'Midfield 'jungle' will be key battleground'
Brendan Rodgers has highlighted the importance of a midfield showdown which will play out in front of a baying Anfield audience tomorrow when Liverpool lock horns with Manchester City.
A stunning array of talent will be on display when the two high-fliers go head-to-head in front of a Kop End which is sure to be shuddering with passion.
The manager believes each of the individual contests, scattered about the park will be equally enthralling, but agreed that the centre of the pitch will see frenzied action from start to finish.
Liverpool, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho, Joe Allen, Lucas Leiva and more to choose from, will clash with Yaya Toure and co - and Rodgers cannot wait to see the results.
"That's the jungle of the pitch, that's where it's busy and there's lots of quality" the manager said of the midfield when quizzed by reporters gathered at Melwood.
"City have a world-class player in Yaya Toure. I've seen him a lot in his career and in particular at Barcelona where he played as a holding player.
"He played centre-half some games. But he's come in and been a real attacking force for them. He's a player of immense quality.
"Then there's Fernandinho, who has come in and been a real rock in the middle of the field and then they've dropped David Silva into that No.10 role and I think he's one of the best in the world.
"But we will look forward to that pattern in there, it's an area that we like to dominate in a lot of our games and I'm sure it will be contested very competitively."
Victory in Sunday's eagerly anticipated clash would move Liverpool seven points clear of City; however, their Manchester rivals will retain two games in hand on the Reds.
Rodgers' side have surged to the Barclays Premier League summit in recent weeks thanks to nine consecutive wins, but the manager expects a gruelling test tomorrow against Manuel Pellegrini's formidable outfit.
"First and foremost we always respect the opponents," said Rodgers. "City have a team of wonderful players. They have a first-class manager, who I think has been a credit since he's come into the country.
"He's been very humble and he's a man of great experience. He did a wonderful job at Villarreal and he worked at Malaga under difficult circumstances and did very well.
"At Real Madrid, he had a great season, but was unfortunate - and now he's come into Manchester City. He's got top players and he's got the conditions to win trophies and win games, but I still think he's done very, very well.
"We respect them and their qualities as a club and as a team. But our focus is on ourselves. If we play ay Anfield, we expect to win.
"Every game we play, with the backing of the supporters, it gives us the extra man in the force that we feel. Hopefully the opponent feels it as a strong one. That has allowed us to make Anfield a difficult place to come."