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QPR 0-1 City

(after extra time)

City XI: (4-2-3-1) Pantilimon, Richards, Demichelis, Nastasic (Zaba 66’), Kolarov, Rodwell, Ferna, Milner, Nasri (Navas 66’), Dzeko, Guidetti (Negredo 80’)

Booked: -

Injured: Jesus Navas (5-8 days)

Scorers: James Milner (111’)

MoM: Richard Dunne (QPR)

Capital One Cup 4th Round Draw:

After progressing against QPR, City will face Southampton in the next round of the cup. The Saints pulled off a shock in the third round, defeating Chelsea on penalties to set up a rematch of the opening day encounter in which City were victorious 4-0.

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10 years

Preview: Liverpool vs Manchester City

Nearing the end of his second month as manager of Manchester City, Noel Gallagher has been giving his thoughts on his short reign at City so far and previewing his side’s crunch game against Liverpool on Saturday.

Manchester City, under Gallagher, have made the start many people would have expected of them. The sky blues have chalked up an impressive 7 wins out of 8 in all competitions and despite a blip at Stoke earlier in the month, have looked - for the most part - strong challengers for the title. The blues are currently sitting just 1 point of top-spot, level on points with Chelsea but behind their cross-town rivals United. However, Gallagher is confident that City can overtake the reds.

“We’ve been getting the results and if we hadn't have slipped up at Stoke we would have been out in front already. It’s still very early on and United are guaranteed to lose games in the future so we just need to keep winning games so that when they do slip up we’re in a position to take full advantage.”

The new style of football City have shown under Gallagher has also been a welcome change at the Etihad. Last season, City often played slow, possession football and found it hard to break down some of the League’s tougher defences. However, this season the blues have displayed a much more attacking brand of play and have managed to find the net in all of their games so far, scoring 17 across all competitions.

“Yeah, I’m pleased with the football we’ve shown so far.” says Gallagher. “Obviously, the most important thing at the end of the day is the result but if you can play nice football and win games as well – that’s a big bonus. We want to score as many goals as we can but at the same time I also think it’s just as important to keep a clean sheet whenever we can. It’s about getting the right balance between attack and defence in my opinion and I think we’re starting to achieve that.”

Gallagher then fielded several questions regarding the current “injury crisis” City are undergoing and was asked whether having 5 first team players ruled out for the team’s crunch clash against Liverpool would affect their chances in the match.

“I think we’ve been really unlucky, not only with the number of injuries we’ve ended up with at one time but also with the actual players that have been injured, like Sergio [Aguero] and David [Silva] who are massive players for the team. Of course they’ll be missed but that doesn't mean we can’t go to Liverpool and get a result. We’ve got a quality squad and a lot of depth, so I’m still confident and believe we can get the 3 points if we put in a performance I know we’re capable of.”

Finally, Gallagher was asked to sum up his side’s chances when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

“If we play how I know we can, we’ve got every chance of coming home with the 3 points. Brendan [Rodgers] is a great manager and Liverpool have a nice side but – even with our injury problems – I still think we have an exceptionally strong side and we want to show that on Saturday with a win.”

City go into the game 1-point off leaders United and level with Liverpool and could potentially go top with a win - if other results go their way.

City have 5 players ruled out for the clash but Gallagher says he remains confident that his side can take the 3 points on Saturday

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10 years

Matchday: Liverpool vs City

00’: Hello and welcome to Anfield! You’re here with me Martin Tyler as we eagerly anticipate this heavyweight clash between Manchester City and Liverpool. It’s still early in the season but this match could tell us a lot about who will be challenging for the title in May, both sides want to win with everything on the line, it should be a cracker of a match!

00’: I can now official confirm the line-ups for both sides:

LIVERPOOL: (4-3-3) MIGNOLET, KELLY, SKRTEL, AGGER, ENRIQUE, LEIVA, GERRARD, HENDERSON, MOSES, SUAREZ, ASPAS

The home side have gone with a 4-3-3 formation that we have seen a lot of this season. They will be looking to gain control in the midfield through Gerrard, Henderson and Leiva, opting to go with Iago Aspas up front ahead of Daniel Sturridge meaning Suarez is pushed out onto the left while Moses starts on the right.

CITY: (4-3-3) HART, RICHARDS, KOMPANY, NASTASIC, KOLAROV, GARCIA, FERNANDINHO, TOURE YAYA, MILNER, NASRI, NEGREDO

City have gone like for like with Liverpool in terms of formation, a change from their normal 4-2-3-1 to slightly more defensive 4-3-3. The added cover Javi Garcia will give in midfield should allow Yaya Toure to contribute more when City do attack, supporting the front three of Nasri, Milner and Negredo.

