Squad sheets: Manchester City v Liverpool

It is tempting to depict this a clash between the future and the past. Manchester City enjoy all the means and will expect, at the minimum, to qualify for the Champions League this season. Liverpool crave a return to that lucrative tournament and Roy Hodgson's know-how has to bring new impetus to the club. City, despite the outlay, have not been exhilarating so far, but a goalless draw at Spurs and a 1-0 win away to Timisoara in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs suggested that solidity is the immediate priority. Kevin McCarra Venue City of Manchester Stadium, Monday 8pm Tickets Sold out Last season Manchester City 0 Liverpool 0 Referee P Dowd This season's matches 1 Y 3, R 0, 3.00 cards per game Odds Manchester City 11-8 Liverpool 23-10 Draw 23-10 Manchester City Subs from Given, Taylor, Balotelli, Boyata, Vieira, A Johnson, Ibrahim, Nimely, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor, Jô Doubtful Balotelli (knee) Injured Boateng (knee, 29 Aug), Kolarov (ankle, 29 Aug), Bridge (foot, 11 Sep), M Johnson (knee, unknown), Suspended None Form guide D Disciplinary record Y2 R0 Leading scorer n/a Liverpool Subs from Cavalieri, Jones, Aquilani, Ngog, Agger, Rodríguez, Pacheco, Babel, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Wilson, Spearing, Shelvey, Kelly, Ayala, Amoo Doubtful Agger (concussion), Mascherano (calf) Injured None Suspended Cole (first of three) Form guide D Disciplinary record Y1 R0 Leading scorer Ngog 1 Match pointers • Five of the last seven league meetings between these teams have ended in draws • Manchester City have not won at home to Liverpool since April 2005 when a last minute goal from Kiki Musampa secured a 1-0 victory • Liverpool's only win in their last nine away Premier League games was a 4-0 victory over Burnley in April • Joe Hart was the busiest goalkeeper in the top flight last week, making a save every 11.3 minutes on average • If selected, Glen Johnson would be playing on his 26th birthday