LONDON, Nov 19 (AP): Manchester City's expensively assembled squad gets another chance to show it is a serious contender for a top-four finish in the Premier League when it travels to Liverpool Saturday.
After losing five of its first 12 games, Liverpool is languishing in seventh place and is the most vulnerable of the so-called Big Four to losing its regular Champions League qualifying spot.
Five straight draws mean that City only leads Liverpool by one point and one place, but victory at Anfield could lift City back into the top four.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is under pressure and is likely to come up against a player he once hoped was going to help him win the club's first league title since 1990.
Gareth Barry was close to joining Liverpool from Aston Villa in 2008 but the move fell through and the England midfielder moved to City a year later.
Liverpool still finished second to Manchester United last season but key midfielder Xabi Alonso then quit for Real Madrid, having been unsettled by Benitez's attempts to replace him.
Barry was hurt in England's 1-0 friendly loss to Brazil on Saturday but should still play.
"Gareth came back from the international with a little bit of soreness but it should not be a problem for the weekend," City manager Mark Hughes said.
Barry has started all City's 11 Premier League matches and each of its three League Cup games as well as playing five times for England. That's 19 games since Aug. 12.
Man City aiming to show top-4 credentials
FE Team | Published: November 20, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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