Couldn't see a thread so I thought I'd start it.
Do you really care about the league games any more? Arsenal play Bolton tomorrow so one, or both of them will drop points, so a win could virtually guarantee third place.
But of course it's all about the Champions League, so no doubt Rafa will rest players with that in mind.
I can see Fowler starting, wouldn't surprise me if he rests Crouchie with Kuyt coming into replace him.
It will be a difficult game with City coming into form at just the right time to avoid relegation. They have a good striker in Mpenza and a strong midfield with the likes of Barton, Sinclair and of course Didi.
Tough task, but I'll go for a repeat of last year's 1-0 win, with Kuyt getting the goal this time.
-------------------------------------------------------------
BBC guff
Man City v Liverpool
City of Manchester Stadium
Saturday, 14 April
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester City welcome back Dietmar Hamann and Stephen Jordan into their squad but striker Paul Dickov (knee) is out for another fortnight.
Micah Richard will miss his fourth game running as he struggles with an ankle problem that needs surgery this summer.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher and Javier Mascherano should return for the match at Eastlands after being rested.
Craig Bellamy misses out as he recovers from knee ligament damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester City (from): Isaksson, Weaver, Trabelsi, Onuoha, Distin, Dunne, Ball, Jordan, Sun, Johnson, Barton, Ireland, Dabo, Hamann, Beasley, Sinclair, Vassell, Samaras, Mpenza, Corradi
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Mascherano, Fowler, Crouch, Kuyt, Gonzalez, Arbeloa, Dudek, Zenden.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce:
"If you ask me whether we are in a league position I will find acceptable if that is where we end up, the answer is no.
"For me to start turning around and make noises about being safe would send out a message that our season is finished - and it is far from that."
MANCHESTER CITY have clawed their way to safety with a four match unbeaten run, culminating in Easter Monday's 3-1 victory away to Fulham that nailed Chris Coleman's coffin, and put the Citizens on the safety target of 40 points. Now they take on the Champions League semi-finalists Liverpool, looking to extend that run of 10 points out of 12.
But City have not scored in five Premiership games at Eastlands. They've played 468 minutes (seven hours 48 minutes) of League soccer on their own turf since Georgios Samaras scored from the penalty spot for their second in the 2-1 victory over Everton on New Years Day. Indeed this match pits the top flight's second weakest attack against the second strongest defence.
Kiki Musampa scored the only goal in the Citizens' home victory over Liverpool on 9 April 2005 - their only points against the Reds in six meetings.
LIVERPOOL duly became the third English club to reach the semi-finals of Europe's elite club competition on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven, to win 4-0 on aggregate. It means they go to the City of Manchester Stadium on a four match winning run in all competitions.
The Merseysiders cannot be moved from third spot in the table whatever happens here. But the players will want to give their manager Rafael Benitez an early birthday present with a third successive League maximum. The Spanish boss turns 47 on Monday.
The Reds have won almost twice as many League games against Manchester City as they have lost (won 72, lost 37). That includes three 1-0 victories in their last three contests, when John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell and Steven Gerrard have scored the crucial goals. They go to Eastlands in search of a second successive 'double' over City, having gained their first in the Premiership last season. The Reds have already beaten Tottenham, Watford, West Ham and Reading home and away, while Manchester City have been 'doubled' already this season by Blackburn, Reading, Wigan and Chelsea.
REFEREE
Uriah Rennie (Sheffield, Yorkshire)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
MANCHESTER CITY
Club stats
Fixtures
12th 40 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 10th
Lowest could fall: 14th
1. Won three and drawn one of four Premiership matches, since losing 0-1, home to Chelsea on 14 March.
2. Need a draw to gain exactly 100 Premiership points under Stuart Pearce.
3. Kept clean sheets in three of the last four, and conceded just one goal in the quartet.
4. On the longest current run in the highest League without a score draw of 25 matches. Liverpool are on the second longest run (24 matches).
5. Scored in the first half for the first time in 17 Premiership games, when turned around 2-0 in front of Fulham in their most recent match.
6. The current tally of 40 points after 32 matches, is on a par with their performances in each of the last two seasons.
7. Scored 26 goals in the top table - that one every 111 minutes (one hour 51 minutes) on average. Only Watford have an inferior average of one goal scored every 124 minutes (two hours four minutes).
8. The only club to hold a 100% record when scoring first in a top League game this term (won 11 of 11). They are also the only club not to have dropped any points once in front in Premiership matches, but with Wigan are the only clubs not to have won a top tier game from a losing position.
9. Participated in six top flight goalless draws this season. Only Watford equal that.
10. A midweek trip to Arsenal follows this, before the closing four fixtures against Watford (a), Aston Villa (h), Manchester United (h) and Tottenham (a).
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
3rd 60 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 3rd
1. Won the last four against Arsenal (h, PL), PSV (a, CL), Reading (a, PL) and PSV (h, CL).
2. Gained seven points from the last nine.
3. Not dropped a point since the goalless draw at Aston Villa on 18 March, and not lost a Premiership encounter since the 0-1 reverse, home to Manchester United on 3 March.
