- Manchester City now face a season defining April with three huge fixtures
- Pep Guardiola’s side will play Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals
- Sandwiched between the two fixtures is the Manchester derby with their rivals
- Both sets of games will have huge bearing on City’s achievements this season
- Likewise for Liverpool a Merseyside derby will feature between the two games
The Champions League quarter-final draw served up an all-English showdown between Manchester City and Liverpool, creating a season-defining seven days for Pep Guardiola’s side in the process.
Early April will see the Etihad Stadium host the first leg between City and Liverpool, with the return fixture at Anfield a week later.
In between the two crunch fixtures however, City must now contend with the fact a potential title-deciding Manchester derby lies in wait.
Man City face a season-defining seven days with games against Liverpool and Man United
It was a fiery contest the last time the two sets met, with United keen for revenge following a defeat which ended with an Old Trafford tunnel bust-up.
Any squad misjudgment could see Guardiola’s side suffer on both fronts, affecting both their European and domestic ambitions.
As things currently stand City top the Premier League table by 16 points after 30 games played.
United trail in second place though could reduce that deficit to 13 points should they triumph in April, with City still yet to play Tottenham.
Liverpool have been dealt problems of their own by the draw, as they must travel to Goodison Park in the Premier League between the two legs.
Merseyside derbies are always a physical and exerting affair, with Liverpool poised to still be battling to secure a top four finish.
Jurgen Klopp’s side can ill afford to sacrifice the game with a weakened selection, due to the congestion at the top of the table and the teams battling for Champions League qualification.
While the Reds have already faced most of the division’s big hitters this season, a game with Chelsea still awaits in early May.
Alongside the mouth-watering clash between City and Liverpool, ties were also served up a repeat of the 2017 final between Real Madrid and Juventus.
Sevilla have been drawn against Bavarian giants Bayern Munich while Barcelona will go up against Serie A side Roma.