The Match:

00:’ The atmosphere inside Anfield is electric as the teams make their way out of the tunnel. City boss, Noel Gallagher has just taken his place in the dugout, he said in the build-up to this game he’s confident that City can take all 3 points here today, whether or not that prediction come true we’ll just have to wait and see. Once the players are in position, the referee blows his whistle and we’re underway here at Anfield!

20’: We’re 20 minutes in and Liverpool have looked much the stronger side in the early stages of this match, but just can’t find a way through this City defence. The home side are piling on the pressure, but City look happy to sit back and wait for an opening.

Once again the ball is hacked away by the City defence… it falls to Kelly who heads it down to Gerrard – but it’s intercepted by Yaya Toure. Now the Ivorian has the ball at his feet and looks to make a surging run through the centre of midfield… Still going … Gives it to Negredo who has Nasri to his left and Milner to the right… he picks out Nasri, who is through on goal – Kelly comes across with a last ditch tackle, he slides the ball the way but only as far as JAMES MILNER -

GOAL! Manchester City take the lead through James Milner! After a lot of defending they waited for the opportunity to hit Liverpool on the break and got their reward! That goal came largely against the run of play – but Manchester City won’t care, they get their noses ahead and Liverpool will have to find something extra to get try back into it now. 1-0!

38': Manchester City, leading 1-0, have a free-kick in the Liverpool half. Kolarov to take… he whips it in - headed away by the Liverpool defence. Kompany picks up the loose ball and looks to restart the attack – the ball finds Nasri now out on the left…advances to the byline, thinks about putting a cross in – instead he ducks back inside, lays it off to YAYA TOURE - ! The Ivorian’s powerful shot is palmed away by Mignolet – Negredo quite reach the rebound! It falls to MILNER -

GOAL! City have a another and it’s James Milner again! The credit has to go to Nasri for creating a brilliant opportunity for Yaya Toure, his powerful effort was saved by Mignolet but there was nothing he could do to stop James Milner slamming home the rebound to put City 2-0 ahead and now Liverpool have a mountain to climb for the remainder of the match.

HT: The referee blows for half-time and as the teams leave the pitch it’s Manchester City who lead 2-0 at the break thanks to a first-half double from James Milner.

HALF-TIME SCORE: LIVERPOOL 0 CITY 2

45’: The teams are back out and the referee gets the second half-underway, can Liverpool mount a fight-back here or will Manchester City take the 3 points at Anfield. There’s only one way to find out – hopefully they’ll be more goals excitement in the second half – away we go!

56’: Fernandinho is down after a challenge from Jordan Henderson, the referee orders him off the field to receive treatment. City are down to 10 men for the time being and Liverpool look to kick-start an attack, Moses plays a one-two with Gerrard and sets off down the right-hand side.
Gerrard to Henderson – finds Iago Aspas… he turns and plays in Victor Moses who is onside… he shoots –

Joe Hart gets a hand to the ball and it deflects it up onto the cross-bar! The ball bounces on the line but Vincent Kompany manages to hoof it clear – lucky escape for City - they still lead 2-0, Liverpool looking dangerous.

63’: SUB: It’s a double change for City, Aleksander Kolarov is forced off due to injury and is replaced by Pablo Zabaleta.

The other change sees Fernandinho, who also seems to be carrying a knock, make way for Jack Rodwell.

78’: City looking to add to their lead here, Richards throws it in to Garcia – gets it back… he swings the ball into the box but it’s cleared by Liverpool. Gerrard looks to feed Suarez on the break but it’s well cut out by Zabaleta. Toure now – finds Nasri, the Frenchman wriggles through the Liverpool defence and tries the shot from a tight angle! – but the ball goes inches wide of the post and out of play. City almost had 3 there.

79’: SUB: City make a final change – James Milner is coming off, scorer of both of City’s first half goals, and will be replaced by Stevan Jovetic.

83’: Very late in the game now. Richards with the throw in – finds Jovetic… the Montenegrin looks to advance into the box, can he get a shot away here – he weaves his way past two defenders, takes it to the byline - spots the run of Yaya Toure and drills the ball across to the far post –

GOAL! Yaya Toure seals the deal late on for Manchester City, Jovetic picks him out perfectly at the back post and he heads home to put the icing on the cake for Manchester City and resign Liverpool to a humbling home defeat. Surely no way back for them now and the game looks dead and buried.

FT’: The referee blows his whistle for the last time and City celebrate a convincing win over a Liverpool side who controlled the ball for long periods of the game but in the end were undone by City’s pace on the break and clinical finishing.

FINAL SCORE: LIVERPOOL 0 CITY 3

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