Liverpool and Manchester City played out their Champions League first-leg clash at Anfield on Wednesday, with the home side coming out on top and taking a convincing 3-0 lead into next week's return fixture.
Their failure to secure even an away goal on Merseyside was a bitter blow to Pep Guardiola's side's prospects in this season's tournament, but the game is still far from over.
An early goal at the Etihad for City would be more than enough to get their tails up and make Liverpool players and fans alike very, very nervous indeed.
After all, Liverpool is no stranger to surrendering a three-goal lead in recent seasons...
Liverpool now 3-0 ahead. The most dangerous lead in football.
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) April 4, 2018
But before their Champions League clash next week, both sides have important derby games upon which they must focus.
City will host Liverpool with a three-goal disadvantage
City could go into the game as Premier League champions. The Sky Blues have had a stellar campaign - their only loss in the league this season also came at the hands of Jurgen Klopp's men - and they could clinch the title this weekend with a victory against their bitter rivals from across the way. And what a sweet victory that would be.
The reality is, however, that City does not need to win the Premier League this weekend, and overstretching themselves in an attempt to do so would be foolish.
More pressing is their need to overturn the deficit against Liverpool - having virtually guaranteed the Premier League title, a strong showing in European competition must be the priority.
Despite their impressive trophy haul in recent years and the hundreds of millions invested in the playing squad, Manchester City has still never won the Champions League.
On current form, if they were to have any chance of winning it, then this would be their year. Their deficit to Liverpool is damaging, but it is certainly a position from which they can recover.
Guardiola must put rivalry and passion aside and think logically about his team selection on Saturday - key players should be rested to ensure that they give themselves every possible chance of maintaining their run in Europe, and possibly going on to win a trophy that has so far eluded the club.
Liverpool must not get complacent - there is still a job to do at the Etihad
Yes, 3-0 is a very convincing lead to take into a second-leg - Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool players will be delighted with their performance in the first 90 minutes. The Reds, however, need to maintain the mentality that there is still life in the tie yet.
An early away goal will settle nerves and will leave City needing at least five on the night to progress - not an impossible tally, but certainly a tough one to achieve against a Liverpool defence that has been much more solid in recent months.
A strong squad will be required on Tuesday, meaning that, no matter how much fans will want bragging rights over rivals Everton, key players should be benched at Goodison Park.
After limping off in midweek, Salah is almost certainly going to be rested, and at least one of if not both Mané and Firmino should probably join him to avoid them burning-out. As captain Jordan Henderson will miss the second leg through suspension, he should start against Sam Allardyce's Toffees, but most other first-team players could see themselves on the bench.
With Joe Gomez injured while on England duty, Nathaniel Clyne could see his first involvement of the season after a long absence with a back problem - 19-year-old Trent Alexander Arnold was excellent on Wednesday but will need to be rested to avoid burnout in a busy schedule.
