Manchester City’s slip at Crystal Palace, where they dropped two points, followed by Liverpool’s win at Newcastle, means there’s only a point between the two current best teams in the Premier League, as the title race enters the final couple of furlongs.

In the FA Cup, City finally beat Southampton, this season, to progress to the last four, just before Liverpool edged past plucky Nottingham Forest. It felt inevitable when City would then be paired with the Anfield club in next month’s semi-final at Etihad South, as City fans call it these days.

Last Friday the draw had been made for the remaining fixtures of the Champions League. I’d assumed that City and Liverpool might come together in the last eight of that competition, but if there is to be at Manchester v Merseyside clash in Europe’s main club competition, it’ll be in the final, in Paris.

City will first have to navigate their way past Atletico de Madrid and then Chelsea or Real Madrid. Liverpool also have two more hurdles to leap, if that final is to become a reality.

What we know, for sure, is that in a just a fortnight of football City will play Liverpool and Atletico twice each. What a challenge!

At Southampton I felt that City’s 4-1 win slightly flattered them. The introduction of Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden, as second half substitutes, proved to be the turning point. Both players made huge impacts and both scored beautiful goals. Before that, the Saints had gamely gone toe to toe with City and, just like Crystal Palace in the previous game, had threated to upset City’s rhythm.

I’m certain Atletico will take the same approach in the Champions League. City’s pass and move isn’t always as effective against these stubborn systems.

Central defender Ruben Dias looks certain to be back for City for those crucial fixtures, especially as we’re now in the last International break of the season. When this fortnight is over, the Blues return with a game at relegation threatened Burnley.

That fixture is the one that is in danger of being dismissed as a formality, especially with the bigger games to come immediately after. I hope that game won’t be underestimated by Pep and his players.

Burnley are fighting for their Premier League status and will have home advantage. Will City bring back Dias and play him for the full ninety minutes with Atletico and Liverpool waiting in the wings so soon after?

Will Pep “rest” any of his key players for the trip to Turf Moor or will he use the fixture as a rehearsal for the more challenging games to come and risk injury or fatigue? I suspect that’s what will be troubling the City manager’s mind during this period of relative inactivity.

I’m a journalist and a fan, so I’m already planning my trip to Wembley. The roads heading south from Manchester and Merseyside will be packed and there are no trains running into Euston over the weekend so I can imagine there will be a few logistical nightmares for those that don’t plan ahead. I’ll be driving to Wembley.

I’ve already booked my trip to Madrid during the midweek before the Wembley semi-final.

I’ll be flying to the Spanish capital via Dublin and returning via Majorca. The things we have to do to save on the cost of travel. Unless you’re a football fan you might not realise that airlines increase their fares dramatically the moment the Champions League draw is made.

Over the course of just two hours the options reduced and the prices increased. You have to be an experienced travel organiser to follow your team in Europe!

Fortunately, I’m ready to go and, as always, I’ll be filming during my journeys, both here and abroad, for my Youtube channel, “Forever Blue” and of course you can hear me every Friday on Tameside Radio 103.6FM from 7pm with Sports Talk. It should be an amazing few weeks to come!     

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