Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is in no doubt Monday night’s Premier League clash with Manchester City would be a great one to win.
However Rodgers has also emphasised it should not necessarily be seen as an indicator of how the clubs’ title bids might pan out.
The contest at the Etihad Stadium pits the champions – in City – and runners-up from last term against each other.
For each team it is only their second Premier League fixture of the 2014/15 campaign, and Rodgers feels the fact it comes so early makes it particularly significant in terms of needing to make a mark.
At the same time, though, he is not going to be reading too deeply into the outcome.
“Whatever time this game comes, it’s always very important – and for us, so early on, it’s even more significant,” Rodgers said.
“But I don’t think it will define everything. It’s over the course of the 38 games.
“We did reasonably well in the big games last season, but it’s over the course of the 38, and that’s something I’ll always look at.
“It’s early in the season and we started with a great win, and now to go and perform and hopefully get the result is what the aim will be.”
Both Liverpool and Manchester City began their Premier League campaigns with victories, triumphing 2-1 against Southampton and 2-0 at Newcastle respectively.
Certainly neither found their best form as they each picked up the three points, and City manager Manuel Pellegrini said: “We played very well in the first 35, 45 minutes in all senses.
“Technically and physically we didn’t have any problems. We defended very well.
“But maybe in the second half we could not continue with the same pace.”
Pellegrini also closely monitored Liverpool’s performance against Southampton from earlier on the opening Sunday.
He said: “I watched that game and we played them also in the United States (this summer in a pre-season friendly), so we know what they are doing.”
New City signing Eliaquim Mangala remains unlikely to make his debut tonight as he is still short of match fitness, but fellow defender Pablo Zabaleta could be back in line to start and loan midfielder Frank Lampard is available.
Striker Sergio Aguero, who came off the bench to score at Newcastle last week, may not be ready to play 90 minutes.
Former City striker Mario Balotelli will not be able to feature even if his proposed transfer to Liverpool from AC Milan goes through before the match, as it needed to have been completed by midday on Friday for him to be eligible.
Balotelli’s proposed switch to the Merseyside outfit appears to be imminent, with a £16 million (Dh97.3m) fee reportedly agreed and the Italy international having visited the club’s Melwood training ground on Friday.
There could be debuts for Liverpool summer signings Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno, but the wait for England midfielder Adam Lallana (knee) to make his bow will go on.
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
