by dawson99 » Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:41 pm
Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira will begin a three-match ban against Liverpool after accepting an FA charge of violent conduct.
Carlos Tevez is still in Argentina following the premature birth of his daughter, but Craig Bellamy could play despite an ongoing knee problem.
Liverpool are hopeful that midfielder Yossi Benayoun will recover from the broken rib he suffered in mid-January.
Alberto Aquilani returned from illness for Thursday's Europa league victory.
Manchester City (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Onuoha, Toure, Lescott, Boyata, Garrido, Sylvinho, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Barry, De Jong, Ibrahim, A Johnson, Bellamy, Adebayor.
Suspended: Vieira (three matches) Doubtful: Bellamy (knee)
Injured/unavailable: M Johnson & Petrov (both knee), Kompany (groin), Tevez (personal reasons)
Liverpool (from): Reina, Skrtel, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Gerrard, Lucas, Aquilani, Rodriguez, Riera, Benayoun, Ngog, Kuyt, Cavalieri, Pacheco, Spearing, Babel, Aurelio, Degen.
Suspended: Kyrgiakos (two matches) Doubtful: Benayoun (rib)
Injured: Johnson & Torres (both knee)
Head-to-head
• Manchester City are winless against Liverpool in the last nine meetings (D4, L5).
• In the last 15 encounters they have not been separated by more than one goal.
• Roberto Mancini lost both his previous matches against Liverpool - his Inter Milan side losing 2-0 at Anfield and 1-0 at home in the Champions League two years ago.
Manchester City
• They are unbeaten at home in all competitions since losing to Fulham in April (W16, D4).
• City's current six-match winning streak at home is their longest in the league since a club record nine successive victories from August to December 2007.
• Roberto Mancini has lost three of his 13 games in charge - one defeat more than predecessor Mark Hughes suffered in 21 games this season.
• Shaun Wright-Phillips is poised to make his 200th Premier League appearance for Manchester City. He has scored 34 goals in 199 league games for the club in two spells.
Liverpool
• They have earned 17 points from their last eight games, a tally surpassed only by Manchester United.
• However, Liverpool have only won one of their last six away matches - and failed to score in four of them.
• They are looking to avoid back-to-back league defeats for the first time in four months.
• The Reds have not conceded in the first half of their last eight league matches.
Referee: Peter Walton
Assistant referees: Adam Watts & Simon Long
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
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