Liverpool v Manchester City: Can the Reds give City the blues?
The champions Manchester City head to Anfield this afternoon looking to achieve something that they have only managed once in Premier League history . . . win at Anfield. Roberto Mancini's men may be the team to beat this season, but Liverpool always seem to have the measure of their opponents, particularly at home.
Nicolas Anelka was City's hero back in May 2003 when his second half brace ensured a historic win for the visitors. Today, Tevez and Toure will be looking to emulate the Frenchman.
And the visitors will feel that they will not have a better chance of beating Liverpool at Anfield than now. Brendan Rodgers needs to be given time to implement his ideas and beliefs at the club, but their 3-0 opening day defeat at West Brom has done him no favours at all. However, every team raises their game when the champions are in town and Liverpool will be desperate to get off to a winning start in front of the Kop.
Luis Suarez has come under fire for his performance last weekend, although no Liverpool player really came away from the Hawthorns with their head held high.
Manchester City were given a scare in their opening fixture too, as newly-promoted Southampton played their part in a five-goal thriller. With Aguero out for about a month, City will need Tevez, Dzeko and Balotelli to step up their game.
Historically this is a game where Liverpool have dominated - they have won almost twice as many as City in head-to-head meetings - but City are the champions and Liverpool are a team in transition. Surprisingly our pundits see this as a done deal for the visitors.
Liverpool v Manchester
City; Kick Off 4pm
August 26 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Shub Chaterjee |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Callum Rothwell |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
|
Alex Richert |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
3 |
|
John Jaycock |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Spurs |
Mike Richards |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hossiennia |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
0 |
V |
4 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
1 |
V |
2 |
Panel Verdict
Looks like Liverpool's losing start is set to continue.
Home: 1; Draw: 1; Away: 31. TBA 1
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
Squarefootball's Team of the Week: Man City's Nasri made the cut, but who else made it into our starting XI? Mitch Waddon reaveals all here
