Man City travel to Liverpool today believing they can improve on their awful record at Anfield, where they have won just twice in their last 36 visits, and the rumour is that Mark Hughes is going to leave the disappointing Carlos Tevez on the bench.

This has led to more speculation that City will be looking for another top-class striker in January, especially with Robinho also being linked with a move to Barcelona.

Mark Hughes was specifically asked in the Independent if he intended to tempt Liverpool with an offer for Torres, and he neatly sidestepped the question, without saying no!

“We don’t discuss players at other clubs because that would be wrong to do,” he said.

“The way he has been able to come into the Premier League and make the impact he has says everything,”

“I’ve said time and time again it’s more difficult for foreign strikers to have an immediate impact in the Premier League because it’s just so new to them.

“For him to come him and have the immediate impact like he has done is of great credit to him and the way he approaches the game.”

He was then asked if he knew what his team would be, trying to draw an answer about Carlos Tevez, but Hughes again did another turn and responded.

“We need to make sure that whoever’s involved, we get the right intensity to our play and make sure we are creating chances,”

“With the attacking threat we have, we’ll back ourselves in most games to create chances. It’s about making sure the right people are there to take them.”

For Hughes to say he doesn’t discuss players at other clubs is a downright lie, considering his attempted poaching of John Terry, and the successful raid for Joleon Lescott in the summer, so maybe he is starting to learn a little respect for other managers.