Man City vs Liverpool

MANCHESTER CITY HartZabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy Barry, Garcia Milner, Silva, Aguero Dzeko

LIVERPOOL ReinaWisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson Henderson, Lucas Suarez, Gerrard, Sterling Sturridge

The game is likely to have come too soon for Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany (calf), while the same can be said about Micah Richards (knee) who is edging closer to a return.

Brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure remain on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast, meaning Roberto Mancini is unlikely to make too many changes.

Phillip Coutinho could feature from the bench on Sunday after completing his switch from Inter and Jose Reina (hip) is set to continue in goal after returning against Arsenal in midweek.

Andre Wisdom will probably continue at right back despite the probable return of Jose Enrique, with Glen Johnson filling in at left back despite his battles with a hamstring strain.

Martin Kelly (knee) is a long-term absentee, and is only expected back at the end of March.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester City has won two and lost just one of its last eight Premier League meetings with Liverpool, with five of those ending in a draw.

• City has kept six clean sheets in succession in all competitions for the first time since August 1999.
  

• Mancini's side is five points and 18 goals worse off than it was at this point last season.
  

• Luis Suarez is integral to Liverpool's goal output - he has 22 in all competitions, and his nearest teammate is Steven Gerrard with just six.

• Liverpool is the most accurate long passing team in the Premier League this season (69 percent).
  

• Steven Gerrard (pictured) is the only midfielder or striker to play every minute of every Premier League game this season.
  
• Liverpool has scored in its last 11 Premier League games, only Man Utd (12) is on a longer current run.