Prem Preview: Manchester City - Liverpool

FerrariTifosi27 · Post by **FerrariTifosi27** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:14 pm

Prem Preview: Manchester City - Liverpool

What: Barclays Premier League
Who: Manchester City (5th, 35/57pts) v. Liverpool (4th, 36/54pts)
When: Sunday, 30th December, 16:00 (GMT)
Where: Eastlands, Manchester

Something has to give in Sundayâ€™s clash as Manchester City and Liverpool seek to retain contact with the top of the table. The game pits the club with the best home form against the team who are strongest on the road.

City Aim To Extend Unbeaten Home Run

City are still riding high in the table, surpassing all expectations as they sit in 5th spot.

Nevertheless, Sven-GÃ¶ran Erikssonâ€™s side have gone off the boil of late: just one win in five, among the defeats elimination from the Carling Cup at the hands of Tottenham.

Most recently the 2-2 draw with Blackburn saw the end of City's perfect league campaign at home. The Citizens twice led in that match, only to be pegged back by Roque Santa Cruzâ€™ brace.

Perhaps more worryingly for Sven, his side have now gone seven games in all competitions without keeping a clean sheet (Novemberâ€™s 0-0 draw at Portsmouth being their last). But despite that, Eastlands is a far cry from the welcoming venue it was last season: no team relishes travelling there anymore.

They may have lost stability at the back, but the Citizens have also shown their ability to score plenty of goals. Bianchi and Vassell have certainly hit form in December, while the midfield combination of youth and experience, of creativity and steel makes City tough opponents.

The Citizens are yet to win during the Christmas period and will be desperate to take all three points on Sunday and remain in contention for Champions League spots. This game against one of the Big Four is therefore of tremendous significance.

Svenâ€™s side beat United at home, 1-0, and will hope for the same against Liverpool. The key to getting something out of this game rests in their ability to handle Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Liverpool - No More Slip Ups

Like City, Liverpool have notched 10 Premier League victories this season. Impressive, but less so than the records of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Despite winning their last two games, Rafa BenÃtez realises that his teamâ€™s title hopes remain dangerously slim. The Reds do have a game in hand, but they currently sit nine points behind United and eight behind Arsenal. Eastlands is a tough place to play nowadays, but Liverpool cannot afford to drop further points to their championship rivals.

City have yet to lose at home, but no side boasts as good an away record this year as Liverpool. With six wins and just one defeat from nine matches, it is the Redsâ€™ form on the road that has kept the gap to the sides above them manageable.

Nonetheless, fans will be far from confident going into Sundayâ€™s game following the disappoint display at Derby County. BenÃtezâ€™ side got the points, but following Torresâ€™ superb individual effort they failed to make their dominance count, wasting a hatful of chances before being pegged back and only escaping courtesy of Gerrardâ€™s late winner.

Wednesdayâ€™s game at Pride Park again demonstrated how reliant the Reds are on their captain and star striker. When those two donâ€™t play well or are effectively dealt with, Liverpool often lack a threat going forward. It is imperative that neither is marked out of Sunday's game.

FORM GUIDE

City

Match Result Date Championship
Manchester City - Blackburn 2 - 2 27/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Aston Villa - Manchester City 1 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City - Tottenham 0 - 2 18/12/2007 CARLING CUP
Manchester City - Bolton 4 - 2 15/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Tottenham - Manchester City 2 - 1 09/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Manchester City 1 - 1 01/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool

Match Result Date Championship
Derby - Liverpool 1 - 2 26/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Portsmouth 4 - 1 22/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 CARLING CUP
Liverpool - Man Utd. 0 - 1 16/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Marseille - Liverpool 0 - 4 11/12/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Reading - Liverpool 3 - 1 08/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE

TEAM NEWS

City

Eriksson rested Elano against Blackburn and should put him back in the side in place of Bianchi. Dietmar Hamann should also return against his old side, probably in place of Corluka with Stephen Ireland switching to the right. Michael Johnson is out with a groin injury.

Likely XI (4-4-1-1): Hart â€“ Onuoha, Dunne, Richards, Ball â€“ Ireland, Hamann, Gelson, Petrov â€“ Elano - Vassell

Liverpool

Liverpool have a problem at centre-back after Sami Hyypia limped out of the win at Derby. The Finn is rated doubtful for Sunday and BenÃtez must decide whether to rush back Daniel Agger from his foot injury or play youngster Jack Hobbs. Alvaro Arbeloa is another option in the middle but heâ€™s battling with â€˜flu.

BenÃtez will probably change personnel from Wednesdayâ€™s game, possibly adding extra steel to the midfield with Mascherano and giving Dirk Kuyt a chance up front. Peter Crouch remains suspended, Jermaine Pennant is still injured.

Likely XI (4-4-2): Reina â€“ Finnan, Carragher, Hobbs, Riise â€“ Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell â€“ Torres, Kuyt

PLAYERS TO WATCH

City â€“ Martin Petrov (pictured)

Petrov has set the Premiership alight since moving from AtlÃ©tico Madrid in the summer. The Bulgarianâ€™s pace and precision wreaked havoc in the Blackburn defence on Thursday night and Liverpoolâ€™s right flank could be in for a similarly torrid time on Sunday.

