Next: Liverpool (Home)

[Dawnherts]

A proud tear for the club and for your nephew xx. Hope they have a fab day and lots of Yaya/kolo singing xxx

[Tesl]

Lineup comparison from RAWK:

A school playground comparison.. but here we go:

Mignolet > Hart
Johnson > Clichy (at RB)
Flanagan = Kolarov (on current form)
Sakho = Kompany (on current form if not slightly better)
Skertel = Nastacic (both are errror prone on their day)
Lucas < Fernandinho (on current form)
Allen < Yaya
Coutinho = Silva
Henderson = Nasri (on current form)
Sterling = Navas (on current form)
Suarez > Negredo

Seems they are better than us pretty much all over the park so we are in trouble I think.

[Herb]

Lineup comparison from RAWK:

A school playground comparison.. but here we go:

Mignolet > Hart
Johnson > Clichy (at RB)
Flanagan = Kolarov (on current form)
Sakho = Kompany (on current form if not slightly better)
Skertel = Nastacic (both are errror prone on their day)
Lucas < Fernandinho (on current form)
Allen < Yaya
Coutinho = Silva
Henderson = Nasri (on current form)
Sterling = Navas (on current form)
Suarez > Negredo

Seems they are better than us pretty much all over the park so we are in trouble I think.

Naw, just got the ='s and <'s and >'s in all the wrong places is all. Eg. Coutino = Silva ha ha ha very funny!

[Chinners]

TEAM NEWS
Manchester City remain without injured leading goalscorer Sergio Aguero and defenders Matija Nastasic, Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards for the Boxing Day visit of Liverpool.
Stevan Jovetic missed the win at Fulham because of illness and remains a doubt.
Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan is a doubt with a hamstring strain sustained during the weekend win over Cardiff.
Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Jose Enrique and Sebastian Coates are all long-term absentees.

MATCH PREVIEW
So Brendan Rodgers thinks it is Manchester City's title to lose? Well this fascinating fixture might just provide a little more evidence as to how true that might be and another pointer in where Liverpool can realistically be looking in 2014.
The Liverpool manager has said he isn't thinking about the title. It's a very sensible approach ahead of arguably their biggest test yet, as the two highest scorers in the league - with 93 goals between them already - go head-to-head.

LAWRO'S PREDICTION
Football analyst "I am expecting another big performance from Liverpool striker Luis Suarez at the Etihad Stadium but what I am also expecting is for Manchester City to have loads of the ball, because they always do at home.
"I just think this is the sort of game where City show not only their ability but also where their power makes a difference."
Read Lawro's full prediction and score

For all the debate about Manchester City's away form, the performances and results at home have been outstanding: eight wins out of eight and 35 goals scored in the process.
Liverpool will have closely monitored the way City hit Norwich for seven and Arsenal and Spurs for six. City have scored three goals or more in 10 of their last 12 games in all competitions.
Last season they had the best defensive record, but the 20 goals conceded will be an area of concern for Manuel Pellegrini, who has already used eight different centre-back pairings and changed his goalkeepers this season.
The City backline face the ultimate test in this one. The current figures associated with Luis Suarez are nothing short of remarkable. He's scored 36 goals in his last 34 games for Liverpool in all competitions and 29 in 26 Premier League matches in 2013. You would think he's on course to break the record of 31 goals in a 38-game Premier League season, jointly held by Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo.
With the current form of the Uruguayan, Liverpool have a fighting chance against anyone. I watched their two setbacks away from home this season at Arsenal and Hull when they were well short of the standards they've set this season. But perhaps, unlike previous seasons, they have responded in emphatic and consistent fashion.
There will be so much individual talent on the pitch you sense almost anything could happen. A fifth consecutive Liverpool win would be some statement of intent. If that does happen, you know who will be the centre of the headlines.

