Opposition view: Liverpool

Ahead of Sunday’s encounter, Bluemoon caught up with David Wilson from the liverpoolfc-blog.com to get the lowdown on the opposition…

What are your expectations for this season?

I would be happy with a top six finish. Last year Liverpool finished a massive 37 points behind City. Hopefully we can get into the mid 60’s in points this season as we refocus under Rodgers.

Are you happy with the manager?

Yes. I liked King Kenny, but If given the support and time, Brendan Rodgers will be a terrific hire. It will take time for his style and tactics to implemented and hopefully Fenway Sports Group give him that.

Who are your key players?

Gerrard and Suarez. Gerrard is still one of the best midfielders in the Premier League while Suarez showed last season how good a player he is.

Were you happy with the business conducted during the transfer window?

To some degree. Borini and Joe Allen are good signings, but Liverpool need a finisher. We have no problems creating chances. We just don’t put them away.

Are there any rising stars in the squad that we might not have heard of?

Best young player at Liverpool is Raheem Sterling. Sterling became the club's third youngest player of all-time when he came on as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat to Wigan last year and scored a brilliant solo effort in a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield. He is only 17, but is one for the future.

Your Achilles heel?

Two of them. One is that Liverpool are struggling to adapt to Rodgers’s style of play. The second Achilles heel is Liverpool’s inability to convert chances into goals. We saw that against West Brom when Suarez missed two good chances.

If you could have any City player in your team who would you choose?

Yaya Toure. I think he is the best midfielder in the Premier League. He doesn’t get the press that Tevez, Aguero and Silva get, but City’s struggles when he was at the African Cup last year shows how important he is.

What is your perception of City as a club?

Title contenders. The owners have spent the money to make City a threat to win every domestic competition.  The owners want to make City a “big club”

And yes I know I will get grief from City fans by not calling you a big club. But I don’t think you can honestly say that over the 30 years that City have been one. Keep winning trophies both domestically and in Europe, and that perception will change.

Likely starting XI for the game, and score prediction?

Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Johnson, Lucas , Allen, Gerrard, Assaidi, Suarez, Borini.

As for score, I am hoping for a draw (1-1). First home of the season minus having to play a Europe League game on Thursday.