City face another acid test

MANCHESTER City are preparing for their latest challenge against a top-four team.

In-form Liverpool are the visitors on Sunday (3pm), just three weeks after Chelsea’s emphatic 3-1 win at Eastlands.

That defeat proved City still have a lot of work to do to join the elite group, despite Abu Dhabi United Group’s £200million take-over.

Fans were reaching for the sky when cash-strapped City virtually became the world’s richest club overnight.

And they were making bold predictions when City pummelled Portsmouth 6-0 in the first game watched by new chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

Sadly for City supporters, Mark Hughes’ men have suffered an almighty reality check, losing in the Carling Cup at League One side Brighton and going down to Wigan Athletic.

Suddenly thoughts of qualifying for next season’s Champions League and being crowned Premier League champions in 2009/10 are looking wide of the mark.

Liverpool, unbeaten this season in 11 competitive matches, will be another acid test.

They have invested heavily in recent years — £40million alone last summer — yet their last league title was before the birth of the Premier League in 1990.

City’s recent record against Liverpool is poor. They are without a win in their last six league meetings, with four 1-0 victories for the Merseysiders and two goalless draws.

History suggests it won’t be a high-scoring match, but Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has considerable firepower at his disposal.

Fernando Torres, £20million summer signing Robbie Keane and Dirk Kuyt provide plenty of attacking options, while midfield man Steven Gerrard scored his 100th goal for the club in Wednesday’s 3-1 Champions League stroll against PSV Eindhoven.

They are sure to ask questions of City’s defence, but the same applies to the Brazilians Robinho, Jo and Elano, as well as Shaun Wright-Phillips, who will examine a Liverpool back line which has kept six clean sheets so far this season.