Man City 'have it ALL to lose' on the final day, insists Jamie Carragher as they battle Liverpool

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher insists Manchester City 'have it all to lose' in their title-defining clash against Aston Villa on the final day, saying Pep Guardiola's men will feel 'fear' as they look to pip Liverpool to the Premier League crown.

City welcome Steven Gerrard's men to the Etihad Stadium and are just one point above the Reds, knowing they just have to match or better their result at home to Wolves in the Premier League finale.

But while Liverpool will have to win their game and hope City slip up, Carragher believes all the pressure is on City - with Jurgen Klopp's side already winning two trophies this season and looking ahead to the Champions League final regardless of what happens on Sunday.

'Liverpool have been the chasers throughout, never in a position to win this season’s title,' he said in his column for the Telegraph.

'Having just won two finals and in preparations for a third, anything more on Sunday is a spectacular bonus. A cup parade is confirmed no matter what and there will be a party atmosphere at Anfield as the fans look towards Paris.

'City have it all to lose. This is their last chance to win a trophy this season. They go into the weekend with confidence and fear, the expectation being they will - and should - become champions on Sunday evening.

'Liverpool’s remaining weapon is hope. The fact there is still a fight means anything is possible.'

Even though Villa are managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard - who will want the Reds to win the title - Carragher says the Villans lack a player as good as he was and that City will use him as a symbol of their title rivals to motivate them.

'Romantics are having a field day this week, seeing Kop legend Steven Gerrard as City’s last obstacle and wondering "is it meant to be?" for Liverpool. There is a major flaw with that view. Gerrard is not playing. Villa’s players must secure a result and sadly for Klopp none of them are as good as their manager was.

'Gerrard will be determined to win for himself and Villa more than Liverpool. He knows he will be the target of the home fans’ stick and celebrations as a visible symbol of the title rival. That will be motivation enough.

Carragher is not optimistic Liverpool will pull off title glory, however, saying City will feel they are 'fighting destiny' if they do not score an early goal and facing a nervy end to the game.

'Sometimes - no matter how much you try - you cannot help fear that you are fighting destiny. There is no rational reason. It just happens when sportspeople get anxious approaching the finishing line. The "name on the cup" syndrome has proven itself a powerful force in football.

'Do I believe City will do it? Yes, because they are accustomed to this situation. Panic only sets in if a goal has not arrived before 70 minutes. It’s hard to envisage because Guardiola’s style is more controlled and less frenetic.

'You can understand why City fans will be concerned until that first goal comes, however, given there was as much chance of them winning a treble as Liverpool.'

Liverpool found themselves 14 points adrift of rivals City in January but have clawed their way back into contention with one game to go - and even after making nine changes against Southampton this week, they still found a way to win 2-1.

Carragher said Guardiola must despair of Liverpool after the Spaniard hilariously dubbed them 'a pain in the a**e', saying it summed up the hunger of Klopp's team to battle  City all the way.

'"What must we do to get rid of them? Won’t they please just go away?" Wherever they were watching Liverpool’s second string beat Southampton on Tuesday to take the title race to the final day, these will have been the thoughts of Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s players,' he added.

'Guardiola’s observation about Jurgen Klopp’s side being a "pain in the a**e" may prove the most perceptive, defining quote of the season.'