Sunday, November 22, 2015, 4.30am AEST, Etihad Stadium, watch on Fox Sports
Table position
Manchester City: Top
Liverpool: 10
Season record
Manchester City: 8-2-2
Liverpool: 4-3-5
Last five matches
Manchester City: WWDWD
Liverpool: DDDWL
ON paper, this is two of the biggest clubs in the Premier League going head to head.
But that’s about where the comparisons stop.
Manchester City is the title favourite.
Liverpool will be lucky to make the Europa League, the way it is travelling.
It feels like a lopsided match up, but this is the Premier League and you never, never know, right?
Not according to punters at WilliamHill.com.au
The online bookmaker’s man Tim Ashworth reports strong support for the Sky Blues at $1.61.
“The big money is coming for City,” Ashworth told SafeBookies.com.
“We have already taken a $3000 bet at the $1.61 mark and another for $700 at $1.70.
“Seventy per cent of the money is sitting with the Sky Blues at present.”
There had been more money for the draw at $4 than outsider Liverpool at $5.50.
And Ashworth said punters had come for Raheem Sterling and Manchester City to win in the doubles market, the most popular at $3.25.
While it is on a hiding to nothing, Liverpool could welcome back talented midfielder James Milner to take on his former club, giving the Kop a boost ahead of the match.
The vice captain missed the clash with Crystal Palace last time out because of a hamstring injury and he was unable to take part in internationals for England.
But he says he could be ready to go by Sunday morning.
“It’s always disappointing to miss any games – and obviously missing last weekend and the England games is disappointing,” Milner told the Liverpool website.
“It shouldn’t be too long and hopefully I’ll be back for the next game, but we’ll have to wait and see.
“You never like to put a timeframe on it because it’s a hamstring and they’re always difficult and a bit unpredictable, but hopefully I’ll be alright.
“It’s disappointing, but these things happen and hopefully I’ll be back soon.”
The Reds have looked looked better under new man Jurgen Klopp, having lost just one of his seven games at the helm, but there is still much work to be done to turn this side into a title contender once again.
That defeat came at the hands of Crystal Palace, 2-1, last time out, Alan Pardew’s men leap frogging the Reds on the table.
Perhaps Liverpool’s most talented player Phillipe Coutinho’s 42nd minute strike cancelled out Yannick Bolasie’s opener, but Scott Dann was the Kop’s enemy, heading home eight minutes from time and inflicting a home loss for Liverpool at Anfield.
They will want to learn fast if they want to compete with a Manchester City side that is still sitting pretty at the top of the league on 26 points from 12 outings, but hold only a slender goal difference lead over second placed Arsenal.
City is unbeaten in its last five starts, thrashing Newcastle United 6-1, Bournemouth 5-1 and Norwich City 2-1 while playing out scoreless draws against Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Hard to believe it, but they couldn’t find the net against the lowly Villans.
Aleksandar Kolarov hit the post Raheem Sterling should have been awarded a penalty and both he and gun recruit Kevin De Bruyne fluffed chances they should have finished.
Fernando hit the crossbar in injury time, compounding the bad day for City.
“We are frustrated – we deserved to win the game,” manager Manuel Pellegrini said.
“They didn’t shoot once in the whole game to our goalkeeper.
“These things happen in football and we were unlucky not to score in the three or four options that we had – that happens in football.
“I was very happy with the way we played, especially in the second half with good pressing and movement.
”I think we started a little bit by waiting to find out which kind of team we were playing – it can be hard when you face a new manager and you don’t know the way they want to play.
“Then finally we played really well in the second half but didn’t score.”
Does the poor effort against Villa enhance or reduce the Reds chances?
We would say the latter. City goes home guaranteed to be bitterly disappointed with its performance and understandably hell bent on atoning for it.
It just so happens Liverpool will bear the brunt of that.
Lucky City has plenty of depth.
Star striker Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Samir Nasri, Pablo Zabaleta and Wilfried Bony have all been sidelined with injury.
But Aguero looks a big chance to take the pitch against Liverpool, probably in a substitutes role.
Add to that Klopp’s men are also floundering and they don’t have any where near the quality in reserve.
Danny Ings, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Mamadou Sakho will all miss the City clash.
