Goalkeeping:
Simon Mingolet is expected to be very busy under the sticks manning the Liverpool goal. The Belgian shot stopper has to be wary of long rangers, especially from Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, a fostering partnership with each passing day.
Defence:
Injury to Jon Flanagan means Rodgers will have to play with a makeshift defence and I believe a 3-5-2 will be the best solution to stop the rampaging City side. Martin Skrtel, Sakho and Agger should be picked as the three centre backs with Glen Johnson in left wing back and Martin Kelly on the right wing back position. This will give Liverpool the solidity at the back and ensure they have a spare man at the back to catch David Silva or Yaya Toure, both of whom love to draft inside the pockets of space in the final third. (However if Flanagan recovers on time before the game, it changes the whole complexion of the line-up and Rodgers would be tempted to stick with the same formation and set of players who dismantled Cardiff City last weekend)
Midfield:
This is perhaps one area Liverpool need to be wary of, for it could make or break the encounter. Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen will have to do the untidy work of incessantly tracking Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, while Jordan Henderson who looks a like a young Steven Gerrard at the moment needs to play in a more advance role. I would go with Phillipe Coutinho just behind Luis Suarez for I feel this might be an encounter where Raheem Sterling’s inexperience might just backfire.
Forward:
Luis Suarez will definitely play as the lone striker up front and the form he is at the moment, I wouldn’t be surprised if he belts in a couple at the Etihad too. However City will try to isolate him at the top of the final thrid, one thing which the travelling Liverpool outfit needs to be wary of.