Manchester City can overtake Liverpool at the top of the Premier League when Leicester are the final visitors to Manchester this season.
Pep Guardiola watched the Reds go top again with a dramatic 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday, but insists he is fully focused on the challenge posed by Leicester.
New manager Brendan Rodgers has galvanised the Foxes since his appointment at the end of February, helping them to extend a record that has seen them score in 17 away matches – the most in the 2018/19 Premier League.
Leicester came from behind to beat City 2-1 at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day, handing Guardiola’s men their second successive Premier League defeat as part of a surprise blip that changed the course of the title race.
He said: “They can control all parts of the game now. Brendan has shown his incredible qualities as a manager to make his team play the way he wants to play in just two months.
“I am really impressed with the way they play. Hopefully the people can come and help us and we can do what we need to do to win the game.”
Guardiola scoffed at the suggestion that midtable Leicester will lack motivation for a match that has little bearing on their season.
“That is not going to happen,” he said. “Forget about it.
“I cannot imagine the Leicester players will come here for their holidays. They have a chance to finish seventh, depending on other results. They are going to try to make it a good game, for sure.
“They will be open and high-pressing with good build-up and quality in the middle. They are going to try to attack.”
City manager Guardiola admits he does not know whether Belgium lynchpin Kevin de Bruyne will play again this season.
De Bruyne has missed City’s last two matches with a hamstring injury and will not be ready to help his teammates try to secure a 13th successive league win.
Fellow midfielder Fernandinho also still has heavy strapping around his knee, although the Brazilian has been taking part in gym work.
Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo remains a long-term absentee, although Guardiola will be hoping his defence has an easy night as his strikeforce targets the club’s 100th goal at home of the 2018/19 Premier League season.
City have won 17 of their 18 home matches this season and visit Brighton in their final match of the campaign on Sunday.