Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Liverpool vs Manchester City
When: Sunday 27th November, 2011, at 16:00 UK Time
Where: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Preaching Patience
Liverpool may have scored a valuable win away to Chelsea last weekend, but manager Kenny Dalglish has preached patience to the club’s fans ahead of this vital clash against Manchester City. The Reds have struggled for goals at times this season, understandably leading to points dropped in winnable games, but Liverpool are still very much in touch with the top five.
Indeed, the Merseyside giants know that little separates them from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the mix for a Champions League spot, while Manchester City and Manchester United are still expected to finish one step ahead.
And with the margin between success and failure this season wafer thin, Dalglish’s call for fans to allow him time to build is entirely understandable.
"In this world, patience is something that’s in short demand with social networking – most things are instantaneous", said Dalglish. "But getting success in football doesn’t work like that", he added.
Still, Liverpool are well capable of equalling their heroics of last season here, when City visited and were sent home reeling off the back of a 3-0 defeat; and should that happen again, all Dalglish’s words will not be able to halt the tide of optimism washing over Anfield.
Domestic Comforts
It is a mystery why Manchester City have found the Champions League such a tough task so far this season. Despite being drawn in a difficult looking Group A with Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal, the Citizens have the quality and, more importantly, the European know-how, to compete and to compete well. But at times Roberto Mancini’s men have looked as if they have erased their Champions League experience in fitting with this being the Citizens’ first ever campaign at Europe’s top table.
Back in the Premier League however, no such concerns pervade. City have been all-conquering, powerful and ruthless. Top spot is deserved and local rivals Manchester United have been left trailing in a sky blue wake. Mancini has avoided European overhangs up until now and, after losing at Napoli in midweek, must continue the trend against what he admits is a strong Liverpool outfit.
"Liverpool will be a very hard game tomorrow, because Liverpool for me is a strong team. They are eleven, twelve points under us, but I think they have a team to win the Premier League, because for me they are a really strong team", said the Italian.
Recent form
Liverpool:
West Brom 0-2 Liverpool (29/10; Premier League)
Liverpool 0-0 Swansea (05/11; Premier League)
Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool (20/11; Premier League)
Manchester City:
Queens Park Rangers 2-3 Manchester City (05/11; Premier League)
Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United (19/11; Premier League)
Napoli 2-1 Manchester City (22/11; Champions League)
Key absences
Liverpool: Steven Gerrard
Manchester City: Carlos Tevez (AWOL)
Players to watch
Liverpool – Jose Reina: The Spanish shot-stopper must surely be classed as one of Liverpool’s world-class performers and this is a game in which he is certain to be tested. Reina is desperate to return to the Champions League stage and further Liverpool absence from the competition would put a question mark over his future.
Manchester City – James Milner: This clash at Anfield may well require City players to knuckle down to weather a home storm at some point and Milner is well capable of putting in a shift. The England star’s crossing ability should also pose a threat, with no shortage of aerial talent in the City side.
Match Prediction
Last season Liverpool overwhelmed Manchester City here, powered by the feel-good factor generated by Kenny Dalglish. The Reds will undoubtedly adopt a high tempo game to seek to do the same thing, but Roberto Mancini is now well aware of the potential for a slip-up at Anfield. While unlikely to take the three points, City have the power to weather the storm and claim a share of the spoils. Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City.
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