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Premier League Preview: Liverpool - Manchester City
Staying In The Race
Rafa Benitez heads into one of the most crucial phases in his Liverpool tenure as he searches for the elusive domestic title that has evaded the Spaniard since arriving on Merseyside.
The Mighty Reds sit eight points behind Manchester United and need to win against Manchester City to remain in touching distance of last year's champions. The Anfield outfit relinquished their league leading status as Manchester United began their amazing fourteen game clean-sheet run, which was ended by Blackburn after playing 1,334 without conceding a goal. Benitez will be eager to stay close to the Red Devils but will have a tricky tie in the shape of the unpredictable City.
The return to form of Fernando Torres comes as a relief to the Spanish gaffer who already off-loaded Robbie Keane in the January transfer window after the Irishman failed to impress as Torres' strike partner.
With three goals from two games, El Nino's return to form might give the Liverpool the push they need to truly re-enter the title race. However, Benitez has several key injury concerns on his hands for this crucial encounter, especially with the tantalising date with Real Madrid in the Champions League looming on the horizon.
Controlling The Circus
Mark Hughes has been managing more off-the-field than on it in the last few weeks as he has had to deal with the Kaka debacle and two first-team player arrests, all while trying to shape and steer a side towards a successful run of results.
The former Blackburn manager has found nothing easy since arriving at Manchester City in the summer, yet simply finding himself still with a job after the Citizens' inconsistent run of form under immense media and boardroom pressure is impressive at this point of the campaign.
The Blues still find themselves in the hunt for silverware via the UEFA Cup, although they stammered slightly in midweek when they twice gave up the lead to allow FC Copenhagen to earn a draw in the first lef of the round of 32 clash.
The disappointing meltdown, coupled with their dismal performance against Portsmouth last weekend, will have Hughes desperate for a good result, but points may be hard to come by at Anfield this weekend. If the Citizens are to take anything away from it, they will have to be at their best.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Liverpool 1-1 Everton (EA)
Wigan 1-1 Liverpool (EPL)
Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (EPL)
Everton 1-0 Liverpool (FA)
Portsmouth 2-3 Liverpool (EPL)
Manchester City
Man City 1-0 Wigan (EPL)
Man City 2-1 Newcastle (EPL)
Stoke 1-0 Man City (EPL)
Man City 1-0 Middlesbrough (EPL)
Portsmouth 2-0 Man City (EPL)
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Benitez will not be risking the hamstrung Steven Gerrard for this clash ahead of the Reds Champions League encounter with Madrid this Wednesday. But midfielder Lucas returns after serving his ban following his dismissal against Everton.
Xabi Alonso, on the other hand, will miss out as he serves his own one-match suspension.
Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres should find themselves in the starting line-up after coming on as subs against Portsmouth in the last round of the Premier League.
Squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio, Dossena, Babel, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Torres, Kuyt, Ngog, Cavalieri, Spearing, El Zhar.
Manchester City
Shaun Wright-Phillips will serve the second of his three-match suspension, while Richard Dunne makes his first appearance back since his four-match ban for kicking out at Amr Zaki.
Micah Richards recovered to play against Copenhagen midweek after missing last weekend’s tussle with Portsmouth, and should be fit to start against Liverpool.
Both Nedum Onuoha and Vincent Kompany have impressed while deputising, yet with Dunne returning from suspension one will have to make way for the captain’s comeback.
Nigel De Jong should return to the starting line-up after not making the UEFA Cup squad list, while Gelson Fernandes remains out with a hamstring injury.
Squad: Given, Hart, Schmeichel, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Kompany, Bridge, Garrido, Zabaleta, Elano, Caicedo, Ireland, Robinho, Bellamy, Vassell, Weiss, Logan, Evans, Berti.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool
Fernando Torres has three goals in his last two games and has found his form at the right time. When it seemed injuries were going to get the better of the Spaniard this season, he has bounced back to show his true form and will lead the line as the Reds look to challenge for the Premier League title.
Manchester City
Feisty Welshman Craig Bellamy returns to Anfield, and to yet another one of his old clubs, as the striker looks to continue his impressive scoring run. He may not be the target man Hughes had in mind for the January window, yet his pace, finishing, and experience have earned City valuable points since his arrival.
PREDICTION
Benitez knows that now is the time to claim maximum points, as the Spaniard had commented that his side must win their remaining fixtures just to have a shot at the title. While playing the unpredictable City can be tough, Benitez will like his odds given his opponents' horrendous away form this campaign. After coming back to snatch three points from the jaws of defeat last time this two sides met, Benitez will be hoping to make it more comfortable this time around.
