This is a really interesting match up betseen perhaps the two teams mosat likely to fight it out for that crucial fourth placed spot which of course secures Champions League qualification.
Man City will be delighted with Mancini s start to his career as Manchester City coach, but as was noted early in his tenure, the fixtures list was very kind to him. With nine or ten eminently winnable games to kick off his new job, it was always likely that the blues would march up the league. However, the last cople of results could have been better and there is now talk of just how important it is for Mancini to make fourth spot by the end of the season. Word has it that the board will accept nothing less, and this sort of pressure may just begin to tell on Mancini. Of course they have an enviable squad with strength in depth, and with only Bellamy and occasional bench warmer Johnson unavailable, we can expect Man City to field a very strong team.
After a disastrous start to this season, Liverpool have quietly gone about toughening up their play and grinding out crucial wins. So much so that they are now just one point behind City in fifth place, albeit having played one more game than their Lancashire rivals. Liverpool are now one of the form sides in the league, although they themselves have had a fairly easy run of games recently. Without Torres, much will depend on Gerrard performing in midfield, and the performance of Manchester City s shaky and unsettled defence.
This is an incredibly tough match to call, but I am going to go with home advantage and side with a very marginal City home win
Verdict: Manchester City Home Win
Odds: 6/4
Bookmaker:
