Desperate Liverpool face City crunch

Posted Saturday, November 21, 2009 by AFP

LONDON (AFP) – Liverpool's ability to resurrect a campaign that is in danger of collapsing around them goes under the microscope when Manchester City visit Anfield on Saturday.

The pick of this weekend's Premier League encounters will provide a significant guage of Rafael Benitez's side's prospects of hauling themselves back into the top four and ensuring they avoid the financially grave consequences of missing out on next season's Champions League.

Leaders Chelsea will expect to consolidate the advantage they gained with a controversial win over Manchester United before the international break by accounting for struggling Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

United, who now trail their London rivals by five points, have a tougher-looking assignment at home to Everton, while Arsenal will be without leading goalscorer Robin van Persie for their trip to Sunderland.

Newly-rich City are - along with Tottenham and Aston Villa - one of the teams threatening to deny Liverpool their customary place at European football's top table and, after five league defeats already this season, Benitez's men badly need to start acquiring some momentum.

The return of Steven Gerrard to the starting line-up should help with the club captain having benefited from a two-week rest over the international break.

Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger also return from injury but star striker Fernando Torres is ruled out by a calf injury and Benitez appears reluctant to risk 20-million-pound signing Alberto Aquilani.

The Italy midfielder has yet to start for his new club and is keen to put six months of injury frustration behind him.

"He is very positive and wants to help the team now but we will not take any risks at this stage," Benitez said.

The midfielder, bought to plug the gap created by Xabi Alonso's departure for Real Madrid, looks set to be on the bench on Saturday but Benitez is confident he will soon be proving his worth to Liverpool fans.

"You can see in everything he does that he has got quality," the Spaniard added. "He knows when to pass at the right time and to the right players, he makes good decisions on the pitch."

City, who have slipped out of the top four after drawing their last five league matches, will hope Robinho will be able to play some part at Anfield.

The Brazilian star is nearing full fitness after two months out with an ankle injury.

Manchester United will welcome Nemanja Vidic back for the meeting with Everton after he played for 70 minutes of Serbia's 1-0 win over South Korea in midweek. Fellow centreback Rio Ferdinand remains sidelined by a calf problem.

Everton have struggled so far this season but Australian midfielder Tim Cahill is hoping for an improvement as an injury crisis which has sidelined more than half the club's first-choice XI begins to ease.

"We have lost out way a bit in the last few weeks, but now it's all about getting our injured players back, getting our heads down and just working," Cahill said.

"I think the hunger's there. We definitely are good enough - it's whether or not we can make it happen."

Tottenham are the only club in the top four not in action on Saturday, with Wigan visiting White Hart Lane 24 hours later.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp does not believe his side can realistically challenge for the title but he sees no reason why they cannot cling on to their top four spot.

"Liverpool have it all to do and Manchester City, Aston Villa, ourselves and Everton are going to be pushing to get into European places," Redknapp predicted.

"One of us could break in this year but the champions will come from Manchester United or Chelsea."

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated):

Birmingham v Fulham, Burnley v Aston Villa, Chelsea v Wolves, Hull City v West Ham, Liverpool v Manchester City (1245 GMT), Manchester Utd v Everton (1730 GMT), Sunderland v Arsenal

Sunday

Bolton v Blackburn (1330 GMT), Stoke City v Portsmouth (1600 GMT), Tottenham v Wigan