Boxing Day fixtures haven’t provided Liverpool with any late Christmas presents in recent years, with their last win coming against Wolves back in 2009. The task of rectifying this statistic couldn’t be anymore challenging as Liverpool travel to The Etihad stadium to face a Manchester City side who have won all 8 of their home fixtures this season, scoring in each of their last 58 home matches.
Despite Liverpool obtaining maximum points from their previous four fixtures, scoring 17 in the process; the away side have only managed 5 clean sheets in 18 games with 3 of those coming in the opening 3 fixtures.
However, with Luis Suarez breaking yet another record – this time becoming the first ever player to score 10 league goals in a month with 2 games to spare – Liverpool will fancy themselves to score against a Manchester City defence without influential defender Pablo Zabaletta or back-up right back Micah Richards, who both miss out through injury.
This gives Manuel Pellegrini a headache. With Phillipe Coutinho likely to start from the left-hand side for the visitors, it is crucial he gets the decision right otherwise Liverpool’s mercurial Brazilian could have a very prosperous afternoon.
Alvaro Negredo is likely to retain his place in Manchester City’s starting side, with top-goalscorer Sergio Aguero still ruled out through injury. Pellegrini will likely bring in James Milner down one of the flanks to nullify the threat of either Coutinho or Sterling who both seem set to retain their places in the side. This means one of Navas, Silva or Nasri will have to make do with warming the bench initially.
Jon Flanagan came off in Liverpool’s win against Cardiff, which sent the Merseyside outfit top of the Premier League, with a hamstring niggle. Martin Kelly looks set to come in at right-back, while Glen Johnson will switch over to left-back in Flanagan’s likely absence.
Daniel Sturridge, Jose Enrique and Steven Gerrard are long-term absentees, so Rodgers will likely continue with the 433 that dismantled Spurs so impressively in their last away fixture and secured all three points against Cardiff on Saturday.
Manuel Pellegrini will likely lineup with the 4231 formation, with David Silva behind Alvaro Negredo, supported by the powerhouses Yaya Toure and Fernandinho in the deeper midfield roles.
Liverpool will have to be at their best to return to Melwood with a result. Despite currently topping the Premier League, only inflicting Manchester City’s first home defeat of the season will ensure it stays that way going into another tough away fixture at Chelsea.
While Manchester City will look to add to their impressive home victories which has seen them put 7 past Norwich, 6 past Arsenal and Spurs, 4 past intense rivals Manchester United and 3 past Liverpool’s Merseyside neighbours Everton.
Liverpool fans should be pleased with a point on Boxing Day, although I can’t see past a Manchester City victory, despite the inevitable Luis Suarez goals.
Prediction: City 3-2 Liverpool
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Man City XI: Hart; Kolarov, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Y Toure; Milner, Silva, Navas; Negredo.
Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Kelly, Skrtel, Sakho, Johnson; Lucas, Henderson, Allen; Sterling, Suarez, Coutinho.
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Betting Tips:
- Both teams to score and Manchester City to win should provide pundits with value-for-money. Follow Chris’ tip here on BetVictor
- Luis Suarez to score 2 or more goals. Every time the Uruguayan steps out onto the field, he looks like bagging himself a brace. Despite a sterner test against City, he looks set to continue his rich vein of form. Follow Chris’ tip here on BetVictor
- Jordan Henderson to score anytime. Jordan Henderson is now showing why Liverpool paid £16m back in 2011 for his services and he looks set to play an influential role both in nullifying City’s threat and contributing up the other end. Follow Chris’ tip here on BetVictor
- Over 3.5 goals. This game promises to be a battle of the forwards, rather than who can shut each other out and pinch a goal to win 1-0. Follow Chris’ tip here on BetVictor
