s and 2000s, it still reminded its great rival of its presence with notable victories in domestic cups and, most famously, the unforgettable Champions League win in 2005.

But then, after the 2008 takeover, City was no longer prepared to let Liverpool pose the sole local nuisance to United. Big names were heading to Eastlands - the home support serenaded visiting Reds fans later that year with mock-claims that Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard would be nicked from under their noses - and City was ready to compete with its hated foe from across Manchester, and therefore the Merseyside giant, once more.

New Year's Eve promises to be another riveting chapter in the blossoming bout from the red and blue corners on either side of the M62, with the under-fire referee Craig Pawson overseeing proceedings.

Injuries and suspensions

The visit from City comes too soon for Philippe Coutinho and Joel Matip, who are both struggling with ankle complaints.

Sergio Aguero returns from suspension after a four-match ban and John Stones is fit. Leroy Sane is unavailable with a muscular complaint.

Projected lineups

Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane, Sturridge, Firmino

Manchester City starting XI: Bravo; Sagna, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov; Toure, Fernandinho; De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling; Aguero

What to watch

At the risk of banishing this meeting to the annals of Premier League bore draws, it should have goals. If either defence played any higher they'd be kicking up dust in the clouds, and those vulnerable backlines will be receiving a hydraulic press from two of the more formidable strikeforces in the country.

And, be it through laughs or wonderment, Guardiola's City has so far played out interesting fixtures against the supposedly superior sides in England.

Out of the two defences, City's is the most susceptible and has been the prominent source of comedic value. Nicolas Otamendi sometimes appears lost both mentally and geographically, and his insistence into diving into challenges doesn't work - he's been dribbled past more than any other defender (12 times) in the division.

The Argentinian is likely to be partnered by Aleksandar Kolarov or John Stones in the middle of the back four, and even without Coutinho pestering it's difficult to imagine them not getting breached - perhaps on several occasions.

City should be most wary of the counter-attack, particularly when the Reds' captain is in space in the middle.

Jordan Henderson is the league's leader in passes with 1,608 (395 more than second-placed Paul Pogba), and the loitering criticism is that the skipper mainly plays unimaginative and short offerings - he does lead that category - is dispelled by the fact that his accurate long ball total of 118 is also unmatched by an outfielder in England's top tier.

Expect the former Sunderland youngster to try and pick out his attacking colleagues with balls over the top of City's encroaching and disorganised defence.

How City lines up is anyone's guess.

Back threes, inverted wing-backs, two No. 10s at once, false nines - Guardiola has mixed it up, and he'll be desperate for this clash to not turn into the 2-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in October, when Fernandinho was suffocated in defensive midfield, and the rest of the lineup was rapidly harassed when in possession.

This time, the reinvigorated Yaya Toure can assist Fernandinho rather than Fernando, and will be charged with another physical and forward-thinking passing game in the same vein as Boxing Day's 3-0 win at Hull City.

City's mandate should be to hit Liverpool early on the break; Jurgen Klopp's marauding full-backs can leave huge gulfs on the flanks, and if quick balls find the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, or Jesus Navas his side could be in trouble.

The two-pronged success of De Bruyne closely flanked by either winger against Arsenal (on that occasion Leroy Sane), and the Belgian's recent deployment leading the line in a free, yet centrally-based role, may encourage Guardiola to mark Aguero's return with selection on the bench. The striker has been missed, but after three wins on the trot he could be the most fearsome impact sub across the league's new year fixtures. 33 goals in his last 35 Premier League outings poses a strong counter-argument for Aguero to start, however.

Title aspirations are justified for this evenly matched pair, with a loss to finish 2016 damaging to those dreams and also allowing United, which hosts Middlesbrough earlier in the day, to draw uncomfortably closer to one of its sworn enemies.