Liverpool prediction

Manchester City midfield duo Elano and Dietmar Hamann are set to be recalled after being rested for the 2-2 draw against Blackburn.

Fellow midfielder Michael Johnson again misses out because of a groin injury.

Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger (foot) may be rushed back as Sami Hyypia is a doubt with an ankle injury.

If the pair are not fit, youngster Jack Hobbs could play or Alvaro Arbeloa (flu) could be used in central defence. Peter Crouch is suspended. <!-- E SF -->

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Man City (from): Hart, Isaksson, Onuoha, Corluka, Sun, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Elano, Fernandes, Geovanni, Petrov, Mpenza, Vassell, Bianchi, Samaras.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hobbs, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Babel, Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Kewell, Voronin, Torres, Kuyt, Lucas, Agger, Itandje.

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-BBC Sport.

An interesting contest is on the cards when we host Liverpool tomorrow, as fourth meets fifth in a battle of home form against away form. We may have well lost our 100% home record but are still unbeaten, whilst Liverpool boast an impressive away record this campaign.

Eriksson is likely to start Elano, who was on bench for the last game, and Dietmar Hamann is also set for a start while Michael Johnson will be out with groin problem.

Rafa Benitez will wait on defender Sami Hyypia, who picked up an ankle problem at Pride Park, until last minute and if the Finland international fails a fitness test then Denmark defender Daniel Agger could make his return after a lengthy absence from a metatarsal injury.

Our record against Liverpool at home in recent seasons is favourable and we should go into the game with confidence, but they do have definite dangerman that can cause our defence problems - in particular the red hot form of Fernando Torres who must be giving the pairing of Dunne and Richards sleepless nights ahead of this game.

At the other end of the pitch, we are capable of scoring goals and Liverpool have injury worries themselves with Daniel Agger and Sami Hyppia late fitness doubts. Hopefully Bianchi's can put aside his disillusionment with English 'culture' and continue his goalscoring record of late.

A tricky one to call this one, and if anything (and despite our home record) we probably start as slight underdogs. Recent encounters have not been the most memorable, and I'm going to predict a similar outcome with this game as a 1-1 draw is most likely for me.