Man City vs Liverpool - Preview

            Manchester City vs Liverpool
     Monday 25th August, Etihad Stadium
                          Kick off 20:00
                 Referee: Michael Oliver

       

Our second game of the season brings us our first big test, we beat Liverpool to the title last season and you would expect them to be there or there abouts again come the end of the season.

Its only the second game of the season but for me this is a very important game and could even be a season defining game come the end of the campaign, for us and Liverpool alike.
I know some people will be thinking that sounds extreme and it very well might but I'm not just thinking of the three points at stake, of course gaining three points and preventing a title rival from taking them is important, however at this stage of the season the potential confidence booster from winning this game could prove more important than three points, it will give us that extra boost that could help us cruise through our up and coming fixtures.

Both ourselves and Liverpool have played one and won one, although neither team performed to the standards that we know that they are capable of.
We put in what can only be described as a professional performance against Newcastle, we were lacking that cutting edge, looked as bit sluggish and did only what we had to for us to win the game.
Liverpool on the other hand looked good going forward against Southampton but lacked the organisation and discipline that we showed against Newcastle and at the end of their game I felt that Southampton were worthy of at least a point.

I don't expect to see either team perform in the same manner on Monday night, I am expecting an adrenaline filled end to end game.
Last season City and Liverpool were the two best teams to watch if you wanted to see attacking football and I am expecting both teams to put on a good offensive show in this encounter.
Of course this time around Liverpool are without Luis Suarez and that makes a big difference when it comes to dealing with Liverpool's attack, although some suggest that it wont.
Strangely enough I was picked up from a night out in Wythenshawe (I know, I know) by a Liverpool fan taxi driver last night and a Suarez argument broke out, he was claiming they wont miss him and that Balotelli will fill the gap, he was clearly deluded although I have seen Liverpool fans saying similar things online, so they are trying their best to cover it up but it is obvious to all that Liverpool will miss Suarez, but we certainly wont.

Ultimately I expect us to win this game, playing Liverpool doesn't make me nervous in the slightest, I think we have the more experienced squad and to be blunt I just think we are all round a better team and if that sounds a little cocky it is not meant to be, it is just the way I feel.

Man City Team News
Alvaro Negredo continues his recovery from a broken foot and Eliaquim Mangala is again expected to miss out due to a lack of fitness.

Liverpool Team News
Daniel Agger, Jon Flanagan, Oussama Assaidi and Adam Lallana are all set to miss out with knee injuries, Jose Enrique is expected to face a late fitness as he also has a knew complaint. New signings Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno are in line to make their debuts.

Possible Man City Line Up
Hart, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Kompany, Kolarov, Nasri, Toure, Fernando, Silva, Jovetic, Dzeko.

Possible Liverpool Line Up
Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Manquillo, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Sturridge.

My Prediction
Man City 3 - 1 Liverpool.

Worth A Bet
Yaya Toure scores the first goal in a 3-1 Man City win @ 60/1.

Man City vs Liverpool - Sun 21st Feb 15:00 pm

Massive massive game for us tomorrow, we must beat Liverpool and try to pull away from them.

This is not a game we would really want at the moment considering our form but basically that's tough, we simply have to start performing better.

Liverpool have been quite similar to us this season, very inconsistent and frustrating. They have started to perform better lately though and we will definitely have to be on top of our game to beat them.

I think this is the first game that I have come across this season where I am just not quite sure what will happen, I have every faith that if we play well that we can beat Liverpool but that's a big if considering our form. I certainly don't think we should be nervous about playing them, I don't think they are a major threat although they are a threat.

I tend to trust in the fact that City are destined to do something sooner or later and at the moment I am hoping that fourth spot will be ours, saying that if we can't slow Liverpool down tomorrow then I am not sure that we will be able to make it to the Champions League. I think that they will keep their momentum going and be really tough to beat to fourth, so come on City stuff them!!!

Man City Team News:
Carlos Tevez is still in Argentina spending time with his new baby and will not play, Patrick Vieira is suspended. Vincent Kompany is having a test on his groin and is rated at 50/50, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stephen Ireland have both been carrying knocks but are expected to feature in the squad. Martin Petrov is out with a knee injury although Craig Bellamy is expected to return after resting his own knee problem.

Liverpool Team News:
Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson are both out injured although Yossi Benayoun may return after recovering from a broken rib. Sotirios Kyrgiakos is suspended.

Possible Man City Line Up: Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Wright-Phillips, Barry, A Johnson, Santa Cruz, Adebayor.

Possible Liverpool Line Up: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi, Ngog.

My Prediction: Man City 1 - 0 Liverpool.

Worth A Bet: Joleon Lescott scores in a 1 - 0 City win.

Liverpool 2 - 2 Man City ( Skrtel 50', Adebayor 69', Ireland 76', Benayoun 77') *Video*

I feel bitterly disappointed, we played well today and in my opinion deserved to win. I am sure we will gain confidence from this performance but not as much as we would have if we won.

Our first goal was scored by Adebayor, he was left unmarked on a corner and did well to get behind the ball and head home. Our second goal was scored by Ireland, he finished off a good move. Goals Below!

We really deserved a victory today, but it wasn't to be. In the first half we played alright although we did give the ball away to much. In the second half we were great, we took control and attacked Liverpool with determination.

Hughes even managed to be tactically aware today, bringing Tevez on for Barry was absolutely the right decision, Tevez changed the game with his movement up top.

