Liverpool – Manchester City 1st March 2015 Match Preview
Liverpool were forced to extra time and penalties against Besiktas in the Europa League and such a defeat will have been a real blow to their confidence ahead of a high-profile meeting with Manchester City. It will be extremely difficult for Liverpool to maintain their usual levels of intensity throughout this match so City should come out fast and look to exploit any fatigue from their hosts. The likes of Gerrard, Henderson, Sakho and Johnson could all return to contention having missed out on the Europa League defeat to Besiktas. Lazar Markovic will be available after serving his European suspension but might not make it into the starting XI ahead of Coutinho. Sakho should replace Dejan Lovren, who missed the decisive penalty on Thursday, with Emre Can moving back into the defence. Pellegrini’s men may have lost to Barcelona but Joe Hart’s last minute penalty save will have at least given them some hope and they must return to winning ways in the league to keep the pressure on Chelsea at the top. City has a fully fit squad to choose from, with Yaya Toure fresh having missed the midweek defeat to Barcelona through suspension and Mangala in competition with Demichelis at the back while the likes of Fernandinho and Kolarov will hope to return to the side that hammered Newcastle 5-0 last weekend.
A top Football Tipster would suggest a victory for City, but can Liverpool bounce back from a tough night in Istanbul?
Our Probable Formations:
Liverpool (3.4.3) Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Ibe, Henderson, Allen, Moreno, Coutinho, Sturridge and Sterling.
Manchester City (4.4.2) Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Nasri, Fernandinho, Touré, Silva, Dzeko and Aguero.
BetAdvisor Top Tips:
Liverpool have scored at least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 home matches against Man City in all competitions.
Liverpool are undefeated in their last 10 matches in the Premier League.
Liverpool have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 7 matches against Man City in all competitions.
Liverpool are undefeated in their last 12 home matches against Man City in all competitions.
Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 6 matches in the Premier League.
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Liverpool’s last 6 games in the Premier League.
Man City are undefeated in 16 of their last 17 matches in the Premier League.
Man City have scored at least 2 goals in their last 7 matches against Liverpool in all competitions