Under The Spotlight: Attack could be the order of the day at the Etihad

Just a point separates leaders Manchester City and second-placed Liverpool ahead of today's Premier League title showdown at the Etihad.

With eight games left to play, a victory for City — which would open up a four-point lead — could prove crucial to their chances of successfully defending their crown. 

Goals on the agenda

There is every reason to believe it will be a game full of goals, rather than a cagey and tense affair, with the league's two top-scoring clubs set to battle it out. 

The Reds have registered 77 times this campaign, seven more than the Citizens, with Jurgen Klopp's positive approach making his side a great team to watch. 

Recent encounters between the pair also have not left fans short-changed, with four goals scored when they played out a 2-2 draw last October.

Last season's Anfield fixture ended in a 4-1 win to the visitors and over 3.5 goals have been scored in four of the last five games between the two. 

Positive mindsets

Both Klopp and Pep Guardiola like to send their sides out with a positive attacking attitude and it is likely we will see a toe-to-toe battle once again. 

There is a wide range of statistics to pore over when assessing the attacking ability of both clubs but Liverpool, who boast the better tally, tend to come out on top. 

The Reds lead the way for shots over the course of the campaign with 575 efforts on goal, compared to City's 554, while they also have a better tally for shots on target. 

Ultimately, taking those opportunities has led to a greater overall goal haul for the Merseysiders and few have been able to keep them at bay. 

They have scored at least one goal in 29 of their 30 outings, while City have failed to register on four occasions. 

Salah leading the way

A quick glance at the Premier League goalscorer charts shows Liverpool's Mohamed Salah leading the way with 20 — three clear of Tottenham's Heung-Min Son and six ahead of team-mate Diogo Jota. 

Sadio Mane has struck 12 times for the Reds in the top flight this term and he is two clear of City's leading hitman Riyad Mahrez. 

Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling are also on that mark of 10, while the Citizens have the likes of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva on seven for the campaign. 

The two title rivals have a stunning array of firepower at their disposal.

Stats to full-back on

Both clubs represent the modern era of football. 

Neither has an archetypal old-school No9 but they do not have any issues putting the ball in the back of the net. 

It is also worth highlighting how the chances are created, especially for Liverpool, with full-back duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson essential cogs in the system. 

Klopp implores his full-backs to get as high up the field as possible and it shows in the assists charts with Alexander-Arnold boasting a league-high 11, while Robertson is just one behind on 10. 

City have a like-minded approach with Joao Cancelo laying on the second-most assists of any City player (five) as he is often found marauding deep into opposition territory. 

All roads appear to lead to goals later as England's best two clubs look to put on a spectacle.