Man City v Liverpool preview
By Chris Shaw
That tonight's match is seen as the first real test of Manchester City's title credentials, rather than Liverpool's, is testament to how the landscape has changed for both clubs since being taken over by foreign businessmen in 2007. Both teams have taken diverging paths since then - City were taken over again just a year later by oil-rich investors from Abu Dhabi who began a heavy recruitment program, whereas Liverpool have stumbled from crisis to crisis under unpopular American owners. City's endless wealth has allowed them to assemble a squad full of star players, while the Reds have been content just to hold on to the ones they have.
New manager Roy Hodgson has operated on a tiny budget this summer, strengthening his squad with the free signings of Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic before bringing in Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen for ã4.5m and goalkeeper Brad Jones, who is classed as a home-grown player under the new Premier League 25-man squad rules, for around ã2m. But with several players leaving, including Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera for reasonable fees, Hodgson is some way short of the ã20m net spend previous managers have been afforded.
In fact, Liverpool have been balancing the books for the last two years, frustrating Rafa Benitez in his last season in charge. Large transfer fees have been received for players such as Xabi Alonso and Robbie Keane but fans have complained that the money has not been reinvested in the squad.
The widespread discontent at Anfield last season, which culminated in Benitez leaving the club after six years, led to rumours that Liverpool's key players - Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano - could leave too. Torres has been heavily linked with a record move to tonight's opponents but recently pledged his immediate future to the Reds, following the captain's commitment to the cause. Mascherano, who was promised a move this summer a year ago, has again expressed his desire to leave for family reasons, but with a bid yet to materialise and the club happy to retain his services, could stay.
Things could not be more different at Eastlands, where manager Roberto Mancini has unlimited cash to supplement an ever-growing squad. Incremental improvements have allowed City to finally attract world-class players such as Yaya Toure and David Silva. Recent additions Mario Balotelli and James Milner have taken the club's spending to nearly ã130m this summer as they look to mount a serious challenge for Champions League qualification and the Premier League title.
The Premier League's new rules, which oblige clubs to name a 25-man squad for the season, is likely to be most problematic for City, who now have more than 30 first-team players. This was evident in their willingness to loan out former Red Craig Bellamy, who was one of their best players last season, and to sacrifice Stephen Ireland, who was named the club's Player of the Year in 2009, as part of the deal to sign Milner.
Should Milner make his debut against Liverpool, City's team would have cost around ã100m more than the Reds' likely starting eleven. Such a gulf would have been unthinkable even five years ago but Hodgson is facing a very different challenge to that of his illustrious predecessors. Many rival Premier League managers have suggested it is inevitable that City will win the title in coming seasons and such is the current financial disparity between Liverpool and City, they are considered the more likely of the two to challenge Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Older/Newer
« Latest LFC news from the Liverpool ECHO - Reds eye PSV double swoop, Skrtel's tale of two cities, Hodgson wouldn't swop cash for Torres | Latest LFC news from the Liverpool ECHO - Have your say on Mascherano saga, Roy: We won't be bullied by Barca, King: Masch has let club & team-mates down »
2 Comments
Latest Premier League video
ch is the current financial disparity between Liverpool and City, they are considered the more likely of the two to challenge Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.e4
thanks for your nice sharing!,and your UI should be more comfortable!