Source: Team_Talk
Mancini aware of Liverpool threat
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini expects Liverpool to pose a big threat to their hopes of a Champions League place.[LNB] Even though the campaign is only in its infancy the meeting of the two clubs on Monday night at Eastlands could have huge significance come May.[LNB]While City have rebuilt their squad at vast expense, Liverpool have been more subdued, making a splash with the free-agent signing of England midfielder Joe Cole while also bringing in Christian Poulsen, Milan Jovanovic, Jonjo Shelvey, Danny Wilson and Brad Jones.[LNB]However more significantly for Mancini, new manager Roy Hodgson has kept hold of his best players.[LNB]Steven Gerrard has said he is happy to carry on and help Liverpool try and improve on a disappointing seventh place in the Premier League last season.[LNB]Spain striker Fernando Torres, with a World Cup winner's medal in his pocket, is also up for the challenge.[LNB]Torres is getting back to full fitness after injuring his thigh in the World Cup final and was on the bench in the draw against Arsenal last weekend.[LNB]Despite needing two knee operations during the season he still managed to finish with 22 goals in 32 games in all competitions for his club.[LNB]Argentina enforcer Javier Mascherano remains on board even though he has been linked to a move away from Anfield.[LNB]Mancini knows his side face a stiff test in their first home game in from of an expectant public.[LNB]He said: "Liverpool are a strong team. They did not sell any players from last season.[LNB]"We want to win but I have a lot of respect for them and a lot of respect for Roy Hodgson. It should be a good match."[LNB]England midfielder James Milner could make his debut after his protracted move from Aston Villa was finally sealed last week with Stephen Ireland going the other way.[LNB]Milner is the sixth new face at the club following the likes of Jerome Boateng, David Silva, Aleksander Kolarov, Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli, who have beaten a path to Eastlands.[LNB]Toure, who has joined his brother Kolo at the club after wearing the colours of Barcelona, is optimistic about the future.[LNB]City go into the match on the back of a 1-0 victory against Timisoara on Thursday in the Europa League play-off first leg match in Romania.[LNB]Toure said: "The championship is the most important thing for us. We want to do well as the club has signed some top quality players.[LNB]"People like myself, Silva and Balotelli have come in. I just hope we do not get injuries as we want to keep at a high level.[LNB]"It was nice to get a win in Romania. When you play away it is not so easy. Now we need to be clever in the second game."[LNB]Mancini is hoping Balotelli will be fit for the match. The former Inter Milan striker took a kick on the knee against Timisoara after scoring the winner on his debut.