Possible line ups
Manchester City: Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna, Nicolas Otamendi, Vincent Kompany, Alekander Kolarov, Ya Ya Touré, Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, WIlfried Bony
Liverpool: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren, Aberto Moreno, Emre Can, Lucas Leiva, Jordon Ibe, Adam Lallana, Phillipe Coutinho, Christian Benteke
Predictions
Match result: Manchester City wins ($1.61 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Correct score: Manchester City wins 3-0 ($12 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Total match goals: Over 2.5 goals ($1.70 with WilliamHill.com.au)
The $1.61 about City looks like insane value. They don’t lose at home to Liverpool, having gone undefeated in the past six, including four wins. And where are Liverpool’s goals going to come from? They have just 13 for the season, which equals their lowest total ever in the Premier League after 12 games of the season. Its not pretty reading. Conversely, the Manchester City goal machine has been firing on all cylinders, buoyed by more shots on target (83) than any other team in the Premier League. Make no mistake, it will take some kind of miracle for Klopp’s men to get past City at home in this clash, something the club has shown so fat this season, it is simply not capable of producing.
First goal scorer tips
Manchester City
Raheem Sterling ($7 with WilliamHill.com.au)
The young superstar faces off against the team that sold him over the summer. Make no mistake, there was some bad blood between Sterling and Liverpool and one of two things happens here. He either goes out and has a blinder, destroying them off his own boot, or he goes out and puts on a meek performance in the headlights. We’re opting for the earlier. Can you imagine the British tabloids if that happened? Any way, he has freedom to roam with Aguero still recovering from injury, so you can expect Sterling to provide plenty of early chances.
Sergio Aguero ($4.25 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Yes, we tip him even when he is injured. The word is he will be back for this game and probably come on as a substitute. This guy is the Premier striker in the EPL and perhaps the best in the world (ok, third, behind Messi and Ronaldo). So, injuries or not, you can expect him to be well prepared if he gets his chance. Should Liverpool keep the game close, you can just about guarantee Aguero will get the tap on the shoulder from Pellegrini and could provide a late winner. Wait until you see the team lists before you place this bet.
Liverpool
Philippe Coutinho ($11 with WilliamHill.com.au)
This guy is talent personified, but for some reason he has not quite endeared himself to the Liverpool faithful. Has had to endure calls for him to go and be replaced by Isco, but that hasn’t stopped him from producing strong football for t club that is really struggling. And here’s a fun fact: Coutinho has scored three goals in four league appearances against Manchester City. That’s plenty of food for thought for your first goal scorer tips.
Christian Benteke ($8.50 with WilliamHill.com.au)
The big former Villa striker hasn’t quite reached the dizzying heights of last season, but there are still more than 20 games to go. He has time to improve. A good start would be with an early goal against City, which would give Liverpool a chance. He has the height and skill to trouble any defence, even the juggernaut in Manchester City. Back the big man in for a huge match and hope he can slot the opener.
Weekend Premier League multi tip
Manchester City to defeat Liverpool ($1.67)
Arsenal to beat West Bromwich Albion ($1.53)
Chelsea to defeat Norwich ($1.44)
Manchester United to defeat Watford ($1.91)
Pays $7.02 with Sportsbet.com.au
If you’re going to have a multi on the Premier League this weekend, you simply must put it on through sportsbet.com.au.
The bookie has a great special it’s been running that provides cash back, up to $100, if your four or more leg multi fails by one leg.
Thats’s solid and we don’t usually tip a pile for favourites, we absolutely love the value about the Big Four this weekend
Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all in very winnable games.
We’ve already talked about City, but surely United can go to Watford and take away the points? It hasn’t been the easiest trip for Premier League sides against the newly promoted triers Watford and Martial is injured and could miss the game, but Rooney and co, all things considered, should have enough ammunition as cover to get the job done.
Arsenal is still nipping at the heels of City, despite the side being absolutely decimated by injury.
Fortunately for the Gunners, there are plenty of stars available for selection and surely they continue the hunt for an elusive second title by going away and defeating West Bromwich Albion on the road.
Well, what can we say about Chelsea? Title favourites before the season started, the Blues will be lucky if they aren’t relegated. It’s hard to say what’s gone wrong with the Pensioners, but they will be keen to turn it around and surely they can do that normally we’d say look out for Eden Hazard, but he has been woeful in 2015. A bounceback would be nice.