4. Gained 18 Premiership victories this season. Only Manchester United (25) and Chelsea (23) have won more.
5. Lost eight times in the top tier this term. Only Chelsea (three) and Manchester United (four) have suffered fewer losses.
6. Conceded just 22 top League goals at one every 131 minutes (two hours 11 minutes) on average. Only Chelsea have a better average of one every 152 minutes (two hours 32 minutes).
7. Conceded just one first half goal in 20 Premiership matches - and none in the last five outings since the away clash with Newcastle, which was all square at 1-1 at half time, and ended 2-1 to the Magpies.
8. Kept 17 clean sheets in the upmost echelon. Only Chelsea have managed more shut-outs (20).
9. Scored 17 and conceded 17 on the road in the highest League.
10. A midweek home clash with Middlesbrough is scheduled to follow this, with the closing four League fixtures against Wigan (h), Portsmouth (a), Fulham (a) and Charlton (h).
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
MANCHESTER CITY
Squad profiles
Joey BARTON is City's top scorer with seven goals. He is also their top Premiership marksman with six goals.
If he plays, BARTON will be making his 150th appearance for Manchester City.
City is the only club to have one remaining ever-present in all competitions. Richard DUNNE has been on the field for every minute of every one of the Citizens' League and Cup games this season.
If he participates, Dietmar HAMANN will be facing a former club. The German international midfielder made 283 appearances (191 in the Premiership) and scored 11 goals (eight League) for Liverpool in a six year stay from July 1999, until his free transfer to Bolton.
LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles
Peter CROUCH is Liverpool's top scorer with 18 goals.
Dirk KUYT is the club's leading marksman in the Premiership with 10.
Steven GERRARD is the only remaining player to have figured in at least a part of each of Liverpool's Premiership games this season.
Robbie FOWLER made 92 appearances (80 in the Premiership) and scored 28 goals (21 League) in a three year stay with Manchester City from January 2002.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool
26 November 2005 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Liverpool scorer: Riise 61
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City
25 November 2006 - Ref: Rob Styles
Liverpool scorer: Gerrard 67
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Man City 37 wins, Liverpool 72, Draws 32
Prem: Man City 3 wins, Liverpool 10, Draws 6
at Man City only
League: Man City 24 wins, Liverpool 28, Draws 18
Prem: Man City 2 wins, Liverpool 2, Draws 5
Do you really care about the league games any more? Arsenal play Bolton tomorrow so one, or both of them will drop points, so a win could virtually guarantee third place.
But of course it's all about the Champions League, so no doubt Rafa will rest players with that in mind.
I can see Fowler starting, wouldn't surprise me if he rests Crouchie with Kuyt coming into replace him.
It will be a difficult game with City coming into form at just the right time to avoid relegation. They have a good striker in Mpenza and a strong midfield with the likes of Barton, Sinclair and of course Didi.
Tough task, but I'll go for a repeat of last year's 1-0 win, with Kuyt getting the goal this time.
-------------------------------------------------------------
BBC guff
Man City v Liverpool
City of Manchester Stadium
Saturday, 14 April
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester City welcome back Dietmar Hamann and Stephen Jordan into their squad but striker Paul Dickov (knee) is out for another fortnight.
Micah Richard will miss his fourth game running as he struggles with an ankle problem that needs surgery this summer.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher and Javier Mascherano should return for the match at Eastlands after being rested.
Craig Bellamy misses out as he recovers from knee ligament damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester City (from): Isaksson, Weaver, Trabelsi, Onuoha, Distin, Dunne, Ball, Jordan, Sun, Johnson, Barton, Ireland, Dabo, Hamann, Beasley, Sinclair, Vassell, Samaras, Mpenza, Corradi
Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Mascherano, Fowler, Crouch, Kuyt, Gonzalez, Arbeloa, Dudek, Zenden.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce:
"If you ask me whether we are in a league position I will find acceptable if that is where we end up, the answer is no.
"For me to start turning around and make noises about being safe would send out a message that our season is finished - and it is far from that."
MANCHESTER CITY have clawed their way to safety with a four match unbeaten run, culminating in Easter Monday's 3-1 victory away to Fulham that nailed Chris Coleman's coffin, and put the Citizens on the safety target of 40 points. Now they take on the Champions League semi-finalists Liverpool, looking to extend that run of 10 points out of 12.
But City have not scored in five Premiership games at Eastlands. They've played 468 minutes (seven hours 48 minutes) of League soccer on their own turf since Georgios Samaras scored from the penalty spot for their second in the 2-1 victory over Everton on New Years Day. Indeed this match pits the top flight's second weakest attack against the second strongest defence.
Kiki Musampa scored the only goal in the Citizens' home victory over Liverpool on 9 April 2005 - their only points against the Reds in six meetings.
