mancityblues.com

After the Copenhagen game, Mark Hughes acknowledged that City have trouble with away fixtures. (No sh*t, Sherlock!)

More specifically with teams that "park the bus" adding that Liverpool will be compelled to attack on Sunday and in so doing may leave gaps that can be exploited. However, Rafa Benitez is no mug; the Liverpool manager will have looked at the last two City games and will have come to the conclusion that if his team can stop Robinho, Bellamy and Ireland from performing, then a victory is in the bag. So how can Hughes and his embattled side come up with a riposte to this simple but stubborn problem?

DO WE?

i. Forget about winning the game against Liverpool, and adjust the team and tactics to battling out a draw, or

ii. Carry on with a more cavalier approach, and try for a 3-2 victory or similar? Keegan surely would have.

MANCHESTER CITY (likely)

1. Given - quality keeper, still finding his feet
2. Richards - unable to climb out of his trough of poor form
3. Bridge - having a tough time with little help from Robinho
4. Onuoha - good test against Torres for a future star
5. Dunne - lacking in Copenhagen
6. Elano - mercurial talent - will he perform?
7. Kompany - super player, we need him in the midfield imho
8. De Jong - still finding his feet, will need to be ready on Sunday
9. Ireland - not at his best recently, hopefully todays goal will help him
10. Robinho - will he show?
11. Bellamy - good player, but easily isolated away when the only striker


LIVERPOOL (likely)

1. Reina - solid, consistent GK, helped by a great defensive unit
11. Riera/Babel - both capable of destroying full backs
10. Kuyt/Benayoun - Kuyt is SuperVass, Benayoun useful against tired players
9. Torres - his battle with Ned should be titanic
8. Benayoun/Kuyt - see above
7. Mascherano - the standard by which holding midfielders are judged
6. Aurelio/Dossena - Aurelio is a top quality LB, Dossena more ruthless
5. Lucas/(Gerrard) - decent enough player to come in for Alonso
4. Skrtel - nasty but effective
3. Arbeloa - intelligent and steady
2. Carragher, one of the best still

Honestly, if we play the above City side we are in for a heavy defeat. I just cannot see the same old personnel and tactics working - Hughes should go with this line-up;

Given

Zabaleta Dunne Onuoha Bridge

Ireland Kompany De Jong Garrido

Bellamy Caceido

(Bench, Hart, Richards, Mee,Elano, Robinho, Clayton, Sturridge.)

Zabaleta comes in for the out-of-form Richards, Ireland on the right side of midfield with the brief to track Aurelio/Riera and to release Bellamy behind the Liverpool defense. Kompany and De Jong are team-mates from Hamburg so I'm hoping they will quickly form a strong unit. Many fans will disagree, but I've left the Brazilians on the bench with the intention of introducing them later on in the game when and if the opposition tires. Garrido can do a good job on the left, swapping with Bridge if that becomes more effective. Finally, I'd like to see Bellamy and Big Phil Caceido in harness to provide a genuine threat to Carragher and co. One or the other will need to drop into midfield when necessary, but I think both players are capable of this.

Argue if you like, but I honestly believe a surprise change is essential, at least now we have the personnel to do it.

BLOOVIC