Manuel Pellegrini and Jurgen Klopp can measure progress as Sergio Aguero returns to Manchester City attack against Liverpool

  • Manchester City welcome Liverpool to Etihad as Premier League returns
  • Manuel Pellegrini is facing an injury crisis with four first team players out
  • Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Wilfried Bony and Samir Nasri are injured
  • The good news for City though is Sergio Aguero is fit to return to the squad
  • Raheem Sterling will face former club for the first time since £49m move

For those looking to herald the return of the Barclays Premier League programme with a killer storyline, Raheem Sterling’s first game against his former club Liverpool on Saturday works nicely.

Few have worked so hard to engineer a transfer as did Sterling when joining Manchester City last summer. He will know what is coming his way from the visitors’ seats at the Etihad Stadium.

For managers Manuel Pellegrini and Jurgen Klopp, however, the themes are broader. Liverpool’s Klopp, for example, never worked with Sterling and did not even get the chance to spend the £49million raised by his transfer.

All eyes will be on City forward Raheem Sterling (centre) when he takes on his former side for the first time

All eyes will be on City forward Raheem Sterling (centre) when he takes on his former side for the first time

The England winger (right) will line up against Liverpool for the first time since his £49million summer move

The England winger (right) will line up against Liverpool for the first time since his £49million summer move

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has overcome a hamstring injury to face Liverpool on Saturday

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has overcome a hamstring injury to face Liverpool on Saturday

Aguero (centre) has not featured for Manchester City since the 6-1 win against Newcastle last month

Aguero (centre) has not featured for Manchester City since the 6-1 win against Newcastle last month

City boss Pellegrini, meanwhile, goes into the game with another raft of injuries. Striker Sergio Aguero may be back but Samir Nasri, David Silva, Wilfried Bony and, most alarmingly, captain Vincent Kompany are missing. 

If, therefore, the coming weeks do provide an examination of Klopp’s Premier League credentials then they will also be used to measure the strength of Pellegrini’s squad.

‘We have already demonstrated now that without Sergio, without any important players, we can play,’ said Pellegrini on Friday.

‘This year we have a lot of important injuries but that is why we have a squad, and one of the merits of this team is it doesn’t just depend on one or two players.’ 

Manuel Pellegrini has welcomed back Aguero into his City squad as he makes the team 'better'

Manuel Pellegrini has welcomed back Aguero into his City squad as he makes the team 'better'

Aguero (centre right) was present during City's training session on Friday at their Etihad Stadium

Aguero (centre right) was present during City's training session on Friday at their Etihad Stadium

City's explosive striker has missed the last six weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury

City's explosive striker has missed the last six weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury

After Saturday, one third of the domestic league season will have passed. Pellegrini’s team sit top of a table given a lopsided look by the dramatic failings of Chelsea and the emergence of Leicester City. Indeed, Manchester City’s fixtures either side of Christmas and New Year, with the exception of a visit to Arsenal a month on Saturday, don’t look too taxing and should offer a chance to consolidate if not move forward. 

Liverpool are still unsure what they will get from Klopp. Initial improvement after the removal of Brendan Rodgers was slowed by a familiar setback at home to Crystal Palace last time out.

The absence of Kompany on Saturday will certainly concern City. Once again it is the Belgian’s calf that will cause him to miss out.

Sterling will play, though. The England forward’s form has steadily improved since his arrival from Anfield and, given Aguero’s anticipated lack of match fitness after six weeks out, his influence could be pivotal.

‘I always say that Raheem is a very young player,’ said Pellegrini. ‘He must improve a lot, and in important things, but I am very happy with the way he is playing so far. 

City captain Vincent Kompany (left, pictured with Jean-Claude Van Damme) is out due to a recurring calf injury

City captain Vincent Kompany (left, pictured with Jean-Claude Van Damme) is out due to a recurring calf injury

Manchester City midfielder David Silva is closing in on a return from injury but has been ruled out for Saturday

Manchester City midfielder David Silva is closing in on a return from injury but has been ruled out for Saturday

‘He is an important player now and will be even more important in the future. He is just 20 years old. He has a lot of years to work.

‘He will be a very important player not only for Manchester City but for England.’

Earlier this week at Liverpool’s Melwood training complex, Klopp was given the opportunity to talk about Sterling, too.

For the German, however, the subject lacks relevance. What matters to Klopp is turning Liverpool back into a club that young players do not wish to leave.

‘You cannot hold the player when he doesn’t want (to be there),’ he said. ‘It doesn’t work. You must take the money and do something smart with it.

‘I don’t know anything about Sterling’s story but I know about similar stories and it is normal. The only thing is how you react. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was keen to close the book on Sterling when quizzed about the 20-year-old

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was keen to close the book on Sterling when quizzed about the 20-year-old

The German coach put a tackle in on Liverpool playmaker Roberto Firmino during training on Thursday

The German coach put a tackle in on Liverpool playmaker Roberto Firmino during training on Thursday

Klopp will be hoping his team fare better than in their last game - a 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield

Klopp will be hoping his team fare better than in their last game - a 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield

Daniel Sturridge is expected to be named on the substitutes' bench for the clash at the Etihad on Saturday

Daniel Sturridge is expected to be named on the substitutes' bench for the clash at the Etihad on Saturday

‘First of all, we have to try to become a club in the future that nobody wants to leave. It is a long, long journey but we have started it and we want to do this. 

‘We don’t have to talk about the past and not about Sterling. He’s a brilliant player, everybody knows this. Now he’s at Manchester City.

‘Now we close the book.’

With Daniel Sturridge expected to be on the substitutes’ bench and Christian Benteke fit to start, Klopp’s Liverpool do have firepower in attack.

As ever, much will also depend on the Brazilian Philippe Coutinho and indeed his improving compatriot Roberto Firmino.

Pellegrini knows what to expect, having faced Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund as manager of Malaga in the last eight of the Champions League two-and-a-half years ago.

Sturridge's (right) season has been decimated by injury and the England striker has only played three times

Sturridge's (right) season has been decimated by injury and the England striker has only played three times

Liverpool will be relying on playmaker Philippe Coutinho (left) to pick holes in the Manchester City defence

Liverpool will be relying on playmaker Philippe Coutinho (left) to pick holes in the Manchester City defence

Christian Benteke is fit to start and is expected to lead the line for Klopp's Liverpool on Saturday

Christian Benteke is fit to start and is expected to lead the line for Klopp's Liverpool on Saturday

That game ended in a controversial victory for the German team and, if Pellegrini holds no bitterness towards his opposite number on Saturday, he knows what to expect from his team — as does City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

‘I remember Dortmund coming to our place in the Champions League and they battered us,’ said Hart.

‘They were like wasps in their yellow and black kit. When he (Klopp) gets a team ticking then they’re really, really hard to play against.

‘It’s difficult to say whether this will be our toughest match so far this season but Liverpool have some great talent.

‘We need to make sure everyone is rested and ready. It all depends on how we play.’

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now