Sports Mole looks at how leaders Liverpool could line up for their crucial Premier League showdown with champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpool's unbeaten record this season will face its most stringent test on Thursday when they take on champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp's side go into the game sitting seven points clear of City following a very fruitful Christmas period for them, winning each of their last nine Premier League outings.

The Reds have scored nine goals in their last two as well, and they know that another victory in their opening match of 2019 would put a 10-point gap between them and their main title rivals.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the visitors could line up for the mouth-watering showdown.

Out: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Joel Matip (shoulder), Joe Gomez (leg), Dominic Solanke (groin)
Doubtful: James Milner (hamstring)

Klopp has largely resisted the temptation to rotate his side during the busy festive period, but he does have a number of players pushing for a start on Thursday.

Among those is captain Jordan Henderson, who will be hoping to return to the starting XI for such a big match, although the recent performances of Fabinho - and the likely availability of James Milner after a hamstring issue - gives Klopp other options.

Georginio Wijnaldum's early withdrawal against Arsenal suggests that he will start once again in this match, and Klopp could also hand a start to Naby Keita in place of Xherdan Shaqiri, with the midfielder's dynamism likely to be important against City.

The back four is likely to be unchanged with Joel Matip and Joe Gomez still sidelined, while the attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will also stay untouched.

> Click here to see how Man City could line up for this fixture