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Manchester City didn't celebrate on Anfield for 12 years

Liverpool were broken in Istanbul on Thursday, getting themselves eliminated from the Europa League, and Manchester City got defeated at home by Barcelona on Tuesday, in the Champions League. One point in the championship isn't enough for either's ambitions

Newcastle United

Last year, Liverpool and Manchester City were fighting for the champion title, Liverpool lost the battle thanks to the home defeat by Chelsea, and a 3-3 tie against Crystal Palace after they were in the lead. This year, only City have some chances to get the best thing, even though Chelsea are big five points ahead.

Liverpool got a big disappointment on Thursday, when they got eliminated from the Europa League by Bešiktaš in Istanbul, and the eleven meter shot Dejan Lovren missed decided it all in the tenth series. Someone's got to miss in a situation like that, and Brendan Rodgers's team weren't up to it through the 90 minutes and the overtime. Now, they have to focus all their strength to the championship, and try to get the fourth place. But, with the competition that there is, it's far from a simple feat.

- I feel sorry for Lovren because he played really well, but someone's got to miss. He wanted to shoot, all five shooters were confident, and it's a shame it ended like this. We defended ourselves well throughout the entire match, we limited them to only a few chances, but we got punished for one mistake we made - Brendan Rodgers said after Istanbul. 

In his team, the captain Steven Gerrard is still out, Henderson is questionable, but Coutinho is coming back. He didn't play on Thursday due to a minor injury.

- We already played more matches than in the entire previous season, but we have to look forward exclusively, and try to fulfill our goals in the championship and the FA Cup. The end of the season will tell us how successful we were, but we'll do everything to defeat Manchester City today, despite the fatigue and the disappointment from Istanbul. I think this team's got a lot of exciting young talents, and they can sway things our way, together with the fans - Rodgers believes. 

Liverpool didn't lose to City at home since 2003, that is, the last 11 matches with seven wins.

Manchester City lived through an equal, if not greater, disappointment on Tuesday in the Champions League, when they were defeated at home, 1-2 against Barcelona. Their chances to get even in the return fixture are minimal. Back line's very bad game was at fault for two goals conceded in the first part, and Agüero managed to reduce the defeat a bit in the second. The goalie Hart managed helped by saving Lionel Messi's eleven meter shot in the last minute.

So, Manchester City can win the premiership, but aren't up to the greatest teams in the Champions League. Manuel Pellegrini's team can hardly defend the title because they can't afford to make a new mistake, and this away match on Anfield can tell us a lot.

This field is definitely not a favorite one for the City, and even though it will be more difficult for Liverpool because they only had two days to rest, the guests will have to be on their top form if they want to win. Their matches against the strongest clubs this season haven't been convincing so far.

- We recently ended the embarrassing tradition by winning in Stoke, and we'd have to do the same on Anfield today, because that's the only way for us to stay in for the champion title - Pellegrini was clear.

He'll be able to rely on all of his players, nobody's injured or carded, and Wilfried Bony is expected to start from the first minute for the first time.

- The match in Istanbul jeopardized Liverpool's preparations for this match, like losing Suarez which was crucial this season, but there are a lot of good players who can be very dangerous. I expect a dynamic fight with no compromises on both sides, we don't have a choice but to go for a win - Pellegrini concluded.

In the last six matches these two played, there were 20 goals scored total, and today, one point isn't enough for either's ambitions.