TALE OF TWO CITIES - BUT WHO WILL CRACK FIRST?

Trawling through the latest news this morning, it was hard not to pick up on this comment made by a Premier League  player associated with Manchester City.
  
"We need everybody not just on the pitch but off it, too, helping each other to be stronger because now our problem could be mental, because we - and I don't like saying this - are untidy," 

"I don't like to use this word but it's true we are not used to being in this position. Against Birmingham you could see we were trying to do everything. 

"We were playing wide, between the lines, always going forward, defending with two centre-backs only, full-backs going forward, and we were trying to do all we could to win the game, but the other team scored with one free-kick and one shot from a long way out. 

It's really unlucky because we had a lot of opportunities to kill the game before as well."


The astonishing thing was that the comments were made by Ex-Blue Albert Riera now of Liverpool, and not about City.

The parallels between Liverpool and City's plight before their Mid-November league showdown are quite astounding.

Both managers are under great pressure to pull their teams out of the mire; Benitez's well-founded, Hughes' a little over the top.

The teams can't buy a win at the moment with City last registering a league win in September and Liverpool making that look like title wining form with five league defeats already this term.

England's Glen  Johnson certainly mirrors City's Wayne Bridge in many ways.Having performed outstandingly well at a lower level Premier League club, he was snapped up by Chelsea before becoming a bit part player.

After a revitalising stint at Portsmouth the England fullback signed a big money deal for another giant. Quick with great attacking qualities, the defender finds the defensive side of the game more difficult than Beckham finds the English language and is the focal point of many a fans phone-in.

Paulo Zabaleta can confirm what all of football has suspected about the Merseyside Giants- that they are scared out of of their minds after a nightmare one win in nine games.

Close to compatriots Mascherano and Insua of Liverpool the Blues' Argentinian full back commented from the team's seven star royal hotel in the Emirates.

"Liverpool is a big game and we have to win, but Liverpool is a hard place to play. They are not playing well and they have had injuries, but we need to be back in the top four.

"I speak to Mascherano and Emiliano Insua and they feel the pressure because Liverpool are a big club and they need to fight for many competitions.


"Benítez has had a lot of criticism too. It's not a good moment for them, but we have to be careful because they are still Liverpool.


The popular and tenacious defender's comments are interesting and not just for offering an insight into the psychology of a Top European side. For what Liverpool are feeling must surely be mirrored by the Blues own dressing room at the moment.

Zabaleta goes on to talk about the importance of the game to the Sky Blues saying,

"We are disappointed by our recent results, but it is our biggest game of the season and we have to win."

"We are disappointed by our recent results, but it is our biggest game of the season and we have to win."

"We must do better and there is pressure to do so, but that's normal. We have a lot of pressure. This season, the club spent a lot of money on new players and made a big effort.

"The players have pressure – good pressure – to do well, but we have the quality in the squad to fight for the top four."
 
One thing is for sure though, in the same way that Riera's comments can be applied to our squad, it is certain that the Liverpool players will be looking at this game in exactly the same way as Zab and the boys.

It makes for an enthralling game in prospect and one, with Liverpool's injuries, that Hughes' men can and should look to take three points from.

EDIT
Here's what Benitez had to say today

"I talk with my staff. We have to change some small things that we need to improve on. We talk about the positives and analyse the negatives.

"I was really pleased talking to some fans after the Birmingham game. The fans who were in the stadium could see the team did well. We have not had the luck with two late goals against Lyon and then on Monday against Birmingham.

"We deserved to win these games and the fans in the stadium know it's just a question of time.

"For me, if you're playing well and creating chances in every game, then it's just about getting a little bit of luck, scoring the second goal and finishing the game."

So let's see who gets it right first between Sparky and him.