MATCH FACTS

•Six of their last nine Premier League meetings have been draws, with City's two wins and Liverpool's solitary victory all coming by a 3-0 scoreline at home.
Manchester City
•City are the only team in the Premier League yet to drop a point at home this season. They have also scored in each of their last 58 Premier League home games.
•Their tally of 35 goals in their opening eight home games is the most in the top flight for 51 years since Tottenham did the same in 1962-63.
•They have failed to score in their last two Boxing Day matches, drawing 0-0 with West Brom in 2011 and losing 1-0 to Sunderland last year.
•Manuel Pellegrini's side have the best record in the division against top-half opposition, winning five of eight games and losing only at Chelsea.
Liverpool

•The Reds have won their last four league matches, scoring 17 goals in doing so. They last won five consecutive league fixtures within a single season in April-May 2009.
•However, they have only won one of their last five Premier League away games (D2, L2).
•Liverpool have won 11 of the 12 games in which they have opened the scoring this season, drawing the other.
•Their last Boxing Day win was in 2009 when they beat Wolves by 2-0.
•Luis Suarez already has 10 goals this December - the most in a month by any player in Premier League history. He has 29 goals in 26 league appearances this calendar year.

[Beefymcfc]

This is another big show on the world stage and one where we want to show the world stage we are the real deal. The lads will be looking forward to this and the emphasis will be to win in an entertaining manner. Whether they score a goal or 4, we will be going out there to score 4 or 8, its just the way it is nowadays.

Roll on Boxing Day, Come On You Blues!!!

Crazy Predictor:

Mighty Blues 7 v 1 Dippers

You think they'll get one?

Sorry, that was just the card count with Mason giving their yellow to Suarez for horsing about.

[Twobob]

I have recently lost my younger brother and at the age of 31 left a son behind who is only 8. My dad (khi's grandad) got intouch with the club to see if he could book something through them to make this trip extra special as its the first time going there without his Dad, well the club have been fantastic and sorted out a tour of the ground and meeting Moonchester along with having a lunch there too. Dad was looking to pay for this but the club insisted on them treating both and its all on them them, what ever happens it will be a great day for the little lad but a win would be the icing on the cake.

Really special that mate! Hope it all goes well x

[everyonehatesus]

I have recently lost my younger brother and at the age of 31 left a son behind who is only 8. My dad (khi's grandad) got intouch with the club to see if he could book something through them to make this trip extra special as its the first time going there without his Dad, well the club have been fantastic and sorted out a tour of the ground and meeting Moonchester along with having a lunch there too. Dad was looking to pay for this but the club insisted on them treating both and its all on them them, what ever happens it will be a great day for the little lad but a win would be the icing on the cake.

Really special that mate! Hope it all goes well x

just gutted I couldnt be with them, just seen the line up and its on boys.

[South Stand Balti]

I have recently lost my younger brother and at the age of 31 left a son behind who is only 8. My dad (khi's grandad) got intouch with the club to see if he could book something through them to make this trip extra special as its the first time going there without his Dad, well the club have been fantastic and sorted out a tour of the ground and meeting Moonchester along with having a lunch there too. Dad was looking to pay for this but the club insisted on them treating both and its all on them them, what ever happens it will be a great day for the little lad but a win would be the icing on the cake.

Im glad we won for your nephew. I'm sure it made his day special. Had my fingers crossed for him.

[everyonehatesus]

I have recently lost my younger brother and at the age of 31 left a son behind who is only 8. My dad (khi's grandad) got intouch with the club to see if he could book something through them to make this trip extra special as its the first time going there without his Dad, well the club have been fantastic and sorted out a tour of the ground and meeting Moonchester along with having a lunch there too. Dad was looking to pay for this but the club insisted on them treating both and its all on them them, what ever happens it will be a great day for the little lad but a win would be the icing on the cake.

Im glad we won for your nephew. I'm sure it made his day special. Had my fingers crossed for him.

Me too, although I really thought at one point it wasnt going to be, hes had an amazing time by the sounds of it and they gave him loads of goodies too.