Manchester City vs Liverpool preview

Posted on | December 29, 2007 | No Comments

Rafa Benitez’s side will look to make it three wins out of three when they travel to the Eastlands to face Manchester City, who have turned their home ground into some kind of fortress this season, having never lost in 10 games played there this season.

Liverpool come into this game high on confidence, having beaten Portsmouth 4-1 and Derby County 2-1. Yet, the performance against Derby would have caused a few worries for Benitez, for his side needed an exceptional late goal from Steven Gerrard to win against the Rams. If Liverpool are to be challenging for the title, they cannot afford to drop points against minor sides. Liverpool have some major defensive problems to sort out. Sami Hyypia sustained an ankle injury in the game against Derby, and in all probability, will not figure in this game. Against Derby, Rafa brought on Benayoun for Sami and pushed Riise into the centre to partner Carragher. Will Daniel Agger make a comeback ? The young Danish international is recovering from a broken metatarsal, but is close to being match fit. If Agger and Hyypia are not fit, Benitez might ask Alvaro Arbeloa to play in the centre , and play Finnan on the right. He could even hand young Jack Hobbs a game, but against a team of City’s calibre, it might not be prudent to play Hobbs while the likes of Bianchi and Elano lurk around in the box. Liverpool have lost only once on their travels this season- a 1-3 loss to Reading. Steven Gerrard will again be the key for the Reds with his surging runs forward and crunch tackles. Mascherano and he will face off against Hamann and Fernandes in the centre of the park, and that is where Liverpool will want to take control of the game. Peter Crouch is suspended.

Manchester City currently lie one point behind the team that they will host at the CoMS, but have played one game more then them. City have picked up two points from both their Christmas fixtures- a 1-1 draw against Villa and a 2-2 draw with Blackburn. Rovers remain the only team to have come out of Eastlands with a point, a place where even Manchester United failed. Much of City’s success can be attribute to Elano and Martin Petrov. Petrov has been a real threat down the left wing, and if Liverpool happen to play someone lacking pace, the Bulgarian can cause all kinds of havoc. In Bianchi, City have a centre forward who can put away most crosses in the box with ease. Elano has been a revelation with his attacking abilities, and is joint top scorer for the club with five goals. Richards and Dunne will face a stern test in the inform Fernando Torres. Onuha and Ball will play on the right and left side of defence respectively. Corluka was used as a centre midfielder in the Blackburn game. Hamann was rested for the Blackburn game, and while he is no slouch, his lack of pace can let him down.

Liverpool enjoy a good record at Eastlands. Coupled with City’s impressive home form, this should be an interesting clash. A 1-0 to Liverpool, with Torres or Stevie on the scoresheet.

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