Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admits he is wary of the threat posed by Liverpool and Luis Suarez ahead of their Boxing Day showdown.
City are just one point behind league leaders Liverpool following a 4-2 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage last Saturday.
Liverpool have been led by the sparkling form of Suarez, who has already netted 19 goals in 12 appearances this season, while City's leading striker Sergio Aguero sustained a calf injury which could see him out for eight weeks.
Pellegrini, whose side beat Arsenal 6-3 in their most recent home match, expects a fierce examination of his troops against the resurgent Reds, who won 5-0 at Tottenham in their most recent away game.
"Very difficult," Pellegrini said. "Liverpool is a very good team and Suarez is in a very good moment.
"But I think this Premier League, we are just finishing the first half, in two more games.
"And this Premier League will not just be Liverpool and Manchester City. Five or six teams will fight until the end."
Aguero is not the only frontline City player who will be absent on Boxing Day - hamstring injuries for right-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards mean Gael Clichy could again be asked to play on his 'wrong' flank - but Pellegrini is confident he has the strength in depth to manage.
"We have a really strong squad with real quality players, who can cope with all the matches, without our injured players and players that can't play," he added.
City have conceded five goals in their last two games, leading some to question their resilience in a title battle which will likely go to the wire.
But Pellegrini is adamant the 2012 champions' approach will not change, even though opponents may adopt an ultra-cautious approach in an effort to stifle his side.
"I think they have changed already but I think we try to solve the different problems put to our team," Pellegrini said.
"The way in football is to score goals, that is why people pay for their tickets. Fans are always trying to celebrate the goals of their teams. That is very important, I think it is the best way to win.
"As much as you can. Maybe sometimes winning 1-0 is a very good goal, and that goal is three points more.
"But if you are playing well, why would you change if you are winning by two goals? If you are winning by two, why don't you continue the same way?"
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admits he is wary of the threat posed by Liverpool and Luis Suarez ahead of their Boxing Day showdown.
City are just one point behind league leaders Liverpool following a 4-2 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage last Saturday.
Liverpool have been led by the sparkling form of Suarez, who has already netted 19 goals in 12 appearances this season, while City's leading striker Sergio Aguero sustained a calf injury which could see him out for eight weeks.
Pellegrini, whose side beat Arsenal 6-3 in their most recent home match, expects a fierce examination of his troops against the resurgent Reds, who won 5-0 at Tottenham in their most recent away game.
"Very difficult," Pellegrini said. "Liverpool is a very good team and Suarez is in a very good moment.
"But I think this Premier League, we are just finishing the first half, in two more games.
"And this Premier League will not just be Liverpool and Manchester City. Five or six teams will fight until the end."
Aguero is not the only frontline City player who will be absent on Boxing Day - hamstring injuries for right-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards mean Gael Clichy could again be asked to play on his 'wrong' flank - but Pellegrini is confident he has the strength in depth to manage.
"We have a really strong squad with real quality players, who can cope with all the matches, without our injured players and players that can't play," he added.
City have conceded five goals in their last two games, leading some to question their resilience in a title battle which will likely go to the wire.
But Pellegrini is adamant the 2012 champions' approach will not change, even though opponents may adopt an ultra-cautious approach in an effort to stifle his side.
"I think they have changed already but I think we try to solve the different problems put to our team," Pellegrini said.
"The way in football is to score goals, that is why people pay for their tickets. Fans are always trying to celebrate the goals of their teams. That is very important, I think it is the best way to win.
"As much as you can. Maybe sometimes winning 1-0 is a very good goal, and that goal is three points more.
"But if you are playing well, why would you change if you are winning by two goals? If you are winning by two, why don't you continue the same way?"
Brendan Rodgers has challenged his injury-hit Liverpool squad to stand up to the challenge of two tough away games over the festive period.
Liverpool sit top of the table at Christmas, but face Manchester City on Boxing Day before travelling to Stamford Bridge at the weekend in what is sure to be a big test of their title credentials.
Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge are still unavailable for Rodgers, who is also waiting on the fitness of Jon Flanagan ahead of Thursday's trip to the Etihad after he limped out of the win over Cardiff with a hamstring injury.
"The squad is very thin at the moment," said Rodgers. "We only have 17 players available, which is unfortunate in a very busy period, and we have to assess Jon Flanagan. We're quite thin on the ground at the moment.
"But these games are opportunities for us. We're not going to cry about it. We have what we have. It's an opportunity for me to bring some youth team players into the squad. That's why you have an academy.
"Young players have to feel that when the opportunities come they are going to get the chance and we've done that quite a lot in the last 18 months."
Meanwhile, Rodgers agrees with Gerrard's assertion that Luis Suarez is currently the best player in the world.
"This is the most competitive league in world football and when you have a player performing at the level that he is, I don't think many would argue with that," he added.
"He's been phenomenal in his performance and I don't think there is anyone else in the world performing consistently at this level.
"But all the senior players have stood up and been counted. They've been professional and honest and when we've made mistakes, I know the players are making honest mistakes and one thing we've always done is bounce back."
Brendan Rodgers has challenged his injury-hit Liverpool squad to stand up to the challenge of two tough away games over the festive period.
Liverpool sit top of the table at Christmas, but face Manchester City on Boxing Day before travelling to Stamford Bridge at the weekend in what is sure to be a big test of their title credentials.
Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge are still unavailable for Rodgers, who is also waiting on the fitness of Jon Flanagan ahead of Thursday's trip to the Etihad after he limped out of the win over Cardiff with a hamstring injury.
"The squad is very thin at the moment," said Rodgers. "We only have 17 players available, which is unfortunate in a very busy period, and we have to assess Jon Flanagan. We're quite thin on the ground at the moment.
"But these games are opportunities for us. We're not going to cry about it. We have what we have. It's an opportunity for me to bring some youth team players into the squad. That's why you have an academy.
"Young players have to feel that when the opportunities come they are going to get the chance and we've done that quite a lot in the last 18 months."
Meanwhile, Rodgers agrees with Gerrard's assertion that Luis Suarez is currently the best player in the world.
"This is the most competitive league in world football and when you have a player performing at the level that he is, I don't think many would argue with that," he added.
"He's been phenomenal in his performance and I don't think there is anyone else in the world performing consistently at this level.
"But all the senior players have stood up and been counted. They've been professional and honest and when we've made mistakes, I know the players are making honest mistakes and one thing we've always done is bounce back."
