Liverpool v MAN CITY: Carling Cup PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
24 Jan
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Just three days after the thrilling last-gasp victory at home to Spurs, Man City face another crucial fixture, this time in the Carling Cup. A trip to Anfield is never the easiest trip, but when you’re travelling there already a goal down, it makes a difficult task that much tougher. A place at Wembley is up for grabs and it will need another superb team performance if the Blues are to progress to the final. The win against Tottenham should boost confidence and provide momentum so it promises to be a nail-biting second leg away to Liverpool.
In the first tie, at the Etihad Stadium, the visitors scored an early goal before sitting back in the second half and managed to prevent us from equalising. They were committed, resilient and although their tactics drew criticism for being overly negative, they were effective. Whether or not they replicate that plan at Anfield remains to be seen, but should they continue look as suspect at the back as they did against Bolton at the weekend, it should give us great hope.
Focusing on team selection and, at the time of writing, we have still not decided whether to appeal Mario Balotelli’s charge for violent conduct. Everything suggests that we won’t, meaning he will miss this and the next three games. That would then leave the problem of only two recognised strikers in Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero, so the onus is on them to score plenty of goal over the next few games.
In defence, Pablo Zabaleta and Aleks Kolarov are both pushing for places, whilst Vincent Kompany sits out this game as the final match of his four. Nigel De Jong and Adam Johnson could come into midfield, but I’d imagine Roberto Mancini won’t make too many changes from the side which defeated Spurs.
Here is the side that Mancini could select:
As touched on above, Liverpool looked decidedly dodgy against Bolton, shipping three goals to a side that have struggled to find the net. They did, however, defend superbly in the first tie and will hope to nullify our threat again this time around. Andy Carroll, whose form this season has been laughable, could relish the opportunity to test Stefan Savic but he will need some decent service first, meaning Stewart Downing will have to improve markedly. Craig Bellamy, always a thorn in our side, played against Bolton and may not be able to start again so soon afterwards.
Referee: Phil Dowd – This will be the fifth time this season that he has refereed the Blues. Was also in charge for the Community Shield, Spurs away, Blackburn away and Arsenal at home. We have won three and lost one of those games.
Prediction: Liverpool 1 – 1 MAN CITY – I can’t see the game being a very open affair and I expect chances to be at a premium. Goals to be scored by Steven Gerrard and Sergio Aguero.
Not a big game. Give a few the night off.
Please no Kolarov we might stand a chance then!
Agreed – although Clichy hasnt looked too comfortable in the past few games. I’ll be there though, row 9, come on you blue boys!
p.s MR AGUERO OR MR SILVA IF YOU ARE READING THIS I’LL BE IN A NAVY SUPERDRY COAT AND HAVE A GREY HAT ON WITH A BLUE AND WHITE SCARF….PLEASE CAN I HAVE YOUR SHIRT?
Just saw this and what a loser you sound! XD
What? You reckon we are going out on aggregate!! Nah, we are going to nick the victory and it’ll be a City v. Cardiff final at Wembley. Come on you blues!
Oh come on VeeFAB whatever happened to the power of positive thinking? Was this the spirit that overcame a 0-3 deficit with 10 men vs the 4th best team in blighty all those cup years ago? I think not. We will be 3-0 up with 10mins to play and despite a late 30yd screamer from Gerrard we will prevail. We will enjoy another trip to Wembereleee and Edna in the trophy room will be ordering another vat of Duraglit.
I predicted a defeat to Utd (6-1), a draw against Spurs (5-1) and another draw with Spurs (3-2). This negative predicting is all part of a tactical masterplan.
What kind of City’s fan are you?… You think and act as a DT and use this forum to proclaim your sympathy and loyalty to the blues, when in reality you are nothing more than a United fan in disguise… You never, ever put down the club… I sincerely wish you bet against the City, so you can lose everything you have: Possessions, family and what is left of your dignity… Do a favor to all the City’s fans and “GET A LIFE”… Adios Amigo…
out of curiosity, what incidents or comments are you referring to here?
Crickey! Who knew Kaiser Sosay was a blue? We’re everywhere.
You can win the league carrying one bad defender but not 3. Savic has the potential to be a good defender but throwing him in at the deep end will not work, he is not ready yet. Kolorov is not good enough to wear the City blue, simples. Sure he has scored a few goals for us but he is not Premiership material.
Lescott is a mid table team player like Everton. Back 4 should be Zab, Micah, Nedum, Clichy.
If we play the back 4 you chose we will lose and could even make Carroll look like a top striker.
I am City through and through, I am not being negative just realistic.
You can score as many goals as you like but if you let in more at the other end, guess what, you lose. Our defence, at this moment in time is not good. We should buy Samba from Blackburn. Good solid defender with a proven record in the Premiership.
CTID
Personally, I do not give a darn about this cup, though I wish City’s victory as long as it does not cost us players and EPL game. I could not be happier that we are out of FA cup as well.
It was not long time ago, I had nick-named Lescott a goof-ball,but he has upped his game very well [credit to him] and I am sure Savic and Dezko would come good. As for Kolarov, he simply seems not good enough as a defender.