So Liverpool have continued to do their job right ‘“ comfortably sweeping aside West Ham at Upton Park yesterday ‘“ but now they must rely on Manchester Utd slipping up, and that starts with the Manchester Derby this afternoon.

City go to Old Trafford in the day’s 1.30pm kick-off sitting 10th in the Premier League table off the back of four straight victories ‘“ against Hamburg, West Brom, Everton and Blackburn.

Liverpool will remain top of the table tonight if City can put on a show and grab victory at their local rivals. And Anfield will be glued to the TV in hope that Utd drop points.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez spoke after yesterday’s victory, saying, “We have done our job. We have to keep winning, that’s all we can do. We needed to get three points and put them under pressure, and now we will be supporting Man City.

“It’s a derby and if they make a mistake they will be feeling the pressure. Man City is a difficult team to play against.”

Skipper Steven Gerrard added, “It was important for us to keep going and do our job. We have to win our remaining games and put pressure on United.

“If they win their games then fair play to them and they will deserve it, but at the moment we deserve to be at the top of the league.

“They have a tough game against Man City. City have run into a bit of form and it’s a derby match which is never easy. We just have to wait and hope City can do us a favour.”