Yaya Toure’s return from suspension will be a boost for Manchester City when they take on Liverpool on Sunday.
DPA/London
For the first time in months, Manchester City can really ramp up the pressure on Chelsea in the race for the Premier League title this weekend.
With Chelsea playing Tottenham in the League Cup final, a victory for City at Liverpool on Sunday would put them within two points of the leaders.
That should be incentive enough but a painful defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League in midweek will add to their motivation as they try to win the title for the second year in a row.
Last season’s 3-2 defeat at Anfield almost cost them the title and with Liverpool pushing for a Champions League spot, the hosts will again be hoping to spoil the City party.
But Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that City have the advantage going into Sunday’s clash, having had two days more than the home side.
“That extra period of 48 hours that City have could be crucial, certainly physically, especially as we will have very little preparation time,” Rodgers told the Manchester Evening News.
“It’ll just be about recovery. We can’t train on the pitch at Anfield, we can’t make it any worse than it is, so we’re having to train during the day.
“But that’s the way it’s been dealt and we’ll deal with it the best we can.
“The players have had lots of challenges to overcome this season and we are ready to keep performing and doing the best we can.”
City will also be boosted by the return of Yaya Toure after the midfielder missed the Barcelona defeat because of suspension.
Liverpool will hope to have Jordan Henderson back from injury but Steven Gerrard, Lucas and Mamadou Sakho are all doubtful.
Third-placed Arsenal, like City, will try to recover from a home European defeat as they take on Everton at the Emirates.
Midfielder Jack Wilshere could return from injury but Wenger’s biggest concern will be solidifying a defence that shipped three “suicidal” goals against Monaco.
“On the second and third goals, it was suicide,” Wenger said. “It looks like we have lost our nerve and our rationality. The heart took over the head and at this level that doesn’t work.”
With just four points separating Arsenal in third to Tottenham in seventh, the battle for the Champions League spots looks set to go down to the wire.
Fourth-placed Manchester United take on Sunderland and midfielder Ander Herrera said he hoped to continue his recent goalscoring run.
“I think we’re a very attacking side and I just want to help,” he told United’s website.
“I knew that scoring goals was one of the things I could improve on, but I don’t want to stop now, I want to keep working and helping the team. The most important thing is that we win, but of course, when I score I’m happy.”
Southampton, in fifth, travel to West Brom, while bottom side Leicester could slip further behind as they are not in action.
Second-bottom Burnley host Swansea while third-bottom Aston Villa travel to Newcastle.
West Ham take on Crystal Palace and Stoke meet Hull in the weekend’s other fixtures.
