If this match is anything like the one we seen at 'The City of Manchester stadium', then we are surely in for a treat. Mark Hughes takes his struggling City outfit to Anfield this Sunday as they look to avoid a league double against Liverpool. The reds had to come from behind to win in Manchester earlier in the season winning 3-2. Rafael Benitez will be hoping for s smoother ride to three points at Anfield this Sunday.
The best piece of news that Benitez heard this week was that Fernando Torres came back from the Spanish friendly with England unharmed and should feature from the off for their clash with Man City. Torres has a history of returning from International duty with a knock so it will be refreshing to see Torres play for once after playing for his country. Xabi Alonso also played for Spain and returned home without any form of an injury so Benitez has a full strength side bar their captain, Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool simply must win if they are to maintain their challenge for the title and a poor result on Sunday could see them forfeit any title ambitions they had. That isn't unlikely though with Liverpool's home record being a poor one at 7-5-0. They have yet to lose at Anfield this season but several of the poorer sides in the league have left with the share of the spoils and it has cost Liverpool dearly. Will the absence of Steven Gerrard prove crucial and lead to yet more dropped points? We think not.
Man City have been hopeless on the road this season and it would take a mammoth performance from the blues for them to wreck Liverpool's unbeaten home record for the season. Their defeat at Fratton Park to Portsmouth was their seventh away defeat of the season and now leaves their away record looking very shabby at 1-4-7. Their only away victory came three games into the season when they beat Sunderland 3-0. They have failed to perform anywhere near that level since and have duly paid the price.
City have reached the heights of the top half of the table but not without weeks or trying. Their recent form has improved but all there recent wins have come at home. They have lost two away matches on the bounce to both Stoke City and Portsmouth and we simply cannot find any hope for Mark Hughes side this Sunday.
The best piece of news that Benitez heard this week was that Fernando Torres came back from the Spanish friendly with England unharmed and should feature from the off for their clash with Man City. Torres has a history of returning from International duty with a knock so it will be refreshing to see Torres play for once after playing for his country. Xabi Alonso also played for Spain and returned home without any form of an injury so Benitez has a full strength side bar their captain, Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool simply must win if they are to maintain their challenge for the title and a poor result on Sunday could see them forfeit any title ambitions they had. That isn't unlikely though with Liverpool's home record being a poor one at 7-5-0. They have yet to lose at Anfield this season but several of the poorer sides in the league have left with the share of the spoils and it has cost Liverpool dearly. Will the absence of Steven Gerrard prove crucial and lead to yet more dropped points? We think not.
Man City have been hopeless on the road this season and it would take a mammoth performance from the blues for them to wreck Liverpool's unbeaten home record for the season. Their defeat at Fratton Park to Portsmouth was their seventh away defeat of the season and now leaves their away record looking very shabby at 1-4-7. Their only away victory came three games into the season when they beat Sunderland 3-0. They have failed to perform anywhere near that level since and have duly paid the price.
City have reached the heights of the top half of the table but not without weeks or trying. Their recent form has improved but all there recent wins have come at home. They have lost two away matches on the bounce to both Stoke City and Portsmouth and we simply cannot find any hope for Mark Hughes side this Sunday.