I think the main negative for me today was Adebayor's performance, yes he scored but did nothing else. He was lazy and didn't cause any problems for Liverpool's defence I hope a goal can now bring back his early season form.

I also have to single someone out for praise, Nigel de Jong was brilliant today and was the main reason for our good display. He was all over the place and controlled the midfield, Steven Gerrard was not allowed to come into the game and totally went missing in the second half, that was down to de Jong. I would like to see Hughes build our midfield around de Jong, he should focus on maximising de Jong's ability, he is top class.

All in all we should have won today, we should take some confidence from the game and go on to batter Hull next week.

Goals.

Liverpool vs Man City - Sat 21st Nov 12:45 pm

An early kick off tomorrow gives us longer to drown our sorrows or celebrate over the weekend. A trip to Anfield is always tough for any team and it will be no different for us tomorrow.

We go to Anfield tomorrow to play a Liverpool team that a lot of people are saying are weak, I personally don't buy into that, I don't think we will see a Liverpool side that you could describe as weak for a long time if ever.

There is no doubt that Liverpool are not playing at the top of their game so far this season but their squad is not weak, it is only a matter of time before they come good again in my eyes. Saying that we are strong now and can go to Anfield with the belief that we can win, the Liverpool players will also be very aware of the threat that we carry.

It is time that we started playing well again and considering our 'typical City' tag it would be just like us to go and beat Liverpool at Anfield, lets hope so! I think we are good enough to go and get something at Anfield, it just depends what team turns up as usual. If someone could guarantee me that our impressive City side are going to turn up I would put my house on a victory, unfortunately we just do not know what they will play like due to their lack of inconsistency.

I am going to take a gamble and say that we will play well tomorrow and come away from Anfield with something, I suppose I am one of many hopeless City fan's but I do believe we will come good! CTID

Man City Team News:
Robinho (ankle) and Nedum Onuoha (thigh) are closer to fitness and may be included in the squad, Benjani is also back on the road to full fitness. Martin Petrov is expected to be out with a knee injury.

Liverpool Team News:
Fernando Torres is looking certain to miss out with a groin injury although Steven Gerrard is expected to start after recovering from his own groin problem. Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson should both play after sitting out their countries games during the International break, David Ngog has a broken nose but may play in place of Torres. Alberto Aquilani may make his first start and Jamie Carragher is back from a ban.

Possible Man City Line Up: Given, Zabaleta, Lescott, Toure, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Barry, De Jong, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor.

Possible Liverpool Line Up: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Gerrard, Torres.

My Prediction: Liverpool 1 - 2 Man City.

Worth A Bet: Tevez scores in a 2 - 1 City win. Tevez scores anytime.

Liverpool 1 - 1 Man City (Bellamy 51', Kuyt 78')

Well we did it, we came away from Anfield with a point and it feels great.

In my preview to today's game, I said that if the good City team we know we have turns up, we can come away with a result and that is exactly what happened.

We were absolutely brilliant today, every single player on the pitch did their part, and Liverpool could not match us. In the first half Liverpool were on top of us and we coped well, but in the second half we ran the game.

All of our players were great today, the midfield in particular were immense. Our main man in the midfield today was Nigel De Jong, he was all over the pitch making some of the best tackles I have seen for a while from a City player, but mix that in with his tidy distribution and on the ball play and you had a player that was a cut above the rest.

De Jong was not the only star for us today, to pick a select few from our superb eleven in today's game, Shay Given made important saves, Kompany was excellent as was Ireland and if Maradona was watching, he will surely be thinking about Zabaleta as a potential option for midfield in the Argentina national team, after he totally out classed his countryman Mascherano.

I am really pleased with the way we played today everyone was really up for it, we also got to see a couple of our players get their form back. I thought Robinho looked more like himself and was also working harder to get back, providing plenty of help for Wayne Bridge. Richard Dunne also stood out as a player who seemed to be his old self, battling hard and committed to giving all he had to give, whilst looking very comfortable and assured at the same time.

Honestly I could write for hours about how much we seem to have improved today, that is how pleased I am. I just hope we can get some confidence from today's game to take it into our next one and continue on that path for the rest of the season.

Liverpool vs Man City - Sun 22nd Feb 3pm

Next up City take on title challengers Liverpool. City have been poor away from home this season, so if we are to take any points at Anfield we will have to be on top form.

Our inconsistent City side faces the task of getting a result against a good Liverpool team at Anfield, not only that but a Liverpool team with the title in their sights.

It is going to be really tough to come away from Anfield with any kind of result, particularly taking into account our terrible away form, saying that I don't think it is impossible to come away with a result. We know that there is a very good squad at City, it is just a case of getting them consistent and motivated, and what can motivate a team more than the possibility of a positive result at Anfield.

City team news:
Richard Dunne is available after serving his ban whilst Nigel De Jong looks set to come straight back into the team after not being eligible to play in the Uefa Cup. Daniel Sturridge is unlikely to be fit for Sunday and Shaun Wright-Phillips continues to serve his domestic ban.

Liverpool team news:
Liverpool are without two of their main midfielders, Alonso is suspended and Gerrard is out injured, Lucas Leiva and Javier Mascherano are likely to replace them, with Fabio Aurelio also pushing to cement his place in the middle of the park. Kuyt may partner Torres up top, but Babel is also in the frame to start up front.

Possible Man City line up: Given, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Bridge, Zabaleta, De Jong, Ireland, Kompany, Robinho, Bellamy.

Possible Liverpool line up: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Kuyt, Torres.

My prediction: Liverpool 0 - 0 Man City