Liverpool â€“ Jamie Carragher

Liverpoolâ€™s normally excellent defence has only kept one clean sheet in their last six games. With Agger lacking match practice, Hyppia struggling with his ankle knock and Hobbs an inexperienced youngster, the pressure is on Jamie Carragher to manage the dual threats of Cityâ€™s lone striker and, more importantly, Elano.

PREDICTION

An entertaining affair with plenty of free-flowing football but also the odd tasty challenge from the likes of Hamann and Mascherano. Both teams will get chances, itâ€™s just a question of who makes theirs count. Liverpool to win it late on.

Manchester City 1-2 Liverpool

ComeOnYouBlues · Post by **ComeOnYouBlues** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:23 pm

i predict 1-1

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:04 am

delfino_1936 · Post by **delfino_1936** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:28 am

olympiakos · Post by **olympiakos** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:33 am

IpswichTown1878 wrote:i predict 1-1

mattieg1200 · Post by **mattieg1200** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:44 am

i hope lpool win however i dont see it happening... 1-1 ... wud make it interestin to the chase if lpool did win..

robinfriday10 · Post by **robinfriday10** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:48 am

2-1 city!!

mattieg1200 · Post by **mattieg1200** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:55 am

robinfriday10 wrote:2-1 city!!

no way

Caramelas13 · Post by **Caramelas13** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:53 pm

Must win this game with Man U stuffing up.

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:47 pm

Absolutely. Stevie Gerrard will score a last gasp winner

The one and only · Post by **The one and only** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:03 pm

mattieg1200 wrote:i hope lpool win however i dont see it happening... 1-1 ... wud make it interestin to the chase if lpool did win..

technically speaking wouldnt it make it interesting to the chase if city win aswell

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:07 pm

You make a valid point, but there will be more hype if Liverpool are up there.

The one and only · Post by **The one and only** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:14 pm

i know that but im just saying if city win they are still up there aswell

robinfriday10 · Post by **robinfriday10** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:19 pm

pressure on rotational raf and his expensive premier league flops!!!

pires7 · Post by **pires7** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:21 pm

Liverpool's away form has been good so i would expect them to win
1-3

gerrard, torres and babel to score

manU4life · Post by **manU4life** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:18 pm

if torres and gerrad are on song,pool win. that said i fancy citeh to get something out of this game

FerrariTifosi27 · Post by **FerrariTifosi27** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:29 pm

Bianchi should start over Vassell. Bianchi will get Man City what they deserve in a UEFA Champions League spot. Elano is playing very well as his support striker.

King Ledley · Post by **King Ledley** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:06 pm

Rigoni 10 wrote:2-1

delfino_1936 · Post by **delfino_1936** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:17 pm

Milanista #22 wrote:Bianchi should start over Vassell. Bianchi will get Man City what they deserve in a UEFA Champions League spot. Elano is playing very well as his support striker.

no way, too shit away from home.

crouchy15 · Post by **crouchy15** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:07 pm

2-0 pool
crouch babel

manU4life · Post by **manU4life** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 9:35 am

crouchy15 wrote:2-0 pool
crouch babel

try 0-0

mattieg1200 · Post by **mattieg1200** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:28 am

yer cudnt see lpool winnin wif man citys 100 % record( not losing)...

manU4life · Post by **manU4life** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:44 am

mattieg1200 wrote:yer cudnt see lpool winnin wif man citys 100 % record( not losing)...

still should of won with all the chances you had

Missing Post Count · Post by **Missing Post Count** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:51 am

mattieg1200 wrote:yer cudnt see lpool winnin wif man citys 100 % record( not losing)...

We shouldn't be focusing on them but on what we do.

Caramelas13 · Post by **Caramelas13** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:59 am

That game could be still playing as i speak and we still wouldn't score. It was just one of those games where Richard Dunne decided to play the game of his life. LFC had enough chances to win the game 4 times. BUT that's the difference between title winning teams and teams that finish 3rd or 4th.

Caramelas13 · Post by **Caramelas13** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:15 am

By the way, how good did we play with no Riise in the team???? That bloke offers us NOTHING. He can leave in January 100%

mattieg1200 · Post by **mattieg1200** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:23 am

manU4life wrote:
mattieg1200 wrote:yer cudnt see lpool winnin wif man citys 100 % record( not losing)...
still should of won with all the chances you had

very true..

Judge Judy · Post by **Judge Judy** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:41 am

fucking dunne, what a machine! absolutely immense, had torres in his back pocket all day, and when he wasn't there, richards was picking up where dunne left off!

Le King · Post by **Le King** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:50 pm

gd result, was worried pool would get 3 points and b bak in da hunt... they still r, but only jst...
chelsea will slp off the pace once africans cup kiks in... which is soon

robinfriday10 · Post by **robinfriday10** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:46 pm

great defensive display , kept gerrard almost in his own half.. very defensive lineup by sven with corluka and hamman in centre mid. but sven doin a great job