Premier League - Matchpack: Manchester City v Liverpool, Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is to retain his place for the Boxing Day clash with Liverpool after making a first Premier League start in almost two months at Fulham. Gael Clichy could continue on his 'wrong' flank at right-back due to injuries for Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards (both hamstring) or central defender Dedryck Boyata, midfielder James Milner or Aleksandar Kolarov could be drafted in. Top scorer Sergio Aguero (calf) and defender Matija Nastasic (calf) are out and Stevan Jovetic missed the win at Fulham due to illness so could be absent once more.
Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan picked up a slight hamstring problem in Saturday's victory over Cardiff and could be a doubt for the Boxing Day trip to Manchester. Captain Steven Gerrard is progressing well from a similar problem but manager Brendan Rodgers is looking at bringing in reserves and youth team players to bolster a squad which has only 17 fit players. Striker Daniel Sturridge (ankle) and left-back Jose Enrique (knee) are still sidelined until the new year.
MANAGER QUOTES
Manuel Pellegrini: "Very difficult. Liverpool is a very good team and Suarez is in a very good moment. But I think this Premier League, we are just finishing the first half, in two more games. "And this Premier League will not just be Liverpool and Manchester City. Five or six teams will fight until the end."
Brendan Rodgers: "I just think his profile suits us. He's a total performer. can put him in that Messi and Ronaldo bracket of world class. In the past one or two of his off-field antics have detracted from his performance level but you are seeing a different man now. You are seeing a maturity. You are seeing a man who is happy and is confident and is at total peace with everything in his life. He's in that bracket and when you're scoring goals at the rate in the most competitive league in the world then you have to put him up there."
MATCH FACTS
The last top-flight team to score as many goals as Man City (35) in their opening eight home games were Spurs in 1962-63.
Liverpool have only won one of their last five Barclays Premier League away games (D2 L2).
Six of the last nine Premier League matches between Liverpool and Manchester City have been draws (Two City wins, one Liverpool, all 3-0 at home).
Manchester City have failed to score in their last two Premier League games played on December 26 (0-0 with WBA in 2011 and 0-1 v Sunderland last year).
Liverpool last won on December 26 back in 2009 when Rafa Benitez was manager (2-0 v Wolves)
Luis Suarez already has 10 goals in December 2013 – no other player in the history of the Premier League has scored more than eight in a single month of Premier League action within a season.
Suarez has 29 goals in 26 Premier League appearances in 2013. Should he score one more, it’ll be only the seventh time that a player has scored 30+ goals in a calendar year in the PL. Suarez has made 149 touches in the opposition box this season, more than any other player despite missing Liverpool’s opening five games.
Yaya Toure has scored four direct free kick goals in his Premier League career; with all of them coming this season.
Manchester City are the only team in the Premier League this season yet to drop a point at home (P8 W8 D0 L0). They have also scored in each of their last 58 Premier League home games.
Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan picked up a slight hamstring problem in Saturday's victory over Cardiff and could be a doubt for the Boxing Day trip to Manchester. Captain Steven Gerrard is progressing well from a similar problem but manager Brendan Rodgers is looking at bringing in reserves and youth team players to bolster a squad which has only 17 fit players. Striker Daniel Sturridge (ankle) and left-back Jose Enrique (knee) are still sidelined until the new year.
MANAGER QUOTES
Manuel Pellegrini: "Very difficult. Liverpool is a very good team and Suarez is in a very good moment. But I think this Premier League, we are just finishing the first half, in two more games. "And this Premier League will not just be Liverpool and Manchester City. Five or six teams will fight until the end."
Brendan Rodgers: "I just think his profile suits us. He's a total performer. can put him in that Messi and Ronaldo bracket of world class. In the past one or two of his off-field antics have detracted from his performance level but you are seeing a different man now. You are seeing a maturity. You are seeing a man who is happy and is confident and is at total peace with everything in his life. He's in that bracket and when you're scoring goals at the rate in the most competitive league in the world then you have to put him up there."
MATCH FACTS
The last top-flight team to score as many goals as Man City (35) in their opening eight home games were Spurs in 1962-63.
Liverpool have only won one of their last five Barclays Premier League away games (D2 L2).
Six of the last nine Premier League matches between Liverpool and Manchester City have been draws (Two City wins, one Liverpool, all 3-0 at home).
Manchester City have failed to score in their last two Premier League games played on December 26 (0-0 with WBA in 2011 and 0-1 v Sunderland last year).
Liverpool last won on December 26 back in 2009 when Rafa Benitez was manager (2-0 v Wolves)
Luis Suarez already has 10 goals in December 2013 – no other player in the history of the Premier League has scored more than eight in a single month of Premier League action within a season.
Suarez has 29 goals in 26 Premier League appearances in 2013. Should he score one more, it’ll be only the seventh time that a player has scored 30+ goals in a calendar year in the PL. Suarez has made 149 touches in the opposition box this season, more than any other player despite missing Liverpool’s opening five games.
Yaya Toure has scored four direct free kick goals in his Premier League career; with all of them coming this season.
Manchester City are the only team in the Premier League this season yet to drop a point at home (P8 W8 D0 L0). They have also scored in each of their last 58 Premier League home games.
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