Santa Cruz ready for Anfield test

Santa Cruz: Has Liverpool in his sights

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Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has ramped up the heat ahead of Saturday's trip to Anfield by saying it is Liverpool who should be feeling the pressure.

Mark Hughes' draw specialists head to Merseyside, for a game that can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1, determined to put an end to a run of five successive stalemates in the league.

While City have set their sights on a UEFA Champions League spot, Liverpool's title tilt looks to have stalled already as Rafa Benitez's side find themselves a point behind City, while trailing league leaders Chelsea by a full 11.

And it is a point not lost on Santa Cruz as he urges his City team-mates to prove their credentials on Saturday.

He said: "People say this is a big game for City, to prove we are worthy of being called a big club. But this is also a big game for Liverpool.

"They'll look at us and see us above them in the table.

Key clash

"Our main aim is to be in one of the Champions League places by finishing in the top four.

"So we need to go to Liverpool and prove we can take one of those places they want to be involved in.

"Next year we want to be playing in the Champions League at Manchester City."

Having seen the importance Manchester neighbours United place on trips to Anfield the Paraguayan has urged City to do the same.

He added: "You can see from the past United always wanted to beat Liverpool, even though they were the champions.

"Big games like this are always different - they bring a lot of motivation to the players and are always special.

"I'm sure we will approach the game thinking in the same way that United do - that Liverpool are contenders we need to beat."