Watch Man City v Liverpool Live
Manchester City and Liverpool will on Tuesday night begin what over the space of the next month is set to become a more than familiar rivalry.
The respective teams of Roberto Mancini and Kenny Dalglish will face each other three times in January and the first match, before a two-legged Carling Cup semi-final, comes in the Premier League. City will be frustrated men going into the game at the Etihad Stadium after an incredibly dramatic defeat by Sunderland on New Year's Day prevented them from restoring a three-point lead at the top of the table.
Mancini had seen Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea drop points on New Year's Eve before they themselves suffered what was a shock loss at the Stadium of Light. Chelsea on Monday recovered with a win against Wolves to give Andre Villas-Boas' team some hope of re-entering the title race, but Arsenal's demoralising loss at Fulham leaves Arsene Wenger's aspirations looking bleak.
City will therefore want to defeat Liverpool to further damage the hopes of Arsenal, while restoring an 11-point gap to Chelsea and also putting pressure on United, who on Wednesday have a difficult trip to Newcastle. Liverpool, though, will make the short trip to Manchester comparatively well-rested in what is always a busy time of year having not played since last Friday when they recorded a confidence-boosting win over Newcastle.
Dalglish's team currently sit sixth, but they could move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea with a win against City and the Reds have insisted Mancini's men hold no fear going into the game. Liverpool have this season won more games away from Anfield, where six draws, including November's 1-1 result against City, is one of the main reasons why they are not already in the top four.
City striker Mario Balotelli, who was sent off at Anfield, could return for the home game against the Reds. The Italian was not risked in the New Year's Day defeat at Sunderland due to a slight ankle problem suffered in training. With no fresh injury concerns, Mancini has a full-strength squad - aside from the absent Carlos Tevez - and will consider changes for the second of two games in just over two days.
Liverpool, who are expected to use the match to pay tribute to Gary Ablett after their former player died over the weekend, are set to welcome back striker Luis Suarez. The Uruguay international served a one-match ban against Newcastle, but is likely to return to the starting line-up. Captain Steven Gerrard, a goalscorer against Newcastle, has made two substitute appearances totalling 52 minutes after two months out with an ankle infection and could be in contention to start.
Possible starting XIs:
Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Barry, Y.Toure, Milner, Silva, Aguero, Balotelli.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Adam, Spearing, Downing, Henderson, Bellamy, Suarez.
Mancini had seen Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea drop points on New Year's Eve before they themselves suffered what was a shock loss at the Stadium of Light. Chelsea on Monday recovered with a win against Wolves to give Andre Villas-Boas' team some hope of re-entering the title race, but Arsenal's demoralising loss at Fulham leaves Arsene Wenger's aspirations looking bleak.
City will therefore want to defeat Liverpool to further damage the hopes of Arsenal, while restoring an 11-point gap to Chelsea and also putting pressure on United, who on Wednesday have a difficult trip to Newcastle. Liverpool, though, will make the short trip to Manchester comparatively well-rested in what is always a busy time of year having not played since last Friday when they recorded a confidence-boosting win over Newcastle.
Dalglish's team currently sit sixth, but they could move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea with a win against City and the Reds have insisted Mancini's men hold no fear going into the game. Liverpool have this season won more games away from Anfield, where six draws, including November's 1-1 result against City, is one of the main reasons why they are not already in the top four.
City striker Mario Balotelli, who was sent off at Anfield, could return for the home game against the Reds. The Italian was not risked in the New Year's Day defeat at Sunderland due to a slight ankle problem suffered in training. With no fresh injury concerns, Mancini has a full-strength squad - aside from the absent Carlos Tevez - and will consider changes for the second of two games in just over two days.
Liverpool, who are expected to use the match to pay tribute to Gary Ablett after their former player died over the weekend, are set to welcome back striker Luis Suarez. The Uruguay international served a one-match ban against Newcastle, but is likely to return to the starting line-up. Captain Steven Gerrard, a goalscorer against Newcastle, has made two substitute appearances totalling 52 minutes after two months out with an ankle infection and could be in contention to start.
Possible starting XIs:
Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Barry, Y.Toure, Milner, Silva, Aguero, Balotelli.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Adam, Spearing, Downing, Henderson, Bellamy, Suarez.
