The fixture that was promoted — incorrectly as it transpired — as a title decider when these two sides met at Anfield last April carries almost as much significance this time around. A resurgent Liverpool are presented with the chance to conclusively confirm they are ready to mix it up with the Premier League elite once again. After a truly shambolic start to the season, not even the most optimistic Anfield parishioner would have predicted that the visit of defending champions City on the first day of March could represent the occasion when Liverpool could clamber back into the top four of the Premier League standings.
However, that is the narrative heading into this game, as recent victories against top-four rivals Tottenham and Southampton have allowed Brendan Rodgers’ men to swallow up the gap that divided the sides pushing for Champions League qualification and last season’s Premier League runners-up.
So many pieces of Rodgers’ unconnected Liverpool jigsaw needed to fall into place for this scenario to come to pass. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had to rediscover his form; the Reds needed to uncover a method that would allow Rodgers’ side to offer a credible defensive plan; midfield creators Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling needed to spring back into life; and striker Daniel Sturridge had to regain full fitness. It was a lengthy list of boxes that required ticking, but all appeared to have been inked.
Rodgers deserves credit for helping solve the first of those two problems, as his move to a defensive back three has eased Liverpool’s defensive woes and inspired a fresh surge of belief in first-choice shot-stopper Mignolet. Meanwhile, his tactical switch to deploy Sterling in an attacking position reignited the England youngster’s burners and also seemed to spark Coutinho into life. With Sturridge back on scoring form after his enduring stint in the treatment room, the free-scoring Liverpool of last season have returned and they may well be getting a crack at City at the perfect time.
The mental scars of another Champions League humbling at the hands of Barcelona on Tuesday will be fresh in the minds of Manuel Pellegirni’s players. On a day when they get a chance to cut Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League to just two points, you wonder how they will react if they fall a goal behind.
A victory for Liverpool could turn out to be even more significant for this season than their 3-2 win against City turned out to be almost a year ago.
source:espnfc.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 