Anfield offers a real test for City’s title credentials on Sunday. Following the defeat at Napoli there needs to be a positive response from the players against opponents who will be buoyed by last week’s defeat of Chelsea.
Anfield was also the scene of Roberto Mancini’s last poor performance on English soil with the 3-0 defeat that raised doubts about our ability to finish in the top four. All that now seems a long time ago yet the manager is unlikely to have forgotten the bruising encounter.
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City crashed to defeat in Naples courtesy of two Edinson Cavani goals to only one from Mario Balotelli. With our hopes of qualifying now reliant on a favour from Villarreal this is likely to prove a costly result.
Roberto Mancini’s side were always unlikely to win the Champions League but getting beyond the group stages would have been good for building the brand, and for the money with Financial Fair Play in mind.
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Hart – Might have done better trying to stop Cavani’s second with his foot rather than hand. Pulled off a couple of excellent saves in the second half to keep us in the contest. 6
Kolarov – Fears over his lack of pace proved fully justified. Not quick enough to cause problems in attack nor to relieve them in defence. 5
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City take on Napoli in what feels like a play-off to progress from the Champions League group stages. Roberto Mancini knows Naples well and the team ought to be well prepared for a difficult game.
There has been much talk of the intimidating atmosphere, Napoli’s home record in European competition and, of course, the attacking trio of Cavani, Lavezzi and Hamsik. Yet City are full of confidence having won their last nine fixtures, while Napoli have won only two of their last eight in Serie A.
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