Liverpool and Manchester City go head-to-head at Anfield on Monday with one side having little to play for and the other facing a crucial five days which will define their season.
In the past you’d expect the team still fighting for honours to be the Reds but it is City who are still in the hunt for European football and the FA Cup. City manager Roberto Mancini certainly won’t be looking to far ahead, despite an FA Cup semi-final to come next Saturday, as he looks for his multi-million pound squad to make sure of Champions League football. In contrast all Liverpool have to look forward to is what the future might bring.
We preview what should be an intriguing contest on Merseyside on Monday night.
For City fans all that might be on their minds is the giant arch of Wembley and the chance to end rivals Manchester United’s hopes of winning the treble. However, Monday represents a tough challenge for City on their quest for Champions League football. Mancini says he wants his team to attack the challenge of securing a place in the top four in an aggressive fashion and got his wish last week when they tore Sunderland to pieces.
City (1/5 top four finish) were hardly challenged by the Black Cats but it was the way they went about finishing off the Wearsiders that was so impressive. Even Mario Balotelli looked to have the bit between his teeth last week and the Eastlands faithful will hope the Italian can continue to make amends after all his off and on-field exploits. Balotteli is 7/1 to be the unlikely hero and score the last goal in what is likely to be a tight game.
City have a rock solid defence and Mancini will set up his team first and foremost not to lose, despite his talk of being aggressive. It certainly won’t be as negative as the game at Chelsea but don’t expect them to be going gung-ho at Liverpool.
The Reds are liable to be fairly cautious themselves, based on how Dalglish has set up his team recently. With that in mind under 2.5 goals might be worth a look at 4/6, especially when you consider there has only been over three goals in total in one of the last five meetings at Anfield.
Liverpool haven’t had the best of weeks in the build-up to this game with the news Steven Gerrard will miss the rest of the season after a groin operation. He joins Daniel Agger in the stands for what remains of this campaign, while Dalglish won’t be able to call on Glen Johnson or Martin Kelly for this game.
The defeat at West Brom might have been hard on the Reds but they are looking like a team running on empty. Liverpool are eight points behind Tottenham in the battle for fifth and despite what they say many of the team looked to have given up on European football next season.
The Reds are there for the taking and it will be up to City to take advantage of them. With that in mind 17/10 for City to win looks a good value bet, despite Liverpool’s habit of upsetting the applecart in the past. The Reds are 13/8 to get the win, while the draw is 11/5. City could take a draw and still be comfortably in control of their own destiny in the race for the Champions League.
Don’t expect the game to be a great advert for the Premier League but it should have enough to keep City and Liverpool fans on the edge of their seats.
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