City, who are placed a point behind the Reds and own a league record at Etihad Stadium till the current season. Only two points separate the top five in the division and second-placed Arsenal are at West Ham, while Chelsea, who are fourth, host Swansea. Everton, in fifth, play Sunderland and Manchester United (at eighth) travel to Hull.
Striker Robin van Persie and midfielder Michael Carrick who have thigh and Achilles injuries respectively, have asked for permission to join the game at the KC Stadium for which United’s boss David Moyes hinted the pair could be back soon.
He said: “This is the time when miracles happen. Let us hope there is one for Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick.”
All 20 Premier League teams will be playing on Boxing Day. The game at Hull gets proceedings under way at 12:45 GMT and the match between City and Liverpool at 17:30 GMT concludes the action.
City have got a clean score with eight league games at home and scored 35 goals in the process, including six against both Tottenham and Arsenal and four in the Manchester derby.
But Liverpool has the Premier League’s top scorer, Luis Suarez, on their side and the Uruguayan has 19 goals from 12 games so far this season.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers isn’t completely sure about his side’s title chances after a win over Cardiff on Saturday, as he believes Manchester City are the favorites this time. Arsenal, which will travel from London to Upton Park, drew 0-0 with Chelsea on on Monday.