Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Liverpool midfielders Adam Lallana (calf) and Joe Allen (hamstring) and defender Martin Skrtel (also hamstring) are all back in training, although might not play.
Centre-back Dejan Lovren has recovered from illness. Boss Klopp played midfielder Lucas at centre-back in the Europa League win over Augsburg on Thursday,
Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony, winger Jesus Navas and defender Eliaquim Mangala could all return from injury at Wembley. Mangala was an unused substitute for the 3-1 win in Kiev on Wednesday.
Pellegrini is hopeful captain Vincent Kompany, former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling and right-back Bacary Sagna can play after having recovery sessions.
Fabian Delph, Kevin de Bruyne and Samir Nasri are all long-term absentees.
Editor’s Note: Here it is the first Cup Final of the season and it’s set to be a good one as Liverpool take on Manchester City at Wembley this Afternoon. Manuel Pellegrini will be aiming to win what could be his last trophy for Manchester City while Jurgen Klopp will be looking to win his first.
Both sides came through a European test in Midweek, with City winning comfortably in Kiev while Liverpool were made to work for their Europa League win over Augsburg and have been rewarded with a tie against City’s cross town rivals Manchester United in the next round.
City will have the slight disadvantage of the two due to the traveling back from The Ukraine but they played 24 hours earlier so in fairness I think that disadvantage will be negated and with it being a Cup Final I doubt you’ll see much signs of fatigue as both sides will be aiming to lift the first silverware of the season.
This is the 3rd Cup game in a row for City, with the aforementioned win in Kiev on Wednesday coupled with a near reserve team being well and truly beaten at Stamford Bridge in the F.A. Cup last Sunday, Manuel Pellegrini said the win on Wednesday justified the selection of Sunday but I think it can only be truly justified if they go on to win the Champions League outright.
As for Liverpool this is a competition they love, 8 times winners and competed in 11 finals in total, they will be looking to make 9 for the club and a first piece of silverware for Manager Jurgen Klopp. Klopp who took over in October probably didn’t think he would be this close to silverware so early in his Liverpool stint but it could be fair to say that Liverpool have looked more of a Cup team this season.
With their current League position not even enabling European Football through that route next season, this Cup takes on even more importance. A win here and they can almost not worry about the rest of the League campaign but what they can then do is then focus fully on the Europa League and with that a possible back door entry to next season’s Champions League. So this trophy could be a handy insurance policy for the rest of the season.
I would make City the slight favourites but Liverpool will be not too far behind them, Liverpool will looking for a repeat of their Etihad demolition job that they carried out in November. I think the only concern for the Reds is where will the Goals come from and can they keep Sergio Aguero quiet at the other end.
With it being a Cup Final then form and logic tends to go out of the window. I have a feeling this could go to Extra Time with it being a cagey first half of the season. I reckon it won’t be won in 90 Minutes but City to snatch it in Extra Time. I do know it should be a good game for the neutral. So settle back and enjoy this one if you don’t support Liverpool or Manchester City, if you do then best of luck and try to enjoy it as best you can.
