I've a little hunch that we may see Man City put out lets say not their strongest team available for this, and as such I'd make us big favourites to go through. They desperately (and quite rightly) want to win the league, and I can't see them risking their best & only fit striker (Aguerro), or their best player (Silva) in some war of attrition in the Carling Cup in midweek. Not only that, but Mancini got a wee taste of just what it's like to be up against the full force of Man Utd/the officials/the press/the media on Sunday, and I don't think he'll be shedding any tears if we put the c***s out of the Fa Cup on their behalf either. Given that, a weak side in the first leg and a decisive win for us would mean neither them nor us have to kill ourselves in the second leg at Anfield, the tie being as good as over.
That way, not only would Citeh have less complications as they focus on the league, but we'd be in a better frame of mind the smash the real Mancs on the weekend. Not only that, (yet another reason why I think I might be onto something) but if they put their strongest teams out and we put them out, it could conceiveably derail them a bit. As it is, put out a bunch of kids and get done 3-1 at home in the first leg which would pretty much settle it, and the "real" first team comes out of it unscathed.
Just a little theory, but if you like a bet back us over two legs against City.
Logged