Liverpool vs Man City Highlights: This Weekends Premier League Games

The International break is over and it is time to get back to Premier League action. The big game this weekend has to be the lunch time matchup between Liverpool and Manchester City.

Liverpool vs. Man City

This is really a huge game for two teams who have Champions League ambitions. Liverpool has been part of the "Big Four", but Manchester City is desperately trying to break into that select group. City is one point ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand, so they know that if they win at Anfield, they could be a massive seven points ahead of Liverpool.

A Liverpool loss would put them 14 points behind league leaders Chelsea, and will end their title ambitions for another season.

Liverpool will have Steven Gerrard, but it looks like Fernando Torres will miss the game due to injury. City is hoping to welcome back Brazilian striker Robinho, who has been out injured since injuring an ankle playing for Brazil in September.

Both teams have problems in defense, and I expect this game to be wide open game. By 3 p.m. on Saturday the pressure will be turned up on either Mark Hughes or Rafa Benitez, and I expect Rafa to be celebrating a big win at home.

Verdict: 2-1 Liverpool

Birmingham vs. Fulham

These are two sides that play better at home than away from home. Luckily for Birmingham this game is at St. Andrews and not Craven Cottage. Birmingham started playing some good football before the break, while Fulham had that huge win over Liverpool. These are the type of games that Birmingham need to win to stay up, but I don’t think they will.

Prediction: Birmingham 1 Fulham 1

Burnley vs. Aston Villa

Burnley has made Turf Moor a really difficult place to go and get points, which is one of the reasons why they are where they are in the league. At some point, Aston Villa has to step forward and show whether they are Champions League contenders or pretenders, and this is the week that they show how good they can be with a tough victory away from home.

Verdict: 1-2 Aston Villa

Chelsea vs. Wolves

This is the lick of the week, Chelsea has been fantastic at Stamford Bridge this season, and even with their injuries they are much too strong for the Wolves.

Verdict: 4-0 Chelsea

Hull vs. West Ham

The win against Stoke helped save Phil Brown’s job in the short-term, but eventually Hull needs to fire him if they are to stay up. That being said, this is the kind of game they could easily win, because West Ham is a very hot and cold team.

You never know what team will show up from a week to week basis. I am looking for the bad West Ham to travel to Hull, and for Phil Brown to get another big win.

Verdict: 2-1 Hull

Sunderland vs. Arsenal

This is a really tough game for Arsenal, who will be without Robin Van Persie and will have one eye on next weekends game against Chelsea. In the past three years, this is the kind of game Arsenal would have lost or drawn, but this team is maturing, and I expect them to get all three pints here.

Verdict: 1-2 Arsenal

Man Utd vs. Everton 

United has had two weeks to stew about the defeat at Chelsea, and they know that they need to get three points here against Everton if they are to keep Chelsea without touching distance. Everton has been a real disappointment this season as injuries have really hurt them. Games between these two sides are always close, and I expect United to edge this one in the end.

Verdict: 2-1 Man United

Bolton vs. Blackburn

If you are a fan of Brazil, this is not the game for you. This one will not be pretty, but it will be very competitive with no quarter asked, and no quarter given. This will be a game of few chances, which indicates a draw to me.

Verdict: Bolton 1 Blackburn 1

Tottenham vs. Wigan

Similar to West Ham, Wigan and Spurs are two teams that have been very up and down lately. The advantage Tottenham has in this game is that they are at home, and their forwards are better than Wigan’s defenders. That translates into three points for the home team

Verdict: 2-1 Spurs

Stoke vs. Portsmouth

This is a big relegation six-pointer. Stoke was really unlucky to lose at Hull before the break, while Portsmouth has been playing better than their record indicates. I expect this to be a really tense affair, but Stoke is at home, in front of some very passionate fans, and at the end of the day, that will be the difference between one point and three points.

Verdict: 2-1 Stoke