Manchester City host Liverpool on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off) with both sides looking to strengthen their Premier League top four chances with victory.

Pep Guardiola’s side are a point and a place above the Reds going into Sunday’s clash, although they go into this encounter off the back of exiting the Champions League at the hands of Monaco on Wednesday night.

City led 5-3 after the first leg, but succumbed to a 3-1 defeat in the Stade Louis II earlier this week to inflict the earliest Champions League exit on Guardiola in the Spaniard’s managerial career so far.

And it doesn’t get much easier for the Citizens as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have been resurgent in recent weeks, winning three of their last four Premier League games, which includes victories over Tottenham and Arsenal.

Their credentials against the top six sides is unquestionable, but whether that means that they’ll get the three points to leapfrog City on Sunday remains to be seen.

So, with the build-up well underway ahead of Sunday’s clash, we at Shoot! have picked our ultimate Man City-Liverpool six-a-side team from the current squads…

Willy Caballero

Deciding between Simon Mignolet, Loris Karius, Claudio Bravo, and Willy Caballero is far from easy, yet the latter appears to have steadied things at the back for Man City in recent weeks, so just gets the nod.

The 35-year-old started the campaign behind Bravo in the pecking order due to the former Barcelona keeper’s ability with his feet, but he has been far from convincing in the shot-stopping department, which is why Caballero got the nod against West Ham in the Premier League last month.

He has since done well and made some key saves for City, and with both Mignolet and Karius still having the odd glaring error in them, Caballero gets into this team.

Nathaniel Clyne

You need energy, work-rate, and a tenacity to defend in a six-a-side team, all of which Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne possesses.

The England international is the best full-back at both clubs, and his relentless running up and down the flanks and ability to affect things in both boxes gives him the nod in this side, as he is strong defensively when needed, but can also pick a pass in the opposition half.

With the likes of Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, and Pablo Zabaleta over 30, their spells at City look to be coming to an end, while Clyne looks set to embark on a long career at Anfield as the first choice right-back.

Fernandinho

Fernandinho has been one of the most underrated midfielders in the Premier League since his arrival at City back in 2013.

The Brazilian international is excellent on the ball but also deceptively strong in the tackle and in the air, but most importantly of all, he is able to break up play in the midfield, and keep things simple for City.

He is tenacious and gets up and down the pitch effortlessly, and his efforts at right-back in recent times demonstrates how solid a defensive player he is.

The 31-year-old would be perfect in this side, as his work-rate defensively would allow the front players to flourish.

David Silva

He is technically one of the best players in the Premier League, which is why Man City’s David Silva comfortably makes it into this side.

The Spanish international has scored 37 goals and laid on 62 assists in his 211 Premier League games for City, but it’s the measure of control and ability to make something out of nothing which is invaluable for the Manchester club.

His close control and calmness under pressure makes him a shoe-in for this team.

Sadio Mane

Liverpool have several quality forward players, so deciding between them is far from easy.

Philippe Coutinho had a great start to the campaign but has struggled since returning from injury, while Roberto Firmino’s goal and assist against Arsenal is all he has offered since the turn of the year.

But it was in Sadio Mane’s absence where Klopp needed the other two to really step up, as the Senegalese international has more than proved his worth to the side since his big money move from Southampton last summer by netting 12 goals and laying on five assists for the Reds this term.

The 24-year-old gives them that spark that is sometimes missing in their play, and was missing while he was on international duty during January, and based on his excellent debut season at Anfield, he gets the nod in this side.

Sergio Aguero

He is without doubt the best striker at both clubs, and indeed one of the best the Premier League has ever seen, but Sergio Aguero hasn’t had it all his own way this season.

The Argentine international lost his place to Gabriel Jesus back in January following the Brazilian’s move to the Etihad Stadium, and his start to life in England suggested that Aguero was going to be restricted to the substitute’s bench for some time.

However, Jesus suffered a ligament injury against Bournemouth to all but end his season, and Aguero has come in and performed brilliantly, netting six goals and laying on two assists in his last six appearances.

Added on to his 15 goals he scored prior to that, and the 28-year-old is once again embarking on another excellent season – he’s a certainty in this side.