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Manuel Pellegrini has called on Manchester City to claim their first win at Liverpool in 12 years to boost their Barclays Premier League title challenge.
City will have an opportunity to cut Chelsea's lead at the top of the table to two points as the leaders face Tottenham Hotspur in the Capital One Cup final on Sunday.
Liverpool beat City 3-2 at Anfield last April to take a giant stride towards winning the title, only for Brendan Rodgers' side to slip up and open the door for Pellegrini's men to be crowned champions.
May 2003 was when City last tasted victory at Anfield and Pellegrini has stressed the importance of ending that 12-match run this weekend, using their first BPL win at the Britannia Stadium, a 4-1 win against Stoke City this month, as inspiration.
"You must change it,” he said. “This year we won at Stoke. In the last six years we never did that."
Pellegrini also wants City to make the most of their opponents coming into the match on the back of their UEFA Europa League defeat on penalties in Istanbul on Thursday.
"Of course it is an advantage but not a decisive one because I always think the decisive thing is the performance on the day of the game,” he said.
"But I have played in the Europa League and when you arrive on Friday it is not the best way to prepare for a game on Sunday but that is the rules.
"If we think we are going to win that game because Liverpool arrive yesterday night late, that is not the reason.
“We must play very good because they also have a strong squad. I don't think they will play the same starting XI as yesterday night."
City will welcome back Yaya Toure from his UEFA suspension, when he missed the 2-1 home defeat by Barcelona, and Pellegrini has no injuries to contend with. Philippe Coutinho is expected to return to the Liverpool side after being rested in Turkey, while Lazar Markovic is back in contention after missing the Besiktas defeat due to a European ban.
Liverpool, who are unbeaten in 10 Barclays Premier League matches, will check on the fitness of captain Steven Gerrard (hamstring), Jordan Henderson (ankle), Mamadou Sakho (hip) and Glen Johnson (illness).
Liverpool (from): Jones, Mignolet, Ward, Flanagan, Johnson, Lovren, Manquillo, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Allen, Can, Coutinho, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Markovic, Balotelli, Borini, Ibe, Lambert, Sterling, Sturridge.
Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Lampard, Milner, Nasri, Navas, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Bony, Dzeko, Jovetic.
Match Appointments
Referee: Mark Clattenburg Assistants: S Beck, S Burt Fourth Official: K Friend
Referee: Mark Clattenburg Assistants: S Beck, S Burt Fourth Official: K Friend
Match Facts
Liverpool have won two of the last 12 Barclays Premier League matches against Manchester City (W2 D6 L4).
City have scored two or more goals in each of their last six BPL matches against Liverpool.
City have won none of their last 11 BPL trips to Anfield (W0 D4 L7).
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 BPL matches (W7 D3), the league's best record over the last 10 fixtures.
Liverpool have won two of the last 12 Barclays Premier League matches against Manchester City (W2 D6 L4).
City have scored two or more goals in each of their last six BPL matches against Liverpool.
City have won none of their last 11 BPL trips to Anfield (W0 D4 L7).
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 BPL matches (W7 D3), the league's best record over the last 10 fixtures.
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A "hurt" Arsene Wenger has demanded a response to Arsenal's disappointing UEFA Champions League display against Monaco when they welcome Everton to Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Arsenal slipped to a 3-1 home defeat to French side Monaco in Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg, which left them a tall order to turn the tie around in the return meeting.
Manager Wenger was not interested in blaming any individuals after the defeat, insisting the team must take collective responsibility and put in a much improved showing as they look to consolidate third place in Barclays Premier League.
"There's nobody to blame individually. Who is a striker who didn't miss a chance? The fact that we missed some chances was only one of the characteristics of the night," he said.
"For us what is important is to respond well. We are on a strong run in the Premier League and we have to respond to that disappointment in a strong way on Sunday afternoon - that's all we can do.
"What is hurting is the defeat more than the criticism. I do not say I'm immune to it. I love to win and when I don't win, I'm hurt of course."
In contrast, Everton beat Young Boys 3-1 at home in the UEFA Europa League to complete a 7-2 aggregate triumph.
Roberto Martinez's side have now lost just once in their last seven matches and there is further cause for optimism in the fact Everton have not been beaten by Arsenal in the last five league encounters.
Martinez does not expect Arsenal to show any effects from their defeat against Monaco, though, and pointed to the Londoners' excellent home record in the Barclays Premier League as a sign of the difficultly Everton face.
"I don't think Arsenal will suffer from what happened against Monaco," he said.
"You need to remember they only have one [league] defeat at home. We are desperate to go for a good result."
Martinez, whose side are 12th, has no fresh injury worries to contend with ahead of the match. Christian Atsu and Bryan Oviedo (hamstring) remain absent after missing the clash against Young Boys, while Tony Hibbert, Aiden McGeady and Steven Pienaar (all knee) are not yet ready to return.
Wenger received another blow ahead of the match, with Jack Wilshere set for more time out after undergoing a minor ankle operation.
Arsenal (from): Martinez, Ospina, Szczesny, Bellerin, Chambers, Gabriel, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Cazorla, Coquelin, Gnabry, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Rosicky, Akpom, Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott, Welbeck.
Everton (from): Griffiths, Howard, Joel, Stanek, Alcaraz, Baines, Browning, Coleman, Distin, Garbutt, Jagielka, Stones, Barkley, Barry, Besic, Gibson, Junior, Lennon, McCarthy, Osman, Kone, Long, Lukaku, Mirallas, Naismith.
Match Appointments
Referee: Andre Marriner Assistants: S Ledger, D Cann Fourth Official: R Madley
Referee: Andre Marriner Assistants: S Ledger, D Cann Fourth Official: R Madley
Match Facts
Arsenal have gone five matches without a win against Everton, their worst such run for this fixture.
Everton striker Steven Naismith has scored in his last two Barclays Premier League appearances against the Gunners.
Only Everton (17) and Swansea City (16) have dropped more points from winning positions than Arsenal (14) in the BPL this season.
Santi Cazorla has had a hand in six goals in his last five BPL matches (three goals, three assists).
Arsenal have gone five matches without a win against Everton, their worst such run for this fixture.
Everton striker Steven Naismith has scored in his last two Barclays Premier League appearances against the Gunners.
Only Everton (17) and Swansea City (16) have dropped more points from winning positions than Arsenal (14) in the BPL this season.
Santi Cazorla has had a hand in six goals in his last five BPL matches (three goals, three assists).
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