LONDON (SE) - Manchester City will be under pressure to bounce back from their Champions League disappointment when they travel to Anfield to play Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
City need just a point for a club record 16-game unbeaten streak, while victory would make it an astonishing eight successive Premier League wins. However, Roberto Mancini's side will still feel they have a point to prove after the 2-1 defeat in Napoli and possible Champions League elimination at the group stage. Liverpool are currently sixth in the table and 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City, but Mancini is fully aware of the test the Merseysiders will pose.
"Liverpool will be a very hard game on Sunday. Liverpool are a strong team," warned Mancini. "In my opinion I think they have a team that can win the Premier League.
"The Barclays Premier League is difficult, it is long and hard. We have played only 12 games. The squads now at Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea are why they can fight for the title."
Liverpool beat City 3-0 at Anfield last season and are unbeaten at home against the Manchester club since 2003. Manager Kenny Dalglish has been in bullish mood ahead of the game and revealed he is considering starting Andy Carroll after the striker's brace in the win last season.
"Andy scored two great goals against them last year but we got our reward for that and so did Andy," said Dalglish. "That is not to say because he scored two last year he will do the same this year - you are giving yourself a bit of a problem if you think that's you finished.
"We will start afresh, Andy included, for the game on Sunday and if we can repeat the same result everyone will be happy."
In response to questions over Liverpool's squad depth, Dalglish added: "Almost every week we say we are happy with the strength of the squad and there are many examples of when that is reflected in the team selection and the results they have got. It is no surprise to us, so I don't see why it should be a surprise for anyone else. We have a strong squad who have been a credit to themselves and the club."
Steven Gerrard (ankle) is out for Liverpool, while Manchester City have concerns over Mario Balotelli who is struggling with a fever.
Liverpool's win over City last season was the last time Mancini's side failed to score in a top-flight match - they have found the back of the net in 18 games since, bagging 52 goals in total.
Balotelli has scored five in four Premier League starts this season, while Sergio Aguero has ten in 11 appearances. City haven't won at Anfield in the last eight visits, and have picked up three points just once in the last 12 games against Liverpool. Carroll has scored four goals in five Premier League appearances against City.
