Liverpool v Man City preview

Gerrard: Vital return

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: 2-0

SKY BET odds: Liverpool 10/11 Draw 9/4 Man City 16/5

One to Watch: Steven Gerrard

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Manchester City will want to use Saturday lunchtime's trip to Liverpool as a measure of their credentials to finish in the Premier League's top four at the expense of direct rivals.

The early kick-off at Anfield, which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1, promises to be an intriguing encounter featuring a side failing to meet expectations and another aiming to demonstrate they are the real deal.

Seventh-placed Liverpool have endured a torrid season and hopes of ending a wait for a league title which stretches back to 1990 are as good as over after already losing five games.

The dramatic win over City's derby rivals Manchester United at Anfield in late October seems like a lifetime ago and is the blot in the form book, with the UEFA Champions League also proving a struggle.

It would now appear that Liverpool and under-pressure manager Rafa Benitez's best hope is to finish in the top four, booking European football for the following season, but even that is not a certainty in a seesaw campaign.

City, along with Aston Villa and Tottenham, appear well equipped to break the monopoly of the 'Big Four' and boss Mark Hughes will want to silence recent rumblings regarding a wobble in his own expensively-assembled squad.

The Eastlands outfit have drawn their last five games and continue to leak goals, earning criticism of a defensive unit which has yet to settle following the big-money summer arrivals of Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure.

Merseyside misery

Increasing the misery on the red half of Merseyside would therefore be the perfect response for Hughes and City, who essentially ended Benitez's title challenge last season after leaving with a 1-1 draw at the end of February.

The international break arrived with perfect timing for Liverpool as it allowed Steven Gerrard additional rest to recover from a long-standing groin injury and the captain is expected to be in the first XI, with Jamie Carragher back from a ban.

Alberto Aquilani could make his first start, but Benitez is unlikely to take risks, while defenders Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson should feature after sitting out action with Denmark and England, respectively, due to injury.

Star striker Fernando Torres is almost certainly out with a groin problem and French teenager David Ngog, who caused controversy with an apparent dive to earn a penalty in the draw with Birmingham, is a likely replacement, despite a broken nose.

City expect one-time Liverpool target Gareth Barry to be fit as the former Aston Villa captain has shaken off a groin complaint sustained while representing England against Brazil, while defender Nedum Onuoha (thigh) is in contention.

Former Reds striker Craig Bellamy recently revealed his fear that he may have only two years left in a career which has been dogged by injury, and he missed Wales' win over Scotland with another groin problem.

Brazil star Robinho (ankle) is close to fitness but did not play against England, despite joining his international team-mates to spark a club-versus-country row.

Possible starting XIs

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Gerrard, Torres.

Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Lescott, Toure, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Barry, De Jong, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor.