A trip to the Etihad Stadium is hardly an ideal place to get back on track, but Liverpool may have cause for encouragement.
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“I saw his first game for Liverpool – it was against Dortmund, when we lost by four”.
A fit Sturridge will be a big boost for Liverpool as his pace and Benteke’s strength can cause a lot of problems for City’s defense. “He has trained with us”.
“When new managers come in, all the players want to give 100 per cent and fight for everything possible”.
“I don’t know anything about Sterling’s story but I know about similar stories”, he explained.
Dirk Kuyt lashed home a last-minute victor when Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-2 in 2008 for what remains their last Premier League victory at the Etihad. Today was his third full exercise with the team after four-and-a-half to five weeks’ break.
“We will see what’s necessary and what’s not necessary, that’s how we work”.
Sturridge was brought up in City’s youth ranks, but left to join Chelsea, before he finally started fulfilling his potential at Anfield. With summer signing Christian Benteke now fully fit, Klopp has no reason to risk Sturridge breaking down once more. Maybe for James Milner it will be the same. Once Jordan Henderson returns – expected next week – one of Milner or Emre Can will be reduced to a squad role.
Manchester City: Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna, Eliaquim Mangala, Nicholas Otamendi, Aleksandar Kolarov, Fernandinho, Toure, De Bruyne, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, and Sergio Aguero.
The Liverpool striker has made just three appearances this campaign as he has battled back to fitness after a series of injuries. On the downside, captain Vincent Kompany is again sidelined by a calf problem while playmaker David Silva (ankle) and striker Wilfried Bony (hamstring) are also missing.
“He is ready to come back”.
Aguero, last season’s top Premier League goalscorer, has missed the club’s last seven matches in all competitions, but they have remained unbeaten in that time. Unfortunately also, Samir Nasri is injured.
“First of all we have to try to become a club in the future that nobody wants to leave”.
Manchester City may be the Premier League leaders but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not interested in who is the best in the league – unless it is his own side.
28 – Liverpool will face the sternest defence this weekend as Manchester City have allowed a league-low 28 shots on target prior to this weekend. Manuel Pellegrini’s side haven’t been spectacular but neither has anyone else, and they now look in the strongest position to go on and win the title. Luckily for him, he’ll have the friendly confines of the Ethiad to help drown out the boo birds from Liverpool fans.
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City failed to score against Aston Villa in their last game before the global break, but have shown an ability to bounce back strongly from poor performances this season.
