When these sides met at the City of Manchester Stadium just after Christmas, it was a staunch and stoic defence marshalled by Richard Dunne that kept Manchester City level at 0-0. The inspirational Irish captain will be absent due to injury this weekend and may well have played his last game for City, due to recent boardroom turmoil.
Dunne is one of a host of City players seemingly ready to down tools and mutiny as a result of Thaksin Shinawatra’s decision to bring to an end Sven Goran Eriksson’s ten month reign at Eastlands. The judgement of Shinawatra has been questioned from all quarters, supporter to shareholder, with everyone involved with the club baffled and bewildered at the former Thai PM’s premature assessment of Sven’s achievements.
A league double over their illustrious neighbours and a highest ever Premier League points tally has not been enough to prevent Sven inevitably becoming the league’s latest managerial casualty.
Before the season kicked off, Shinawatra declared a three-year plan for City. After the first year, he said, City were expected to be a top-ten club; after two, top six; and after three, Champions League contenders. Somewhere along the line this season however, the paradigm shifted.
Shinawatra, seemingly initially enthused by Sven’s credentials, decided to hastily change his three-year plan to something decidedly shorter. No longer was Sven untouchable and impervious to interference from a patient and pragmatic chairman, now he was under pressure for immediate outcomes. This policy may hold water at the Bernabeus of this world but sea changes at places like Eastland can reasonably be expected to take a little longer than one season.
City’s players, under pressure since the turn of the year and a mid-campaign slump, will be desperate to dispute their paymaster’s appraisal of their mentor’s accomplishments. Gelling a set of under whelmed and underachieving senior players with a band of hired guns imported from abroad into a liquid and capable outfit, Sven has created a worthy side with an hitherto air of gradual improvement.
Recently however, with a clutch of injuries to contend with, City have struggled. Despite winning two of their last three league games, City have taken only six of fifteen available points and are leaking goals. Elano, an auxiliary right back in the last two matches has flitted in and out of form capriciously since his star rose before Christmas, while the likes of Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland have jaded as a long season unfolded.
A palpable absence of a genuine goal threat, with only the sporadic contributions of Benjani to turn to, has given City a blunt edge. The club are by no means in crisis, their improvement this season has been just a shade below laudable, but patience in the overlord’s office has worn thin. The chairman sits with his finger over the red button. Sven stands before him waiting for the trap-door to open.
Events at Anfield have mirrored those at Eastlands, with administrative disagreements being conducted with all the dignity of a drunk couple. George hates Tom who hates Rick who is confused, and all this leaves Rafa scratching his head and wishing the carousel of ignominy would end.
His position, by no means untenable, is somewhat unsteady with a palpable air of uncertainty over his head. The sword of Damocles which dangles over Sven hasn’t reached the Spaniard as yet but, to the detriment of the side he has moulded, it could in the wake of an ultimately barren campaign.
Champions League elimination came after two visits to two of the league’s relegation fodder in the shape of Fulham and Birmingham, which yielded four points for largely reserve line-ups. Indeed, Rafa Benitez had his authority questioned by various managers desperate to avoid the basement door with regard to his alleged compromise of the league’s integrity. Liverpool’s league campaign has petered out into futility with only a minor say in the relegation shake-up to influence, now that the fourth Champions League place is a certainty.
Rafa’s priorities laid with the Champions League this season ever since Liverpool reversed their horrendous early group form to become their usual rigid selves on the continent. However, with all his eggs in that basket, Benitez is now forced to contemplate a stilted league table in the aftermath of Chelsea’s semi final victory.
While the likes of Pennant and Crouch excelled in the league over the past two weeks, it was Gerrard and his ilk who disappointed on the big stage mid-week. The captain, a proud and effective motivator, will be desperate to see his supporters leave Anfield for the final time this season with a semblance of a smile on their faces.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Apr 30 (Champions League) v Chelsea (A) LOST 3-2 (Extra Time)
Apr 26 (Premier League) v Birmingham (A) DREW 2-2
Apr 22 (Champions League) v Chelsea (H) DREW 1-1
Apr 19 (Premier League) v Fulham (A) WON 2-0
Apr 13 (Premier League) v Blackburn (H) WON 3-1
Manchester City
Apr 26 (Premier League) v Fulham (H) LOST 3-2
Apr 20 (Premier League) v Portsmouth (H) WON 3-1
Apr 12 (Premier League) v Sunderland (A) WON 2-1
Apr 5 (Premier League) v Chelsea (H) LOST 2-0
Mar 29 (Premier League) v Birmingham (A) LOST 3-1
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Rafa Benitez will be without Martin Skrtel, injured chasing Didier Drogba on Wednesday, as well as Fernando Torres due to a hamstring tweak. Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and Harry Kewell remain sidelined.
Manchester City
City will be forced to retain a patched up defence as an almost entirely absent back-four give Sven selection headaches. Richard Dunne, Nedum Onuoha and Micah Richards are all still sidelined, meaning that Elano will probably continue to be deployed as the league’s least likely right back. Daniel Sturridge’s knee problem keeps him out.
Last Starting XI (v Fulham): Hart, Elano, Sun, Corluka, Ball, Johnson, Ireland, Gelson, Petrov, Vassell, Benjani.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool: Peter Crouch
In the absence of Fernando Torres, the goal-scoring burden will fall onto the shoulders of the Englishman. Crouch, linked this week with Aston Villa, will be eager to retain the admiration of Rafa Benitez and spare himself from the Anfield cull. Two goals in his last two league starts means that Crouch is on fine form going into this encounter.
Manchester City: Michael Johnson
Lining up against the opposition he may well be representing next season, Johnson will be eager to impress. With Sven’s reign prematurely doomed, his young star midfielder will want to give the manager a fine send off. His form has dipped with that of his team but Johnson will want to pit himself against one of his idols, Steven Gerrard.
