Confirmed XI vs. MCFC: Great news for LFC as £38m star is out. Reds to 'expose' City?

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has once again named his strongest attacking line-up for today's potential title decider with Manchester City.

Many expected either Lucas or Allen to get the nod in a bid help out Gerrard in midfield, but as I hoped, Rodgers has nixed that possibility and gone with Coutinho and Sterling instead.

TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Sakho, Skrtel, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge

SUBS: Jones, Toure, Agger, Aspas, Moses, Allen, Lucas

MAN CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Toure, Fernandinho, Navas, Nasri, Silva, Dzeko

SUBS: Pantilimon, Lescott, Milner, Negredo, Kolarov, Garcia, Aguero

-------------- Mignolet

Johnson -- Skrtel -- Sakho -- Flanagan

--------- Gerrard -- Hendo

------------- Coutinho

---- Sterling --------- Suarez

------------- Sturridge

Daniel Agger is fit, but Sakho is chosen ahead of the Dane, and that's probably the right decision, for a few reasons:

* Sakho played well against West Ham, and deserves to keep his place.
* Agger is coming back from injury, so may not be 100% match-fit.

* Agger vs. Aguero is a bit of a mis-match when it comes to speed, and the Dane has been beaten for speed quite a few times this season.

* Agger has also been muscled off the ball in aerial battles a few times, and if Dzeko plays, Sakho is stronger and more suited to that kind of physical battle.

Sadly, Vincent Kompany is fit to start the game, but if he's sore from his injury, he may be a tad tentative in the game, which may help out SAS.

Pre-match analysis:

Jan Molby

"I have no doubt that this Liverpool FC team will deliver against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. I just think Brendan Rodgers will go for it. We’ve been successful all season playing an attacking brand of football so why change now?"

Jamie Redknapp

"I can’t see it being anything other than an open, attacking game. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have only managed to win one of their last 16 at Anfield, while Liverpool have won 10 of their last 16 there. For me, that points towards a hugely important win for Liverpool on Sunday. Liverpool are in the ascendency and I reckon they’ll just take it 2-1"

Mark Lawrenson

"Brendan Rodgers will not change his approach against Manchester City because this is a game that Liverpool really need to win if they are going to lift the title. Because of that, I have a sneaky feeling it might end up being a draw".

Dietmar Hamann

"Manuel’s Pellegrini’s selection could be decisive. If they start with Fernandinho and Toure in midfield, with Samir Nasri, Silva and Jesus Navas in front, Liverpool will expose them. If Swansea could find gaps in behind them, imagine what it will be like with Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling in that space?"

City are indeed starting with Fernandinho, Toure, Navas, Nasri, and Silva, so let's hope Didi is right. My prediction: 2-2, or 3-2 to LFC.

Author: Jaimie K