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Match preview - Liverpool vs. Manchester City - Fourth is the target
Thursday 19 November 2009
Much excitement surrounds Manchester City’s visit to Anfield on Saturday, as many believe the outcome of this fixture could well dictate who will finish fourth at the end of the season. Rafa Benitez would have aimed much higher at the start of the year but the reality is that Liverpool’s recent form has been poor and finishing fourth would be looked on as an achievement.
The Sky Blues do not find themselves in a much better position, as they sit just a point ahead of the Reds - albeit with a game in hand - Mark Hughes will want to increase this lead further with an away win on Saturday lunchtime. The Citizens have of late been unable to finish teams off - drawing their last five Premier League matches. This fixture last season produced a 1-1 draw and the blue half of Manchester have only managed to beat Liverpool on their own turf on one occasion since the Premier League began. Dirk Kuyt was on the scoresheet in both fixtures last season and will hope to do so again this weekend - the game at the City of Manchester stadium saw the Dutch striker snatch victory in the 90th minute, ensuring a 3-2 victory.
Liverpool - The Kopites will be happy to see talisman Steven Gerrard return from a thigh injury that has troubled him for the best part of a month, and Benitez will hope that the skipper's return will give his team enough encouragement to “kick-start their season”. The master tactician will have a headache when trying to replace wingers Alberto Riera and Yossi Benayoun with both players having picked up hamstring injuries and are not available for at least two weeks. This could signify a call up for out of sorts Dutch international Ryan Babel, or new boy Alberto Aquilani who may slot into what will probably be a five man midfield.
Daniel Agger is set to return to defensive duties, alongside the in-form Glen Johnson, however both Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen will not be available due to suspensions and Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena are also doubtful. It will also be interesting to see how Liverpool perform without their dynamic front-man Fernando Torres - the Premier League's top scorer is out with a hernia - replacing the in-form striker will be David Ngog.
25 Reina
2 Johnson - 5 Agger - 37 Skrtel - 22 Insua
18 Kuyt - 20 Mascherano - 21 Lucas - 19 Babel
8 Gerrard
24 Ngog
Manchester City - Big spending City are glad of the news that Robinho is on the mend, but he will not start against Liverpool on Saturday. Hughes may put him on the bench however if inspiration is needed. Martin Petrov is also sidelined this week with a knee injury and he will be sorely missed by City having put in some solid performances of late. Craig Bellamy should start on the left, and the speedy forward will be a real defensive test for Johnson. Nedum Onuoha is still suffering with a long-term thigh injury but he is another player who has almost recovered and has started light training this week.
Sparky will certainly need to get his tactics right if he is to overcome the huge task of beating Liverpool in front of the Kop, and choosing the right strikers will hold the key. Emmanuel Adebayor hasn’t scored in his last four appearances in the Premier League and oddly enough his last goal came against his old employer Arsenal - expect him to start nevertheless, with Roque Santa Cruz set to be named on the bench once more.
Hughes will opt to start with both holding midfielders Gareth Barry and Nigel De Jong to cover his defenders and also to match the midfield tenacity of Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva. Stephen Ireland, if used correctly could be key, expect to see him come on in the second half to try and unlock the Liverpool defence if things are still tight. The City defence should not struggle as much against a lone David Ngog as the Kop back four may against the aerial ability of Adebayor and speed and skill of Carlos Tevez. However, if Gerrard can claw back some of his match sharpness in the week he has had to train, his long range finishing may bypass the City defence altogether.
1 Given
5 Zabaleta - 19 Lescott - 28 Toure - 3 Bridge
8 Wright-Phillips - 18 Barry - 34 De Jong - 39 Bellamy
32 Tevez - 25 Adebayor
The home support may consider the season already over with an early departure from the Champions League looking imminent and an almost untenable position in the Premier League, one couldn’t blame the loyal Kop for feeling morose. But a win here and again in the derby in three weeks time will keep the vultures from circling above Rafa’s head. Benitez, who regularly gets his tactics right for the big games, may come out on top here, however a draw is very likely considering City's recent results.
Both teams will climb to fourth with a win but if City take all three points it will be a clear indication of their desire to break into the top four, the first side to do this since Everton five years ago.
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