Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images City face Arne Slot’s side in Etihad showdown Manchester City host Liverpool in the Premier League, in a match that could define the rest of the season for both sides.City are now out of the UEFA Champions League after Kylian Mbappe’s hattrick condemned them to defeat, and will instead focus on a top four finish and an FA Cup as their only chance of silverware.Liverpool, meanwhile, are in a good position at the top of the table but they’ve stuttered a little in the last few weeks, and have tough fixtures against Chelsea, Newcastle United and Arsenal to come before the end of the season.Here are five things to look out for as City host the league leaders: De Bruyne starting Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images One of the biggest signs of the way in which City are set to move on this summer is that Kevin de Bruyne didn’t play a single minute at the Bernabeu.The 33-year-old has been City’s go-to man since he arrived at the club, but his hamstring injury suffered at the start of last season has really taken some of the edge off his game.Where once he could drive through midfields, he now lacks the pace and physicality to do so.De Bruyne is struggling to stay fit more and more, and I think we’re approaching the very end of his magnificent Manchester City career with his contract out in the summer.I do think he’ll start against Liverpool, however. He’ll be very fresh having sat out midweek and is still a brilliant dictator of play, can pick out a pass and can change the game with a moment of quality.The system aligned so Ake can control Salah Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images I’ve always maintained this view and I’ll stand by it now; Nathan Ake is the best one vs one defender in the Premier League, and possibly the world.Time and time again, he has dealt with dangerous right wingers, namely Bukayo Saka, Rodrygo and Leroy Sane during City’s treble run.In the reverse fixture, City lost 2-0 but Mohamed Salah was mostly kept quiet, and that was largely thanks to Ake’s aggressive defending against him at left back.City don’t have the luxury to afford much rotation at the back with Manuel Akanji and John Stones’ potential season ending injuries, and Josko Gvardiol is in decent form at the moment and should start at left back.I’d like to see Gvardiol play more as a winger when City have possession. This would allow him to flex his attacking muscles, would see the left winger - probably Omar Marmoush - to come into a number ten position and would allow Ake to duel with Salah more often.Khusanov at right back Photo by Fantasista/Getty Images The system mentioned above would probably mean a back three in possession, meaning by far the best option for right back would be Abdukodir Khusanov.The 20-year-old has received a lot of unwarranted criticism from the media; in my opinion, he was by far City’s best player against Madrid and predominantly kept Vinicius Junior quiet.I do think he’s slightly overrated by some in the City fanbase - he’s far from the finished article yet and his flaws in his game.But he’s lightning fast, super composed on the ball, aggressive and a proper fighter - and I believe City will be a better team with him in it against Liverpool and until the end of the season.City really good… It’s difficult to remember, but City were actually magnificent the last time they were in action in the Premier League.They played Newcastle off the park and thoroughly deserved the point. Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush in particular had a brilliant impact on the team.But a week’s a long time in football, particularly when a chastening defeat in midweek knocks you out of Europe.City have turned a corner since Christmas. They still have most of their frailties, but they know how to win games again and cannot be ruled out of getting a result.… or really bad Photo by Florencia Tan Jun - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images But the Real Madrid tie is fresh in everyone’s minds.Before the first leg, Pep Guardiola mimicked the tossing of a coin to signify whether the players would turn up and play at their very best.A number of key players; Ruben Dias, Nico, Phil Foden, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva to name a few either didn’t play or were poor, and that contributed to a turgid overall performance and a 6-3 defeat on aggregate.Liverpool always tend to cause City problems, with their ability in transitions and the clinical finishing of the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo, whilst at the other end of the pitch in Alisson and Virgil van Dijk they have two of the best Premier League players of all time in their positions.City have collapsed late in games more than a few times this season, and Liverpool can punish them.It’ll be a nervy watch, and one that could go very badly, but also potentially a match to remember for the right reasons for the Blues.