Preview: Man City vs L'pool

Liverpool face a tough visit to Eastlands and Rafa Benitez faces a huge defensive headache. The Spaniard has refused to give up on the Premiership race, but a trip to the City of Manchester is not an easy journey for the Liverpudlians who are now sitting seven points off the pace.

The Lowdown

The club with the joint best home record in the Premier League meets the one with the strongest away form. City have lost only 1 of 8 league outings, Liverpool have won 5 of 7 league games.

Injuries and Suspensions

Eriksson is likely to start Brazilian midfielder Elano and Dietmar Hamann, whilst Michael Johnson is missing with his injury.

Liverpool have a wealth of injury problems as Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger are all fighting to get themselves fit for this crucial Premiership clash.

Squads

Manchester City: Hart, Isaksson, Onuoha, Corluka, Sun, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Elano, Fernandes, Geovanni, Petrov, Mpenza, Vassell, Bianchi, Samaras.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hobbs, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Kewell, Voronin, Torres, Kuyt, Lucas, Agger, Itandje.

Eyefootball Premiership Predictor

MAN CITY 1-0 LIVERPOOL

A tough game to call, but City probably look stronger with their home advantage. Will be a cracking game nevertheless, and Bianchi looks to be a man in form.

Goalscorer: Rolando Bianchi