Although they won’t claim it, some Manchester United fans could be hoping for a City victory in this fixture so that their side can build a bigger gap at the top of the Premier League board. Mark Hughes will have to shake up his under-performing side away from home, with Robinho in particular failing to impress away from Eastlands. Elano could be dispatched again to replace the suspended Wright-Phillips, but City have done little to prove they’ve put their inconsistencies behind them. Goal
Six-shooters Real fire Liverpool warning, Barcelona taste derby defeat
Real Madrid sent an emphatic warning to Champions League opponents Liverpool on Saturday when they thrashed Real Betis 6-1 to move seven points behind leaders Barcelona, who suffered a shock 2-1 derby defeat against Espanyol.
Real scored all their goals in a terrific first half to record a ninth straight league win and they are brimming with confidence for Wednesday's last 16 Champions League match with Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"I never said the league wasn't on," said Real coach Juande Ramos.
"Just like we had a dip in the first half of the season - due to injuries and other factors - other teams will have the same experience over a long season.
"We are closer to Barcelona but they still have a significant advantage and seven points is still a lot."
Barcelona travel to Lyon on Tuesday for their European clash and will be kicking themselves after the loss to Espanyol, who won at Camp Nou for the first time since 1982.
Old boy Ivan de la Pena, who played at Barcelona from 1995 to 1998, scored twice to gun down his old club, who had Seydou Keita sent off after 37 minutes.
It was Barcelona's first defeat since the opening day of the season, ending their 22-match unbeaten run and in just a fortnight Real have sliced their lead from 12 points to seven.
"Nobody said it was going to be easy," said Barca coach Pep Guardiola. "We have lost today but we are still in a strong position and will recover from this setback."
Guardiola refused to criticise referee Delgado Ferreira for sending off Keita but team-mate Xavi didn't mince his words.
"The referee got it (Keita's sending off) wrong," fumed Xavi. "He decided the game and apart from that he didn't allow it to flow at all."
Real took full advantage with Gonzalo Higuain opening the scoring in the seventh minute with his 14th goal of the season before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice.
Liverpool needn't worry about Dutch forward Huntelaar scoring against them as UEFA rules forced Real to omit the 20-million-euro signing from the Champions League squad with Lass Diarra grabbing the final place.
Captain Raul will be available though, and the veteran striker scored a quick-fire brace, in the 36th and 42nd minutes, as Real led 6-1 at the interval.
Ricardo Oliviera, a nine-million-euro signing from Real Zaragoza, had pulled a goal back on the half hour mark for Betis and it was the first goal Real had conceded in five league matches.
Sergio Ramos completed the first half rout.
Barcelona have been cruising for most of this season but have hit a rocky patch with the Betis draw followed up by defeat to Espanyol.
Thierry Henry spurned a great chance after 13 minutes heading over from close range after Lionel Messi's great cross.
It was a fast-paced match and on 37 minutes Keita was red-carded for a late tackle on Moises Hurtado giving Barcelona an uphill task.
Guardiola was furious about the decision while Keita looked stunned, probably expecting a yellow card rather than a red.
Five minutes into the second half it got worse for Barcelona when old boy de la Pena headed the visitors in front. The 32-year-old then scored again five minutes later with a terrific chip.
Yaya Toure gave Barcelona hope with a 62nd-minute strike but Espanyol held on to triumph in a heated game which produced ten yellow cards and one red.
For Espanyol it was a first victory since the beginning of November and they move off the foot of the table with Numancia taking their place.
Elsewhere, Villarreal went fourth thanks to a 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon with a Joan Capdevila free-kick securing the win.
Sevilla cemented their third position with a late 1-0 win over Champions League rivals Atletico Madrid.
Jesus Navas scored the winner four minutes from time to help Sevilla move three points clear of Villarreal while Atletico stay sixth eight points adrift of Sevilla. AFP
Late victory edges Inter closer to Scudetto
Teenage striker Mario Balotelli scored a late winner as Inter Milan claimed a 2-1 victory at Bologna to open-up a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A, prior to second-placed Juventus facing Palermo in Saturday's evening match.
Balotelli scored direct from a free-kick wide on the left with eight minutes remaining as Inter delivered a perfect warm-up for next Tuesday's titanic Champions League last 16 clash against holders Manchester United.
Inter went ahead in the 57th minute when Adriano headed down Maicon's corner to Esteban Cambiasso, who was left unmarked to control the ball before rifling home into the roof of the net.
But the home side surprisingly equalized 11 minutes from time when Miguel Britos glanced home a header from a corner, despite Cambiasso standing next to the post.
Inter coach Jose Mourinho immediately responded by throwing Balotelli on as a substitute and the decision paid dividends with his match-winning free-kick, although the positioning of goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli appeared suspect.
Marco Di Vaio could have snatched a draw in the final minute but Julio Cesar made a superb save from his close-range header.
Meanwhile, Roma set themselves up for next week's Champions League visit to Arsenal by moving up to fourth in the table with a 1-0 home win over Siena.
Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei's superb curling effort gave Roma the points, moving them to within two points of third-placed AC Milan. CNN International
