Alan Hansen’s Premier League Preview: Liverpool v Manchester City

The game of the weekend takes place at Anfield as Liverpool take on Man City with a number of intriguing sub-plots to the match. Rafa Benitez’ team find themselves a place lower than their opponents despite City having played a game less. My old club may have been one of the favourites for the title at the start of the campaign but they find themselves 11 points behind leaders Chelsea and now a top four place looks under threat from a number of sides including big spending City.

Liverpool may have the history and experience but financial resources play a big role in the modern game. The Citizens abundance of wealth and ambitious plans were expected to threaten Arsenal’s position as one of the big four but few expected it to be Rafa’s team. However, after losing five league games already, Liverpool need to stamp their authority on this match and I have a feeling they will.

Fernando Torres may be missing but Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger and Steven Gerrard may well be back and perhaps Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun too which will give the team far more creative and attacking options. Torres’ understudy David Ngog has improved dramatically this season and is likely to start in attack if he recovers from a broken nose unless Rafa opts for Dirk Kuyt through the middle who scored home and away against City last season.

Neither side is in great form although it’s Liverpool who’ve struggled more of late with one win in their last nine games in all competitions. Man City may have a plethora of top strikers but they’ve failed to kill off teams in recent weeks having recorded 5 successive draws. The Premier League record for successive draws is seven and City may see a point at Anfield as a good result but I don’t think they’ll get one.

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Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 8 league meetings with Man City home and away (5 wins). City have not won at Anfield in their last 6 visits (five defeats) although they did pick up a point in a 1-1 draw back in February. The Citizens have also won relatively recently at Liverpool in May 2003 but this remains their only success on the red side of Merseyside in 28 years and 18 league visits. Despite Liverpool’s superiority in recent clashes the last eight between these two at Anfield have been very tight. There has been one draw, six wins for Liverpool and one for City but all those victories were by a mere one-goal margin. I expect more of the same this weekend.

Mark Hughes’ new-look team may have only lost once in the league this season but I expect this to be number two as they face a stronger looking Liverpool side than in recent weeks which will be determined to stamp their big four credentials on their would-be top four rivals. Both teams may be looking vulnerable defensively but with a packed Anfield behind them, I’m backing the Reds to pick up a much-needed home win on Premier 10.

Tags: Alan Hansen, Liverpool, Manchester City, Premier 10, Premier League

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