Dunne is one of a host of City players seemingly ready to down tools and mutiny as a result of Thaksin Shinawatra’s decision to bring to an end Sven Goran Eriksson’s ten month reign at Eastlands. The judgement of Shinawatra has been questioned from all quarters, supporter to shareholder, with everyone involved with the club baffled and bewildered at the former Thai PM’s premature assessment of Sven’s achievements.
A league double over their illustrious neighbours and a highest ever Premier League points tally has not been enough to prevent Sven inevitably becoming the league’s latest managerial casualty.
Before the season kicked off, Shinawatra declared a three-year plan for City. After the first year, he said, City were expected to be a top-ten club; after two, top six; and after three, Champions League contenders. Somewhere along the line this season however, the paradigm shifted.
Shinawatra, seemingly initially enthused by Sven’s credentials, decided to hastily change his three-year plan to something decidedly shorter. No longer was Sven untouchable and impervious to interference from a patient and pragmatic chairman, now he was under pressure for immediate outcomes. This policy may hold water at the Bernabeus of this world but sea changes at places like Eastland can reasonably be expected to take a little longer than one season.
City’s players, under pressure since the turn of the year and a mid-campaign slump, will be desperate to dispute their paymaster’s appraisal of their mentor’s accomplishments. Gelling a set of under whelmed and underachieving senior players with a band of hired guns imported from abroad into a liquid and capable outfit, Sven has created a worthy side with an hitherto air of gradual improvement.
Recently however, with a clutch of injuries to contend with, City have struggled. Despite winning two of their last three league games, City have taken only six of fifteen available points and are leaking goals. Elano, an auxiliary right back in the last two matches has flitted in and out of form capriciously since his star rose before Christmas, while the likes of Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland have jaded as a long season unfolded.
A palpable absence of a genuine goal threat, with only the sporadic contributions of Benjani to turn to, has given City a blunt edge. The club are by no means in crisis, their improvement this season has been just a shade below laudable, but patience in the overlord’s office has worn thin. The chairman sits with his finger over the red button. Sven stands before him waiting for the trap-door to open.
Events at Anfield have mirrored those at Eastlands, with administrative disagreements being conducted with all the dignity of a drunk couple. George hates Tom who hates Rick who is confused, and all this leaves Rafa scratching his head and wishing the carousel of ignominy would end.
His position, by no means untenable, is somewhat unsteady with a palpable air of uncertainty over his head. The sword of Damocles which dangles over Sven hasn’t reached the Spaniard as yet but, to the detriment of the side he has moulded, it could in the wake of an ultimately barren campaign.
Champions League elimination came after two visits to two of the league’s relegation fodder in the shape of Fulham and Birmingham, which yielded four points for largely reserve line-ups. Indeed, Rafa Benitez had his authority questioned by various managers desperate to avoid the basement door with regard to his alleged compromise of the league’s integrity. Liverpool’s league campaign has petered out into futility with only a minor say in the relegation shake-up to influence, now that the fourth Champions League place is a certainty.
Rafa’s priorities laid with the Champions League this season ever since Liverpool reversed their horrendous early group form to become their usual rigid selves on the continent. However, with all his eggs in that basket, Benitez is now forced to contemplate a stilted league table in the aftermath of Chelsea’s semi final victory.
While the likes of Pennant and Crouch excelled in the league over the past two weeks, it was Gerrard and his ilk who disappointed on the big stage mid-week. The captain, a proud and effective motivator, will be desperate to see his supporters leave Anfield for the final time this season with a semblance of a smile on their faces.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Apr 30 (Champions League) v Chelsea (A) LOST 3-2 (Extra Time)
Apr 26 (Premier League) v Birmingham (A) DREW 2-2
Apr 22 (Champions League) v Chelsea (H) DREW 1-1
Apr 19 (Premier League) v Fulham (A) WON 2-0
Apr 13 (Premier League) v Blackburn (H) WON 3-1
Manchester City
Apr 26 (Premier League) v Fulham (H) LOST 3-2
Apr 20 (Premier League) v Portsmouth (H) WON 3-1
Apr 12 (Premier League) v Sunderland (A) WON 2-1
Apr 5 (Premier League) v Chelsea (H) LOST 2-0
Mar 29 (Premier League) v Birmingham (A) LOST 3-1
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Rafa Benitez will be without Martin Skrtel, injured chasing Didier Drogba on Wednesday, as well as Fernando Torres due to a hamstring tweak. Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and Harry Kewell remain sidelined.
Manchester City
City will be forced to retain a patched up defence as an almost entirely absent back-four give Sven selection headaches. Richard Dunne, Nedum Onuoha and Micah Richards are all still sidelined, meaning that Elano will probably continue to be deployed as the league’s least likely right back. Daniel Sturridge’s knee problem keeps him out.
Last Starting XI (v Fulham): Hart, Elano, Sun, Corluka, Ball, Johnson, Ireland, Gelson, Petrov, Vassell, Benjani.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool: Peter Crouch
In the absence of Fernando Torres, the goal-scoring burden will fall onto the shoulders of the Englishman. Crouch, linked this week with Aston Villa, will be eager to retain the admiration of Rafa Benitez and spare himself from the Anfield cull. Two goals in his last two league starts means that Crouch is on fine form going into this encounter.
Manchester City: Michael Johnson
Lining up against the opposition he may well be representing next season, Johnson will be eager to impress. With Sven’s reign prematurely doomed, his young star midfielder will want to give the manager a fine send off. His form has dipped with that of his team but Johnson will want to pit himself against one of his idols, Steven Gerrard.
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