City went into the global break on a dour scoreless draw at Aston Villa on November 8.
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The Sterling and Milner factors add extra spice to today’s intriguing Barclays Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Christian Benteke will have been more pleased than most at Anfield when Jurgen Klopp was confirmed as the club’s new manager earlier this season.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini spoke of his anger after the game, describing the performance as a “disaster”, but must now focus on Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Juventus.
This allows Klopp to field a four-pronged attacking line, with three midfielders supporting a lone striker.
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino crosses the ball which is then turned… If they can keep him fit for 80 per cent of the rest of the season, City are going to win the league.
Liverpool could have pulled further ahead of their opponents on the hour mark, as Hart again denied Firmino from a one-on-one opportunity, while Coutinho had a goal disallowed for offside moments later.
The 20-year-old has settled well at City, and already scored six goals for his new club, and Pellegrini hopes he can embrace the next challenge against his old club.
“The way we played in the first half was brilliant”.
After a couple of surges forward from the men in red, Martin Skrtel finaly got another one for The Reds as rattled the net to make it 4-1 with ten minutes remaining.
“We have quality. We could have more goals, but 4-1 is ideal”.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini made two changes at the interval with the momentum having slightly shifted in his side’s favor following Aguero’s strike. “He will be a very important player not only for Man City but for England”.
But David Silva and Vincent Kompany are unavailable due to their respective ankle and calf problems.
Liverpool started brightly and punished City seven minutes in – Bacary Sagna was caught in possession at right-back, and Firmino’s low cross to the near post was finished by Mangala as he struggled to readjust his feet.
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10th place Liverpool will be out to cut the gap on leaders Manchester City when they travel to the Etihad on Saturday evening.
