REDS RAID CITY
The industry of Sturridge and Gerrard must come to the fore against Manuel Pellegrini’s quality-packed Manchester City side at the Etihad on Monday night.
AGENCIES Photo
Tough trip. Man City started off their game against Newcastle in jittery fashion although they went on to win. Liverpool will find them in a better state.
Liverpool might have won their opening game against Southampton with a 2-1 victory at Anfield Stadium but they still have their plates full going into the second weekend of the English Premier League.
Their regrets about missing out on a first English league title for 24 years last season will be stronger than ever on Monday when they visit champions Manchester City, who pipped them by two points.
The meeting of last term’s top two is the highlight of the weekend Premier League programme, in which Arsenal and Manchester United face tricky away games while Chelsea will expect to record a second straight win over a promoted side. Liverpool will make the short motorway trip east to Manchester knowing they should be arriving as title holders.
With three matches to play last season, Brendan Rodgers’ side were nine points clear of City, who had two games in hand but had just lost 3-2 at Anfield. Liverpool then lost at home to Chelsea, and then frittered away a three-goal lead at Crystal Palace, allowing City to finish top by winning their four remaining games. The Manchester side were the more impressive of the two on the opening weekend of the new campaign, easing to a 2-0 win at Newcastle United with goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero.
Liverpool, now without last season’s leading scorer Luis Suarez, were below their best at home to Southampton and needed a late goal from Daniel Sturridge to win 2-1.
City’s neighbours Manchester United visit Sunderland on Sunday hoping to shrug off last weekend’s surprise 2-1 home defeat to Swansea City in their first league match under new manager Louis van Gaal.
FULL EPL FIXTURES
Villa vs. Castle, 2:45pm
Chelsea vs. Leicester, 5pm
C. Palace vs. West Ham, 5pm
Southampton vs. West Brom, 5pm
Swansea vs. Burnley, 5pm
Everton vs. Arsenal, 7.30pm
TOMORROW
Hull vs. Stoke, 3.30pm
Spurs vs. QPR, 3.30pm
Sunderland vs. Man Utd, 6pm
MONDAY
Man City vs. Liverpool, 10pm
