Liverpool look to bounce back from their first defeat under manager Jürgen Klopp when take on top-of-the-table Manchester City in a crunch clash on Saturday evening.
Last time out, Scott Dann's late header gave Crystal Palace the three points and inflicted a first loss on the German since his appointment little over a month ago, giving the boss plenty to think about going into the two-week international break.
And the Reds face a tricky task to respond positively to that setback, visiting the Etihad Stadium to take on Manuel Pellegrini's charges - who sit at the top of the Premier League table unbeaten in their last nine in all competitions, winning seven.
Since taking over in early October, Klopp has seen steady if unspectacular progress - with Liverpool still struggling in front of goal, as well as succumbing to avoidable defensive errors, as they did under his predecessor Brendan Rodgers.
But Klopp has at least overseen an improvement in general performances, leading them to three consecutive victories before the Palace loss, including a morale-boosting three points at reigning league champions Chelsea.
He is also yet to welcome several key first-team figures back into the fold, having yet to work with the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson, as he continues to implement his styles and methods on the squad at his disposal.
But this is almost certain to be his toughest test to date, with City needing to win to make sure of their place at the top of the league - second-placed Arsenal only sitting behind them on goal difference.
10th-placed Liverpool, meanwhile, will be keen to ensure that the seven point gap which separates them and Manchester United in fourth isn't extended any further as they seek a return to the UEFA Champions League.
League positions and form may well mean that City go into the game as huge favourites, but both sides will be wary of dropping more points in a league as open and competitive as it has ever been.
Team news:
Star striker Daniel Sturridge will face a late fitness test after returning to full training with his team-mates earlier in the week.
The 26-year-old has yet to play under Klopp, having been out since his last appearance in the Merseyside Derby draw with Everton last month but has declared himself fit after battling a knee problem.
Klopp insisted that the England international is not yet 100 per-cent fit but refused to rule him out and could at least include him on the substitutes' bench.
Vice-captain James Milner should be fit to come up against his former employers for the first time since switching Manchester for Merseyside in the summer.
The 29-year-old midfielder is back from a hamstring injury which kept him out of England's friendlies with Spain and France, whilst Jordon Ibe - who suffered an ankle knock that stopped him from joining up with England Under-21s - is also available.
Klopp remains without captain Jordan Henderson, who is awaiting the green light to return to full training from a foot injury, whilst Jordan Rossiter (hamstring), Mamadou Sakho and Jon Flanagan (both knee) are all unavailable for the trip to the Etihad - with Dejan Lovren set to step in for the French centre-back.
City could be boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero, who insisted he would do everything in his power to be back in the starting side - whilst David Silva also returned to training on Thursday.
The duo have been missing for around six weeks after injuries picked up on international duty but are in contention to return to the starting line-up and should be joined by skipper Vincent Kompany, who should be back from a calf injury which forced him to drop out of international duty last week.
Fabian Delph and Pablo Zabaleta are also back, whilst Aguero could lead the line in the absence of Wilfried Bony, who is likely to miss out with a hamstring issue - as is Samir Nasri, who will be out until February with a similar problem.
Head-to-head:
Total: Manchester City - 41 wins, Draws - 41, Liverpool - 82 wins.
At Etihad Stadium: Manchester City - 28 wins, Draws - 22, Liverpool - 32 wins.
At Anfield: Liverpool - 50 wins, Draws - 19, Chelsea - 13 wins.
Most recent meeting: Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City, Barclays Premier League, 28th February 2015.
Recent form:
Manchester City:
Form in Premier League: WWDWD
Form in all competitions: DWWWD
Liverpool:
Form in Premier League: DDDWL
Form in all competitions: DWWWL
Match facts:
Liverpool have only scored more than once in a game on two occasions (3-2 - Aston Villa, 3-1 - Chelsea) in all competitions this season.
Liverpool haven't won any of their last six league games against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, losing four.
The Reds have only lost one of their last six away games in the Barclays Premier League, to Manchester United in September.
The away side's tally of just 13 goals in 12 league games is their joint-lowest tally in a campaign, meanwhile City's 26 points is their third best start to a season - behind only 2011-12 (34 points) and 2012-13 (28 points).
Philippe Coutinho, who has three goals in his last two games, has hit three goals in his last four league games against Man City.
Only Joe Hart has kept more clean sheets than Simon Mignolet in 2014, with the Englishman's 14 shutouts beating the Belgian's 13.
Liverpool have the worst chance conversion rate of any team in the Premier League (10.5%).
Coutinho has scored as many goals in his last two Premier League appearances under Klopp as he did in his final 18 under Brendan Rodgers, with three.
Man in the middle:
Jonathan Moss - who took charge of the Reds' 3-2 win over Aston Villa in September - is the match official at the Etihad having overseen eight Premier League games this season.
Moss was appointed for his first league game in December 2010 and will take charge of his 98th top-flight game, having handed out 18 red cards and 320 yellow cards up to now.
The 45-year-old was promoted to the Select Group of Referees in 2011 and took the FA Cup final at the end of last season, but has only ever taken eight Liverpool games previously.