Man City's potentially season-defining game vs Liverpool could be complicated by Champions League

Manchester City vs Liverpool on April 9 was always going to be a big game, but is currently reaching seismic levels of importance.

Tottenham's shock victory over the league leaders has given Jurgen Klopp's team even more encouragement in their title chase as, for the first time in a long while, the race is in their hands. If they can match City's points total in their other remaining fixtures, beating them at the Etihad Stadium should be enough to see them crowned champions.

An opportunity for Liverpool is also one for Pep Guardiola though, who knows winning that fixture would make claiming a fourth title in five years monumentally easier.

The Blues certainly know how to do it, having emerged victorious from the same game in the 2018/19 campaign in a result that would ultimately separate the two sides in the table.

If the prospect of a winner-takes-all style battle for the Premier League title wasn't exciting enough in a league that had been written off by some in December and January, further intrigue is added by the Champions League. As Europe's premier club competition heads towards its finale, the two legs of the quarter-finals will be played either side of City vs Liverpool.

With both sides well-placed to make the last eight after carving out healthy advantages in their last-16 clashes, there is a very real chance that the beginning of April could see a trilogy of knockout games between the two clubs fighting it out for domination of English football.

Chelsea and United are in last-16 action this week and their qualification could hand one of City or Liverpool a critical advantage for their league game by giving them far less to travel around it.

Whoever the sides draw, the Champions League makes a big week