“This run has been frustrating,” he said. “In at least two of the games we felt that we should have come away with all three points.

“To concede late goals after you’ve been leading at home was incredibly disappointing, but hopefully Liverpool can be the perfect game for us to vent our frustrations and kick our season on again.”

“It’s always great to play at Anfield,” he continued. “It’s one of the best stadiums with one of the best atmospheres you’re ever going to get at a football game.

“It’s always a very tough place to go, Liverpool at home are expected to do well so it will be tough for us, but we’re expecting that.

“You can’t go to somewhere like Anfield with any fear, and with the players we have in our squad we should not do either.

“We’re the away team, so if we can get a result that would be a big bonus for us.”

This is definitely the game of the weekend, but i fully expect to see Liverpool return to winning ways. Rafael Benitez has today described it as a “make-or-break” game for both sides, and he believes that Liverpool will win it and definitely finish in the top four again this season.

“It is too early to talk about final league positions, but clearly it is a big game for both clubs. But we must be confident we can win.

“I am not amongst the managers, 80% I am told, in the Premier League who believe City will finish in the top four. We will be in the top four.”

He added: “We have to play well, and if we can play at the same level we had to beat Manchester United, we can beat anyone.

“I am not concerned about what critics say, only what is going on in my dressing room and the performance of my team.

“We have to win to get closer to the top of the table. We must keep winning to stay close to City, Aston Villa, Tottenham. If we do that it will give the players confidence.

“If we win games, and we have players back from injury, it will help create a very positive mood at the club.

“The aim is to kick-start our season. We must improve and a win will be a real lift for everyone.”

“We know City have money and they have spent a lot, but we must not just keep looking at what they are doing.

“We have to concentrate on what we can do on the pitch against them, but I accept they are doing a good job.

“What we have to do is to keep going, keep playing at our best. We are not in a good position in the table or in the Champions League.

“But we cannot change what has already happened, we need to win two or three games and the attitude will be totally different, with the fans and players having more belief.

“It is normally against good teams that we do best because the games are more open. We did it against Manchester United, and we aim to do the same to City.”