Manchester City test for Fernando Torres in Sunday showdown

Following their Merseyside derby success over Everton, the joint league leaders take on the Blues in the North-West derby

Liverpool travel to Manchester on Sunday to take on the blue half of the city as the Merseysiders return to Premier League action. The Reds’ clash against Manchester City kicks-off at 15:00 hours (BST).

Rafa Benitez’ men go into this weekend’s Premier League fixture unbeaten so far this season. The Reds, who are joint top of the table with 14 points, travel to the City of Manchester Stadium following an impressive 3-1 home win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

The Liverpool number ‘9’ was the game’s only scorer when Man City and the Reds last clashed at Anfield. The Merseysiders clinched a 1-0 victory in their penultimate match of last season, with Fernando Torres scoring in his eighth consecutive home league game to equal the club record.

The teams last met in Manchester in the final game of 2007. Liverpool took on City on December 30 with the Premier League fixture ending all-square. Neither side could find a breakthrough as the defences got the better of the attacks; in a game which finished goalless.

The Reds win over Manchester City at their home ground came back in November 2005 when a John Arne Riise goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

The teams have met a total of 144 times, with Man City gaining 37 wins to Liverpool’s 73; with the sides drawing on 34 occasions. Away from home, Liverpool have collected 28 wins, to Man City’s 24; with 20 games ending in a draw.

Manchester City Football Club was originally formed in 1880 as St. Marks, they changed their name to Ardwick A.F.C. in 1887, before finally changing their name to Manchester City F.C. in 1894.

The Sky Blues have won the League Championship on two occasions, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice and the European Cup Winners Cup once. Man City’s most successful spell came under the management of Joe Mercer during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

This summer has seen plenty of change at the club with Mark Hughes taking over as City manager following the departure of Sven-Goran Eriksson. But the biggest change occurred on 1 September 2008. On that day Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Limited completed a takeover of Manchester City. The deal was announced on the “transfer deadline-day” with Real Madrid’s Robinho joining the club just before the transfer window closed.

Liverpool’s top goalscorer from last season is only two strikes away from becoming the club’s most prolific overseas player in the Premier League. The Spaniard has 27 goals since joining in the summer of 2007, and is just one goal behind Patrik Berger’s 28 goal haul for the Reds.

Come Sunday, Fernando Torres will be hoping to add to his strikes against Everton at Goodison Park last weekend. The Spaniard scored both of his side’s goals as Liverpool inflicted a third home defeat upon their Merseyside neighbours.

Following the Premier League clash versus Man City, Torres will join-up with the Spanish national team squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers versus Estonia and Belgium.