The Manchester City situation reminds me a little bit of a Hollywood film.
This is a load of players that can't get into a top-four side on their own, so they've got a team together to try and get into the top four on their own. It could almost be a script for an American movie!
Gerrard: can guide Liverpool to victory
When I look through that team, there aren't many players who are likely to get in the top-four sides. Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure were sold by Arsenal, I'm not sure if Liverpool would still want Gareth Barry and Chelsea wouldn't be as keen on Robinho as they were last year.
I just think there's something missing with that City team. They may not be losing games, but they're drawing far too many.
Steven Gerrard is back after a two-week rest, so you can put the words "Football Club" on the end of Liverpool again.
Paul Merson
Quotes of the week
Liverpool v Man City
12pm, Sat, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
You shouldn't be drawing 3-3 at home to Burnley. That's a team who've been getting smashed away from home every week and couldn't score for toffee. How can you end up drawing 3-3 with them? If you want to be top-four material, you have to be beating Burnley at home.
People say it's only November and there's a long way to go, but this is a big game for these two teams. They want to finish in the top four - but there's no chance of both of them doing it. I still think Liverpool are the favourites for fourth and I'd be surprised if they don't win on Saturday.
Back
Steven Gerrard is back after a two-week rest, so you can put the words "Football Club" on the end of Liverpool again.
In my opinion he's up there with the best players in the world and we saw the impact he had against Birmingham. They were a much better team in the second half because Gerrard sees a pass and raises the tempo of the side.
Surely Rafael Benitez won't rest any players in this one? They've got a big game against Debrecen next week, but the Champions League is out of their hands now. Surely they've got to concentrate on winning matches in the league?
He rested players against Fulham the other week, which was an absolute joke, but if he did it on Saturday and they lost to Man City then you could get any price you want on them not making the top four.
It's not like five years ago when Liverpool could coast into the top four. Villa are playing well, Tottenham are up there and City will be there or thereabouts. There's seven or eight teams battling for the top four and Benitez can't take liberties against a decent Man City team.
Liverpool have no chance of winning the title, there's no chance of catching 11 points on Chelsea, so it's all about the race to get in the top four. That's why this is a massive game - much bigger than the game against Debrecen who are, by Champions League standards, a pub team.
If Benitez rest players for this one, he really is playing with fire.
PAUL'S PREDICTION
Home win - I thought Liverpool played alright against Birmingham and only went behind to a worldy goal, so I can see them coming out and dominating the ball. I've seen City enough times to know that Liverpool are very likely to score. I'll go for 2-1 to Liverpool.
MERSON'S MAGIC MAN
Steven Gerrard - If Gerrard plays I see Liverpool winning this game. He's better than anybody in the City midfield and after two weeks off he'll have a big influence. He's probably the best player in the world, in my opinion.
Comments (4)
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Tennessee Red (Liverpool fan) says...
If Rafa truly wants to send a positive message to the fans, he'll quit jerking around & start his best 11, period - walk on!
Posted 16:06 20th November 2009
Tommy nolan (Manchester United fan) says...
Paul I hate both these teams and their jealous fans with a passion but I see this game being a lot similar to the 4-4 draw when Liverpool played arsenal last season.liverpool might dominate but city will take their chances.I can't see shay given being beaten too many times tommorrow.the way that Liverpool are playing at the moment I can't see them winning tommorrow.man city WILL target jamie "suspect" carragher,if they have the right tactics adebeyor will tear him apart.Liverpool 1-2 man city.
Posted 15:56 20th November 2009
Bartholomew O' neill (Manchester United fan) says...
Although Merse has a point here, I think he has failed to consider the flip side of what he is sayin. Would nani, valencia, park, lucas, ngog, insua and the laughable Kyrgiakos get into the city team?? I know id take Robinho, Petrov or even Bellamy for that matter in UTDs current team. I believe City probably need 2 or 3 truly World class players to really challenge for the title but they are certianly capable of crashing the top 4, most likely at the expense of liverpool. I am predicting 1-1 tomorrow.
Posted 15:14 20th November 2009
David Seddon (Liverpool fan) says...
Don't quite get the comment on Rafa picking his best team... He picks the best team in the premier league every week. The days of rotation are long gone, simply because we don't have a strong enough squad to do so! On the flip side, I'd argue that our first XI is as good as anyone. Some other media sources say he 'rested' players for the fulham game, but the team was struck down by a virus, they wern't rested. Should be a tough game against the Manchester Mercenaries, despite there money motivated moves they do have some quality players.
Posted 14:27 20th November 2009
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