***Official City v Liverpool Match Thread***
Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:01 pm[center]
v 
23rd Aug 2010
KO 20:00
Ground: The City of Manchester Stadium
[/center]
City team news
The Italian coach has arguably his biggest problem in selecting a consistent team, but he may switch to a more defensive outlook with Toure, Nigel De Jong and Gareth Barry in central midfield.
He does however have the added bonus of possibly handing his latest acquisitions James Milner and Mario Balotelli their Premier League debuts.
Milner finally arrived from Aston Villa to provide even more competition on the wings, whilst Balotelli score City's winner against Timisoara in the Europa League.
The Italian striker however is struggling with a knee injury, despite declaring he would be fit, but Milner is set to start.
Kolarov will sit out the encounter with an ankle injury whilst other new signing Jerome Boateng is still out with a knee problem.
Hart is expected to keep his place in goal after keeping two clean sheets, which will add further speculation over the future of former number one Shay Given.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool will make the trip without Joe Cole available due to him beginning a three-match ban after his sending off against Arsenal.
Hodgson may opt to start Steven Gerrard in Cole's advanced midfield position after loaning £20million midfielder Alberto Aquilani to Juventus after just one season at the club.
Christian Poulsen is likely to make his debut in the centre of midfield alongside Javier Mascherano, who has recovered from a knock against the Gunners.
Daniel Agger is still struggling however after suffering a serious concussion in the same match and may not feature.
Martin Skrtel, Dirk Kuyt and Glen Johnson are all likely to return after being left out of the Reds' Europa League tie against Trabzonspor.
N'Gog on the other hand may not feature due to the return to fitness of star striker and former City target Fernando Torres, who is pushing to start his first game of the season.
New keeper Brad Jones will take his place on the substitutes' bench following his £2.3million move from Middlesbrough.
Possible Starting XIs
Man City: Hart, Bridge, K.Toure, Kompany, Richards, Barry, Y. Toure, De Jong, Milner, Silva, Tevez.
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Poulsen, Mascherano, Kuyt, Jovanovic, Gerrard, Torres.
v 23rd Aug 2010
KO 20:00
Ground: The City of Manchester Stadium
[/center]City team news
The Italian coach has arguably his biggest problem in selecting a consistent team, but he may switch to a more defensive outlook with Toure, Nigel De Jong and Gareth Barry in central midfield.
He does however have the added bonus of possibly handing his latest acquisitions James Milner and Mario Balotelli their Premier League debuts.
Milner finally arrived from Aston Villa to provide even more competition on the wings, whilst Balotelli score City's winner against Timisoara in the Europa League.
The Italian striker however is struggling with a knee injury, despite declaring he would be fit, but Milner is set to start.
Kolarov will sit out the encounter with an ankle injury whilst other new signing Jerome Boateng is still out with a knee problem.
Hart is expected to keep his place in goal after keeping two clean sheets, which will add further speculation over the future of former number one Shay Given.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool will make the trip without Joe Cole available due to him beginning a three-match ban after his sending off against Arsenal.
Hodgson may opt to start Steven Gerrard in Cole's advanced midfield position after loaning £20million midfielder Alberto Aquilani to Juventus after just one season at the club.
Christian Poulsen is likely to make his debut in the centre of midfield alongside Javier Mascherano, who has recovered from a knock against the Gunners.
Daniel Agger is still struggling however after suffering a serious concussion in the same match and may not feature.
Martin Skrtel, Dirk Kuyt and Glen Johnson are all likely to return after being left out of the Reds' Europa League tie against Trabzonspor.
N'Gog on the other hand may not feature due to the return to fitness of star striker and former City target Fernando Torres, who is pushing to start his first game of the season.
New keeper Brad Jones will take his place on the substitutes' bench following his £2.3million move from Middlesbrough.
Possible Starting XIs
Man City: Hart, Bridge, K.Toure, Kompany, Richards, Barry, Y. Toure, De Jong, Milner, Silva, Tevez.
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Poulsen, Mascherano, Kuyt, Jovanovic, Gerrard, Torres.