EPL: Man City 0-0 Liverpool (30.12.07)

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sven Goran Eriksson's men won every one of their first nine league games at home this season, but were held 2-2 by Blackburn on Thursday night courtesy of a controversial late Roque Santa Cruz goal.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have endured an erratic month, recording resounding victories over Bolton (4-0), Marseille (4-0) and Portsmouth (4-1) along with defeats to Reading (3-1), Manchester United (1-0) and, in the Carling Cup, Chelsea (2-0), as well as the unconvincing last-gasp victory over Derby (2-1) on Boxing Day.

But Liverpool have been the best side on the road so far this season, winning six of their nine games to date with only one defeat.

Midfield duo return

Manchester City are likely to reintroduce midfield stars Elano and Dietmar Hamann to the starting line-up after they were left on the bench against Blackburn.

But Michael Johnson will not be included in the squad as he has a groin injury.

Defensive crisis

Liverpool, meanwhile, will have to work hard to contain the likes of Martin Petrov and Elano as they are currently facing up to a defensive crisis.

Rafa Benitez will have to do without Sami Hyypia, who limped off against Derby, while Daniel Agger may not recover in time from his foot injury.

That could mean youngster Jack Hobbs is thrown in alongside Jamie Carragher, but Liverpool can take some comfort from the news that Steve Finnan is yet to feel any ill effects after making his return from a calf injury against Derby.

"I feel all right," he told the club's official website. "Maybe it's the second or third game back when you start feeling it.

"The first game may not be as bad but, when it comes down to it, there's a good squad with good players here and it's up to the manager who he picks for each particular game.

"But he's put me in against Derby and it was good to get a bit of fitness back."

Source: Skysports

[Trim]

Team News: Elano replaces Bianchi in the City starting line-up.

City: Hart, Onuoha, Dunne (c), Richards, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Corluka, Petrov, Elano, Vassell. Subs: Isaksson, Garrido, Fernandes, Geovanni, Bianchi.

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Arbeola, Finnan, Kewell, Benayoun, Gerrard (c), Mascherano, Torres, Kuyt. Subs: Itandje, Riise, Babel, Alonso, Voronin

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[Zaphod]

I've been watching this. Nothing to get too excited over so far. Liverpool's had the best of the chances, but hopefully City can come up with something in the second half and pull it out.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

City didn't look interested to beat Liverpool today. I thought their ambition was to end up as number fourth but no. They are happy being behind Liverpool for sure. Second half was all Liverpool and City got the only thing they could get out of their performance: One point. I think Liverpool played well despite Torres was shite today. Mascherano was again outstanding but IMO Gerrard takes to much responsible sometimes. He can run more without the ball I think and get into the box. Babel should have join the game more early. Kuyt had again some strange touches but I think the effort in the game was with his heart for the club. He tries the best he can and I don't blame him. He's too slow and that's shows several times.

[NJ10]

Big chance missed there. After United slipped up and Arsenal/Chelsea dropped points on Boxing Day, we had a chance to move a touch closer over the Xmas period but yet again we came up short against a side set up to squeeze out a point. City showed no attacking ambition, rightly or wrongly, and just packed the midfield to deny us space. And yet again we failed to find that one goal that would have rendered that point mute.

Torres was second best to Dunne yesterday, Dunne was just like Carragher has been for us for all these years. Kuyt was second best to himself yesterday, his first touch again costs us more than his work rate earns. And to boot, he missed the best chance of the match with a far post header that he should have buried. I thought Benayoun was our most likely threat, he had a good game and was easily our most creative player. Gerrard played a lot deeper because of the lack of space, and he didnt have his most effective game- particularly with his long range shooting boots being left at home. Mascherano again was awesome, he always is, no need to say it these days. I also thought Aurelio had a decent game at LB, he does far more with the ball than Riise and is just as sound defensively. Arbeloa at centre half was a risk, and he started a bit shaky, but he did well alongside the immense Carra again, and what a help it is to have Steve Finnan at RB, safe as houses. Petrov got nothing out of him whatsoever, just like Elano got nothing out of Mascherano. Would have liked to have seen Babel on (for Kuyt) earlier, Kewell wasnt great but id have left him on and stuck Babel up front with Torres to give them a more concentrated threat. He never really had a chance to get into the game.

All in all, two points dropped. City have a great home record but we could easily have beaten them out of sight, just that final ball lacked and its becoming a more than familiar tale of woe. Still, beat Wigan on Tuesday and we will have got 10 points from 12 over xmas, none of the other big four sides will have got more.