Preview
City to spar with Suárez and co. for Boxing Day top spot
Manchester City will host a luxuriant Liverpool side on Boxing Day in a stadium that has been fittingly dubbed the 'Coliseum of Catastrophe'. On home turf, Manuel Pellegrini's savage sleigh has been delivering gifts all year for a salivating City crowd, however, visitors of the Etihad have only left with lumps of coal.
The fearsome form of Luis Suárez has fired Brendan Rodger's men to the top of the tree for the first time since 2008. However, the Uruguayan will be aiming to convert his 19 goals into glory as Fernando Torres failed to do five years ago when Manchester United overhauled their rivals and won the Premier League title. The charismatic conduct of the ubiquitous Uruguayan combined with the recent signing of a new four-and-a-half-year contract has certainly made for a magical Christmas on Merseyside.
(Suárez has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 19 goals in just 12 appearances)
Despite his side's lustrous lead at the top of the table, Liverpool's Northern Irish legislature still believes 'the title is Manchester City's to lose'. In an interview with BBC Sport, Rodgers insisted his Boxing Day adversaries 'have the strongest squad' and couldn't help but make a predictably tedious reference to the blues' wealth, stating 'the resources they have are incredible'. The mind games may have materialised early on, but Manuel's minions have no reason to crumble ahead of the huge home fixture.
However, unfortunately for the Chilean chancellor, Manchester City's very own oracle will be prevented from outshining arguably the league's best player on Thursday. Sergio Agüero's rampant goalscoring form was cruelly cancelled by a calf injury suffering in City's extraordinary 6-3 over Arsenal on the 14th December. Questions were raised as to whether the blues could continue their perpetual peppering of the nets of their opponents, but seven goals in two games since the Argentine's injury has cooled concerns.
One South American who could make a swift return to action is full-back Pablo Zabaleta. City's 'Mr.Bump' limped off with a hamstring injury during the blues' 3-1 over Leicester City in the quarter-final of the Capital One Cup last week but has returned to training ahead of the colossal clash. Gaël Clichy's glitchy performance against Fulham in an unfamiliar role will have Manchester City fans purring over Goal.com's latest news, but the in-form James Milner offers another exciting option should Zabaleta remain on the sidelines.
(Pablo Zabaleta could make an unforeseen return to action on Thursday according to Goal.com)
Manchester City's prowess in front of goal has been perpetually praised this season, but 17 goals in their last four games make Liverpool a formidable foe. In their 2011/2012 title winning season, Roberto Mancini's men scored an outstanding 53 goals in 18 games before the new year. With 51 goals currently recorded in 17 games, a convicing win against the league leaders on Thursday could catapult Pellegrini's performers to yet another tantalising title win.
2-1
Line-Ups
The prospect of a Pablo return will certainly relieve City fears ahead of Luis Suárez's visit to the Etihad. The Argentine is reportedly training with the City squad again after suffering a hamstring injury in Manchester City's 3-1 over Leicester City, however, Manuel Pellegrini may not want to rush such a crucial player back into action.
When he's not injured, he's ill, but Stevan Jovetić has not been ruled out of the Boxing Day clash. The Montenegrin is yet to make an impact on the first team and has endured a tough start to life in Manchester with injuries plaguing his £22m move.
(Stevan Jovetić could make a return to the bench on Thursday)
Injuries to Steven Gerrard, who loves playing against Manchester City, and Daniel Sturridge will make Brendan Rodger's task a little more intimidating come Thursday, however, the Merseyside outfit have coped courageously in the absence of two of their key players.
Possible line-ups
Manchester City: Hart, Milner, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov, Navas, Silva, Yaya Touré, Fernandinho, Nasri, Negredo
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Škrtel, Sakho, Flanagan, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Sterling, Suárez, Coutinho
Key Players
Yaya Touré
Yaya Touré
The big game player has one of his biggest to perform in on Thursday and the free-kick specialist will have to be at his best to drive City to a crucial win. With Steven Gerrard watching on from the sidelines, the Ivorian beast has the perfect opportunity to control the midfield with his power and that will ultimately decide who wins the match.
Luis Suárez
With the whole world talking about the Uruguayan, there's no man City should fear more than Luis Suárez. With 19 goals in 12 games, the South American is on course to claim his first ever Premier League Golden Boot and he'll be hopeful of punishing a shaky Manchester City defence on Thursday.
Head to Head Stats
- Liverpool have not beaten Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium since October 2008
- The last two meetings between the teams have ended in 2-2 draws
- The fixture has been played 10 times at the Etihad Stadium with Manchester City winning on three occasions
- Liverpool have won twice at the Etihad Stadium, with the remaining five fixtures ending in draws
- Since the Premier League began, Liverpool have beaten Manchester City on 75 occasions
- Manchester City have beaten Liverpool only 39 times in the league
Premier League stats
- Manchester City (51) are the only team to score more goals than Liverpool (42) this season
- The two teams have similar defensive records, Manchester City (18) conceding one more than Liverpool's (17) goals
- Both clubs (13) have scored the same amount of goals from free-kicks
- Liverpool have been slightly more accurate in front of goal than Manchester City (40%) with 41% of their shots hitting the target
- Liverpool (236) have created 6 more chances than Manchester City (260) this season
