Don't rule out City surge says Pellegrini

The Sky Blues are only three points off the top

LONDON: Manuel Pellegrini insists Manchester City are still capable of out-witting their Premier League title rivals despite several recent stumbles.

Pellegrini's side missed a chance to close the gap on leaders Arsenal after being held to a frustrating goalless draw by Everton on Wednesday.

City lost to Everton in the recent League Cup semi-final first leg and were also beaten by Stoke and Arsenal in December, prompting some critics to claim they no longer provoke fear in opposing teams.

But City manager Pellegrini, whose third placed team remain three points adrift of the Gunners heading into Saturday's home fixture against Crystal Palace, is adamant those results were just aberrations rather than a foreshadowing of worse things to come.



"One of the things this team is not is predictable. We have so many different ways to play - with two strikers, with one striker, without strikers," said Pellegrini.

"We've changed the tactical system a lot of times so I think we continue being, after three seasons when I'm in charge, the top scoring team of the Premier League.

"If we don't score once, having 17 shots at goal, it's just an accident, but I don't think it's because our rivals know the way they must play."

Wayne Rooney plans to send Jurgen Klopp into another frustrated touchline frenzy by ruining the Liverpool manager's first taste of his club's bitter rivalry with Manchester United.



Klopp has proved a volatile presence during a series of touchline rows with rival managers since taking charge earlier this season and the fiery German's antics will bear watching closely in one of the most explosive fixtures on the Premier League calendar.

From the CS gas attack by a Liverpool fan on Manchester United players and staff at Anfield in 1986, to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez racially abusing United's Patrice Evra in 2011, few meetings between these ancient enemies have passed off without a notable outpouring of hatred.

The two most decorated clubs in England, with 38 league titles between them, relish jousting for silverware.

Yet this season they find themselves cut adrift from the title race -- United are nine points away from leaders Arsenal with Liverpool a further three behind -- and that should make the yearning for the consolation of local bragging rights even greater at Anfield on Sunday.

Into the maelstrom of derby enmity steps Klopp, who has already fallen out with Arsenal's Arsene Wenger, Sunderland's Sam Allardyce, West Bromwich Albion's Tony Pulis and Chelsea assistant coach Jose Morais.

United would love nothing more than to make Klopp hopping mad again on Sunday but after squandering the lead late in a 3-3 draw at Newcastle United on Tuesday, captain Rooney says his team must play with the kind of composure often lacking in this fixture.

"You can score as many goals as you want, but if you keep conceding goals, then it's a problem," said Rooney.

"They were silly goals to concede at Newcastle and they were avoidable. We have to keep trying to get that balance right."

Liverpool, beaten in their last three meetings with United including a 3-1 loss at Old Trafford this season -- also conceded three times in midweek, but finished more satisfied than United after Joe Allen's last-gasp goal rescued a 3-3 draw with Arsenal.

That late Liverpool leveller was a blow to Arsenal's bid to win the title for the first time since 2004, but Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey expects them to bounce back at Stoke City on Sunday.

"We have a tough game coming up against Stoke and we haven't found it easy the last few times we have been there but we will be looking to get back to winning ways and get back on another run," Ramsey said after scoring at Anfield.

Arsenal are ahead of second-placed Leicester City only on goal difference after Claudio Ranieri's team maintained their surprise challenge with a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

The Foxes head to bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa, who won in midweek for the first time since the opening day of the season.

Fixtures

Saturday

Aston Villa v Leicester City, Bournemouth v Norwich City, Chelsea v Everton, Manchester City v Crystal Palace, Newcastle United v West Ham United, Southampton v West Bromwich Albion, Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland

Sunday

Liverpool v Manchester United, Stoke City v Arsenal

Monday

Swansea City v Watford