Credit: GETTY IMAGESManchester City and Liverpool are the favourites with bookmakers to win the Capital One Cup having been kept apart in the semi-final draw. City continued to grow under Mancini and Pellegrini, winning two top-flight titles in three seasons, and a B#265million investment from China this week suggests they could soar to another level yet.
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Liverpool won over Swansea City 1-0 to get another victory, while Manchester City won 3-1 against Southampton to stay atop the table.
If there is any opposition in the league capable of exposing this weakness than it is the Premier League top scorers Manchester City.
Kompany is now sidelined by a calf injury while right-back Pablo Zabaleta is out with a knee problem, and both may not return before Christmas.
Stoke City will host the semifinal first game at The Brittania Stadium on January 5. “That depends on the style, in the work, but it is important not to give advantage in the options you have to buy those players”.
Pellegrini believes City are one of a cluster of teams that can compete for the world’s best and said he is always interested in signing high-quality players.
City, top on goal difference ahead of Leicester, could welcome back striker Sergio Aguero and goalkeeper Joe Hart from injury for the game at the Britannia Stadium where they have not lost since 2009.
Origi grabbed a further two goals in the second half while Jordon Ibe added another to wrap up an emphatic 6-1 win, booking their place in the semi-finals against Stoke. “We have to play football” will be Liverpool’s motto during the next two months. They will look to link up with lone striker Jonathan Walters and forward Mame Biram Diouf could well make an impact coming off the bench.
Stoke City are without Shay Given, Peter Crouch and Peter Odemwingie through injury.
And Pellegrini feels City have achieved a stature which allows them to compete with Europe’s elite clubs for the game’s top talents. “If everything goes well, I will return to the club of my heart at the age of 31”.
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Even without their injured group of players, Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and the recently returned Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should have more than enough to trouble a defence that has conceded 26 goals in 14 matches this term. Middlesbrough, who knocked out Manchester United in the fourth round, saw their luck run out against Everton while Stoke was the end of the road for Arsenal’s conquerors Wednesday.
