Manchester City host Liverpool in pick of Premier League action this weekend: How will the match be won and lost at the Etihad?

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The standout tie of the Premier League weekend sees Manchester City take on Liverpool at the Etihad stadium in Saturday's early kick-off.

Both sides have taken seven points from their opening three matches but home advantage makes City narrow favourites. 

Pep Guardiola's men have looked far from infallible so far, though. Sportsmail looks at where the encounter will be won and lost.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool play on Saturday

TWO BLISTERING ATTACKS, TWO SHAKY DEFENCES

Before the 3-3 draw at Watford on the opening day of the Premier League, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp outlined how he would utilise his newly formed 'pace attack', combining Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane on opponents this season.

They've played only five competitive matches together so far but, intertwined with Roberto Firmino's cunning positional play and rapacious pressing, Klopp looks to have forged an explosive front three at Liverpool.

It's Liverpool's two wide men, and the impact they could have on City's full-backs, that will be particularly fascinating to watch. Guardiola spent the best part of £100million to bring Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy in from Tottenham and Monaco respectively.

Sadio Mane scored twice when he last face Kyle Walker when Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0

Roberto Firmino has made a superb start to the season in attack for Liverpool

City left-back Benjamin Mendy will be tasked with neutralising the threat of Mohamed Salah

Walker will be tasked with stifling Mane's threat, something he struggled with immensely when Tottenham visited Anfield in February last season. Mane scored twice and Liverpool won 2-0.

On the opposing flank, Mendy will face Salah, who has already scored three times since joining Liverpool from Roma in the summer. With reports that captain Vincent Kompany could miss out through injury, Roberto Firmino is likely to come up against Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones.

Walker and Mendy could have difficult matches dealing with Salah and Mane while trying to contribute to City's attacking play in the way Guardiola instructs his full-backs to do. 

But when they make it forward, they will not be facing a defensive line as formidable as the attacking one. Granted, Liverpool have kept two clean sheets in the Premier League from three games but the facts only tell a fraction of the story.

Liverpool still look incapable of dealing with set pieces and fragile against physicality, as Watford demonstrated in the season opening match through Stefano Okaka.

Pep Guardiola must decide whether to partner Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus together

Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva will comprise part of the supporting attacking cast

Simon Mignolet should be returning in goal after being inexplicably rested by Jurgen Klopp for the 4-0 win over Arsenal. The move raises questions about exactly how secure his position as Liverpool's No 1 is and the Belgian will be under pressure to produce an assured performance while trying to keep City's forward line at bay.

Guardiola, meanwhile, must decide whether to partner Gabriel Jesus with Sergio Aguero up front or leave the Brazilian to lead the line alone and select his supporting cast from Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Leroy Sane and Yaya Toure.

Raheem Sterling is suspended for the encounter with his former club.

WHICH MIDFIELD AXIS CAN COME OUT ON TOP? 

For City, Fernandinho plays an understated role in providing a platform for City's attacking midfielders and strikers to flourish. But he will need support from the likes of David Silva and Bernardo Silva in ensuring Liverpool's midfield trio do not overrun City.

Fernandinho plays a key role in City's midfield, providing a platform for the attackers to thrive

Emre Can is set to partner Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum in Liverpool's midfield

Klopp is unlikely to hand Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain an immediate start after his £35m switch from Arsenal given how Georginio Wijnaldum, Emre Can and Jordan Henderson performed against the Gunners two weeks ago. Philippe Coutinho is also unlikely to be in the matchday squad.

Whichever midfield can dictate the early tempo and rhythm of the match will give their side the early foothold in proceedings. 

BOTH GOALKEEPERS NEED TO ASSERT AUTHORITY

Since his £35m switch from Benfica, Ederson has yet to produce the commanding display that City fans would be hoping for, given his fee.

He had a few uncomfortable moments on his debut against Brighton and let in a soft goal against Everton. There was, however, nothing he could have done with the wonder-strike by Charlie Daniels of Bournemouth the following week.

The Brazilian will no doubt be called into action by Liverpool's front three and with a busy run of games ahead with the Champions League starting, City do not need speculation about how secure their stopper is.

Ederson has not had the finest start at City and conceded a cheap goal against Everton

Simon Mignolet will look to produce a strong display after being rested against Arsenal 

As for Mignolet, if he really is as secure as first-choice goalkeeper as Klopp insists, then it truly was a maverick decision to rest the goalkeeper for a game as big as the Arsenal match. 

Like City, Liverpool have a packed schedule coming up with the Champions League coming into consideration. Klopp's move could work very positively in some respects - Mignolet could be particularly fired up in order to cement his place as first choice. 

But alternatively, he could feel under greater pressure to fend off Loris Karius again. The German stopper and third choice Danny Ward will only feel encouraged by Mignolet's omission two weeks ago.