MX23RW : Monday, November 25 07:27:04| >> :120:37158:37158:
[monks data]
Manchester City logo
Premier League
Dec 26, 2013 at 5.30pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

2-1

Kompany (31'), Negredo (45')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Coutinho (24')

Preview: Manchester City vs. Liverpool

Sports Mole previews the mouth-watering Boxing Day top-of-the-table clash between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad.

Manchester City host Liverpool in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day.

City currently sit third in the Premier League table and could move top of the pile with a win depending on results elsewhere.

The hosts have been in unstoppable form at home this season, winning all eight of their league matches and only failing to score fewer than three goals in a game on one occasion.

Their results at the Etihad include a 4-1 win over Manchester United, a 6-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur and a 6-3 win over Arsenal in their latest outing in front of their own goal-spoiled fans.

Norwich have also been dispatched 7-0 and Newcastle hit for four on the way to a staggering 35 goals at home already this season, with just five conceded in that time.

Home and away, City are unbeaten in their last nine games and have been installed as the new favourites for the Premier League title following their emphatic victory over Arsenal.

It is not all good news for City, however, as they will be without top scorer Sergio Aguero and fan-favourite Pablo Zabaleta, meaning that Edin Dzeko and Gael Clichy are expected to start once again.

Manuel Pellegrini is also likely to keep faith in Joe Hart, who returned to Premier League action in the win over Fulham in City's last match.

While City's scoring statistics are intimidating, Liverpool are certainly not short of goals themselves this season. They have netted 42 times in the league so far, a tally only City can better.

In Luis Suarez they have arguably the most in-form player in world football right now, with the Uruguayan scoring 19 goals in just 12 appearances so far this season, including at least two goals in each of his last four matches.

The Reds currently sit top of the table, the first time that they have occupied that position at Christmas for five years, but they could end the day as low as fifth if results elsewhere go against them.

Brendan Rodgers's side thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 5-0 in their last away game, but that is their only win on their travels in their last five matches, a run that included a shock defeat to Hull City.

The visitors have a number of injury problems, with Jon Flanagan potentially joining Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Jose Enrique and Sebastian Coates on the sidelines, leaving Liverpool with just 17 fit players for the festive period.

Recent form

Man City: WDWWWW

Liverpool: DLWWWW

Possible starting lineups

Man City: Hart; Clichy, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Touré; Navas, Silva, Nasri; Negredo

Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Sakho, Skrtel, Flanagan; Allen, Lucas, Henderson; Coutinho, Suarez, Sterling

Sports Mole says: 3-1


ID:126493: cacheID:126493:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5885:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
 Brendan Rodgers, manager of Liverpool looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Liverpool at KC Stadium on December 1, 2013
Read Next:
Rodgers reveals Liverpool injury problems
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!