Thursday, March 3, 2016, 7am AEDT, Anfield, Watch on Fox Sports
Table position
Liverpool: Ninth
Manchester City: Fourth
Season record
Liverpool: 10-8-8
Manchester City: 14-5-7
Last five match results
Liverpool: WDLWW
Manchester City: LLWDW
THESE two sides meet for the second time in less than a week after Manchester City won a dramatic penalty shoot out in the League Cup final on the weekend.
It’s hard to believe manager Manuel Pellegrini will be out the door at the end of this season after his side triumphed over Liverpool ($2.60 with WilliamHill.com.au) at Wembley Stadium, 3-1 on penalties, after the scores were tied 1-1 after the final whistle, giving him some silverware in a season where the title looks out of reach.
After a dour opening to the match, City ($2.70 with WilliamHill.com.au) (Draw is $3.30) went ahead through the spritely work of midfield dynamo Fernandinho, whose shot beat Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet early in the second half and it looked like the Sky Blues would park the bus and cruise to victory.
But Liverpool’s midfield Rolls Royce Philippe Coutinho had other ideas and, just seven minutes from time, he equalised, taking it to extra time.
When the sides couldn’t be separated, penalties ensued and, City goalkeeper Willy Caballero – picked ahead of Joe Hart in cup competitions – became the hero, repelling spot-kicks from Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana in the shootout.
The win is a little comfort for a City side whose Premier League title hopes are fast-fading. The Sky Blues are nine points behind table leader Leicester City in fourth. Three games is a monumental break, this late in the season.
“I am happy to have won a title in February,” Pellegrini said after the match.
“It is important for the trust of the team in the way we are working.
“We are not going to give up on the Premier League – we have to play for another 36 points – and we have made a huge step in the Champions League (beating Dynamo Kyiv in Kiev last week).
“To win the title, we have to have a lot of trust.”
Pellegrini hailed Caballero as the hero of the Capitol One Cup win, but Hart will be back between the sticks for this clash and he will be hoping things go a little better than they did the last time these two sides met in Premier League competition.
In that match, Liverpool slammed four past the English keeper in a 4-1 shellacking at Etihad Stadium late last year.
First half goals to Eliaquim Mangala, Coutinho and Roberto Firmino shell shocked the Sky Blues.
Down 3-0, Sergio Aguero scored just before the half.
But the damage was done, defender Martin Skrtel’s 81st minute goal rubbing salt into the wounds.
On top of that, the last time these two teams met at Anfield, the points went to Liverpool once again, this time 2-1.
Coutinho was on target again, giving his side victory in the 75th minute after Edin Dzeko cancelled out Jordan Henderson’s 11th minute finish.
Does that add up to something damning for Manchester City? Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says it will be very hard for his side to rebound from the heartbreak of the cup defeat.
“You cannot say ‘I don’t care, it’s not important,” Klopp said.
“It was important and we lost, so that feels not too good.
“You always have to strike back.
“We can say all of these things, but you know you can fall down and then you have to stand up.
“That’s the truth, but it’s completely normal – only silly idiots stay on the floor and wait for the next defeat.
“Of course we will strike back – 100 per cent.”
Liverpool is coming off one of the biggest results of the season, smashing lowly Aston Villa 6-0, thanks to six individual goal scorers, while City’s form has not been close to that, losing its past two to admittedly stronger opponents in Leicester City (3-1) and Tottenham (2-1).
The Reds will have to tackle City without key defender Skrtel, who is out with a hamstring injury, while Joe Allen is out with the same ailment. Dejan Lovren is crook and Mamadou Sakho needs to pass a fitness test after he suffered a knock to the head in the weekend’s match.
City escaped from the weekend’s match relatively unscathed, but will still be without key midfield play maker Kevin De Bruyne, who is targeting a return in the Champions League after a long lay off with injury. Fabian Delph (Achilles) and Samir Nasri (hamstring) won’t play.
Possible team line ups
Liverpool: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Lucas Leiva, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno, Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Divock Origi
Manchester City: Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi, Vincent Kompany, Aleksander Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, David Silva, Ya Ya Toure, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero
Predictions
Match result: Liverpool to win ($2.60 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Correct match score: Liverpool to win 2-1 ($9.50 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Total match goals: Over 2.5 match goals ($2 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Liverpool has won three of the last four league meetings between the two teams and that strong recent history, coupled with the heartbreak of the league cup loss should give them the impetus to take this one out here. City has not won at Anfield in its past 12 tries. Eight of those were draws, and that is certainly a result that would not surprise, but we’re backing Liverpool to put in a big performance on their home deck here. They need to repay the fans after they tried hard in the League Cup, but ultimately fell short. Here’s a fun fact: There have been 34 goals scored in the last nine meetings between the sides across all competitions (3.8 goals per match), and neither team has kept a clean sheet in that run. Having said that, it will probably now be a nil-all draw, but we’re going to stay confident and expect plenty of goals in this traditionally bountiful fixture.
First goal scorer predictions
Liverpool:
Philippe Coutinho ($9 with WilliamHill.com.au)
This guy has been a serious thorn in the Sky Blues’ side in recent years and there’s no way you can leave him off your first goal scorer tips in this one. It will be his 100th match and that means he will be fired up like never before. Has scored in five of his last six appearances against City and we think he is the hot tip to make it six in his last seven. Supremely talented, he has been, again, one of the biggest bright spots in a Liverpool season which has fallen short of their high expectations.
Roberto Firmino ($7.50 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Speaking of Liverpool bright spots, how good has this guy been? The 24 year old has come of age this season and managed six goals and six assists in his 17 Premier League appearances this campaign. Pacy and skilled, the Brazillian can, at times, be a little soft, but there is no denying his attacking talent and he must be respected here.
Manchester City:
Raheem Sterling ($9 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Wouldn’t he love slot one against his former side. It’s hard to believe Sterling is just 21 years old and it puts into context the sub par season he has had since moving from the red colours to sky blue. What is undeniable is the talent this young man possesses. He, more than any one else, is probably the key to City’s title hopes and if they are going to win this one, there’s a good chance he will be involved.
Sergio Aguero ($5 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Yes, we know it’s obvious, but really, we’d be remiss not to mention this guy in the tips. Maybe they should exclude the Argentinean from first goal scorer betting. He just does it so often and gives an air of sameness about City games that makes it difficult to bet on any other player. Injuries have hurt him this season, but he still has 14 goals in 18 league appearances this campaign. When you’re talking age, this guy is still only 27, meaning he still has years of dominance in the Premier League. Aguero is the most dangerous player on the park in this match and you can guarantee he will get a chance. Enjoy the cash if he takes it.