LIVERPOOL duly became the third English club to reach the semi-finals of Europe's elite club competition on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven, to win 4-0 on aggregate. It means they go to the City of Manchester Stadium on a four match winning run in all competitions.
The Merseysiders cannot be moved from third spot in the table whatever happens here. But the players will want to give their manager Rafael Benitez an early birthday present with a third successive League maximum. The Spanish boss turns 47 on Monday.
The Reds have won almost twice as many League games against Manchester City as they have lost (won 72, lost 37). That includes three 1-0 victories in their last three contests, when John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell and Steven Gerrard have scored the crucial goals. They go to Eastlands in search of a second successive 'double' over City, having gained their first in the Premiership last season. The Reds have already beaten Tottenham, Watford, West Ham and Reading home and away, while Manchester City have been 'doubled' already this season by Blackburn, Reading, Wigan and Chelsea.
REFEREE
Uriah Rennie (Sheffield, Yorkshire)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
MANCHESTER CITY
Club stats
Fixtures
12th 40 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 10th
Lowest could fall: 14th
1. Won three and drawn one of four Premiership matches, since losing 0-1, home to Chelsea on 14 March.
2. Need a draw to gain exactly 100 Premiership points under Stuart Pearce.
3. Kept clean sheets in three of the last four, and conceded just one goal in the quartet.
4. On the longest current run in the highest League without a score draw of 25 matches. Liverpool are on the second longest run (24 matches).
5. Scored in the first half for the first time in 17 Premiership games, when turned around 2-0 in front of Fulham in their most recent match.
6. The current tally of 40 points after 32 matches, is on a par with their performances in each of the last two seasons.
7. Scored 26 goals in the top table - that one every 111 minutes (one hour 51 minutes) on average. Only Watford have an inferior average of one goal scored every 124 minutes (two hours four minutes).
8. The only club to hold a 100% record when scoring first in a top League game this term (won 11 of 11). They are also the only club not to have dropped any points once in front in Premiership matches, but with Wigan are the only clubs not to have won a top tier game from a losing position.
9. Participated in six top flight goalless draws this season. Only Watford equal that.
10. A midweek trip to Arsenal follows this, before the closing four fixtures against Watford (a), Aston Villa (h), Manchester United (h) and Tottenham (a).
LIVERPOOL
Club stats
Fixtures
3rd 60 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 3rd
1. Won the last four against Arsenal (h, PL), PSV (a, CL), Reading (a, PL) and PSV (h, CL).
2. Gained seven points from the last nine.
3. Not dropped a point since the goalless draw at Aston Villa on 18 March, and not lost a Premiership encounter since the 0-1 reverse, home to Manchester United on 3 March.
4. Gained 18 Premiership victories this season. Only Manchester United (25) and Chelsea (23) have won more.
5. Lost eight times in the top tier this term. Only Chelsea (three) and Manchester United (four) have suffered fewer losses.
6. Conceded just 22 top League goals at one every 131 minutes (two hours 11 minutes) on average. Only Chelsea have a better average of one every 152 minutes (two hours 32 minutes).
7. Conceded just one first half goal in 20 Premiership matches - and none in the last five outings since the away clash with Newcastle, which was all square at 1-1 at half time, and ended 2-1 to the Magpies.
8. Kept 17 clean sheets in the upmost echelon. Only Chelsea have managed more shut-outs (20).
9. Scored 17 and conceded 17 on the road in the highest League.
10. A midweek home clash with Middlesbrough is scheduled to follow this, with the closing four League fixtures against Wigan (h), Portsmouth (a), Fulham (a) and Charlton (h).
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
MANCHESTER CITY
Squad profiles
Joey BARTON is City's top scorer with seven goals. He is also their top Premiership marksman with six goals.
If he plays, BARTON will be making his 150th appearance for Manchester City.
City is the only club to have one remaining ever-present in all competitions. Richard DUNNE has been on the field for every minute of every one of the Citizens' League and Cup games this season.
If he participates, Dietmar HAMANN will be facing a former club. The German international midfielder made 283 appearances (191 in the Premiership) and scored 11 goals (eight League) for Liverpool in a six year stay from July 1999, until his free transfer to Bolton.
LIVERPOOL
Squad profiles
Peter CROUCH is Liverpool's top scorer with 18 goals.
Dirk KUYT is the club's leading marksman in the Premiership with 10.
Steven GERRARD is the only remaining player to have figured in at least a part of each of Liverpool's Premiership games this season.
Robbie FOWLER made 92 appearances (80 in the Premiership) and scored 28 goals (21 League) in a three year stay with Manchester City from January 2002.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool
26 November 2005 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Liverpool scorer: Riise 61
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City
25 November 2006 - Ref: Rob Styles
Liverpool scorer: Gerrard 67
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Man City 37 wins, Liverpool 72, Draws 32
Prem: Man City 3 wins, Liverpool 10, Draws 6
at Man City only
League: Man City 24 wins, Liverpool 28, Draws 18
Prem: Man City 2 wins, Liverpool 2, Draws 5
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