Man City will bid to extend their unbeaten Premiership run to five matches against Liverpool.
Manchester City will bid to extend their unbeaten Premiership run to five matches when they meet Liverpool at home on Saturday.You can watch Soccer Saturday on your PC by clicking here.
Click here to vote on the outcome of the game.
City are 12th in the table and still rooted to the bottom half of the standings despite picking up 10 points in their last four games, which have eased their relegation worries but they have not scored on home turf since New Year's Day.
The clash with Liverpool is the start of a tough run for the Blues who visit Arsenal on Tuesday and round-off their campaign with fixtures against league leaders Manchester United and Tottenham.
Micah Richards will miss out for the fourth game running as he continues to struggle with an ankle injury and a calf problem.
City boss Stuart Pearce has confirmed that the England international will require surgery in the summer while Nedum Onuoha will continue to deputise at full-back.
Dietmar Hamann and Stephen Jordan both return to the side but Paul Dickov will remain out for another fortnight with a knee injury.
Liverpool must turn their attentions back to the Premiership following their UEFA Champions League quarter-final victory over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez does not want a repeat of his first trip to Eastlands in 2005 when his side produced a poor display against City before losing 1-0 following their 2-1 win over Juventus in the Champions League.
Benitez's side head into the clash in third place in the Premiership and begin an intense schedule of three games in eight days as they face Middlesbrough at home on Wednesday and struggling Wigan three days later.
Striker Craig Bellamy will miss the trip to City after he injured his knee and was stretchered off against PSV.
The problem is not as serious as first feared and he is set to undergo intensive treatment that will hopefully see him return to action in around 10 days.
Skysports.com prediction: 1-2
In-form Liverpool will be wanting to secure third place in the Premiership.
Player to watch: Peter Crouch
Click here to play Fantasy Football to win top prizes
Chat about the game on our Message Boards
| Man City 5/2 Draw 9/4 Liverpool 10/11 Liverpool 2-1 win: 15/2 Crouch to score first goal: 6/1 Click here for full odds with Sky Bet |
| Team | Manchester City | Liverpool |
| Games Played | 32 | 32 |
| Goal Attempts | | |
| Goals | 26 | 50 |
| Ave Goals per game | 0.81 | 1.56 |
| Shots (excl blocked shots) | 317 | 453 |
| % Shots on Target | 42% | 42% |
| % Goals to Shots | 8% | 11% |
| Passing | | |
| Short Passes | 9,077 | 12,078 |
| Long Passes | 2,087 | 2,588 |
| Overall Pass Completion % | 67% | 76% |
| Crossing | | |
| Total Crosses | 702 | 934 |
| Cross Completion % | 26% | 25% |
| Defending | | |
| Goals Conceded | 35 | 22 |
| Ave goals conceded per game | 1.09 | 0.69 |
| Tackles | 844 | 856 |
| Tackles Won % | 79% | 79% |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions | 1345 | 1209 |
| Discipline | | |
| Fouls | 505 | 419 |
| Yellow Cards | 52 | 37 |
| Red Cards | 4 | 0 |
