By Jake Glavies
Sunday’s clash between Manchester City and Liverpool is the showdown that could have been. While both teams prepare to face off for the fourth spot in the Premier League, they’ll each be doing so without their most dangerous offensive weapons. Boasting two of the league’s most proficient goal scorers in Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres, the contest in Manchester could have been one of the league’s best. However, neither player will be in uniform when their teams meet this weekend.
An injury plagued year has held Torres to just 15 league appearances, in which time he’s netted a team-high 12 goals. After returning from nearly a month long layoff during the first half of the season, Torres managed to stay healthy for just five league matches before again returning to the sidelines. As for Tevez, an extended family leave to look after his daughter in Argentina has kept the forward out since a 2-0 victory over Bolton on Feb. 9. After getting off to a slow start during his first season at City, Tevez has come on strong over the past two months – scoring 11 goals in 11 matches to help Manchester rise to No. 4 in the league, just one point ahead of Liverpool.
Scoring a combined 25 goals this year – with Tevez accounting for a team-leading 13 scores – the duo has helped keep their respective clubs in the top quarter of the table for most of the season. With both scratched from the line-up for Sunday though, the match will take on a completely different dynamic. Both teams must look to their background players for the lift they need to stay in Champions League contention. For Liverpool it’ll be a combination of Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard. The duo has teamed up for 14 goals this year – with Kuyt leading the way with nine.
On City’s side, Emmanuel Adebayor will attempt to pick up the slack while Tevez is across the Atlantic. Netting nine goals this season, including three in his last four league matches, Adebayor will be the focal point of Manchester’s attack.
Though both teams are without their top offensive stars, neither should have much difficulty finding the back of the net. City has allowed 33 goals this season, most amongst the top five teams in the league. Liverpool has fared only slightly better, giving up 27 scores.
After playing to a 2-2 draw on Nov. 21, each team would certainly like to knock the other out of the top quarter of the table. But just who’ll step up and grab the victory for his team won’t be known until the action begins Sunday.
