Manchester City are the current leader in English Premier League with three points ahead of the second Manchester United, but have been eliminated from the FA Cup this weekend. Considering that City was knocked out from UEFA Champions League – Carling Cup might be their only chance for an additional trophy this season.

The Citizens could be League Cup finalists for the fourth time, if they marshal of Liverpool. Their earlier three appearances were in the 1970s, winning twice (’70 & ’76) and runners-up once (’74). This is the Blues’ sixth semi-final.

Manchester City has played 10 Premier League games this season on City of Manchester Stadium. On home ground, Manchester City has won 10, drawn 0 and lost 0 games, and this ranked the Citizens 1st in home team performance in the English Premier League.

Liverpool does not take part in any European tournaments this season, which gives them the opportunity to focus completely on the league, FA Cup and Carling Cup. This is Liverpool’s 13th semi-final and they have succeeded in 7 first legs at this stage.

However the side is currently 6th in the premiership league after series of poor results against sides from the lower half of the table 1-1 over Blackburn, 0-0 over Wigan.

Liverpool has played 10 Premier League games this season away from home. On away ground, Liverpool has won 5, drawn 1 and lost 4 games, and this ranked the Reds 5th in away team performance in the English Premier League.

Probable Line-Ups:

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Savic, Lescott, Clichy, De Jong, Barry, Milner, Silva, Johnson and Balotelli.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Spearing, Adam, Henderson, Gerrard, Bellamy and Carroll.

Jose Mourinho has been connected with numerous forwards in recent weeks as he thinks bringing in another big name to offer competition for Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema.

Higuain’s future at the club still remains doubtful, with inside reports in recent weeks suggesting a move to Juventus or Chelsea could be on the cards, and his rep earlier this month stating a move to either club would be a massive opportunity.

According to sources, Mourinho is ready to try Suarez to the Bernabeu to boost his men for the second half of the season. Suarez has been connected with a move to Spain on several occasions since joining Liverpool, with Barcelona FC also alleged to have been showing interest in the Uruguay international last season.

The 24-year-old is presently serving an 8-match ban dished out by the FA Cup following claims that he racially abused Manchester United defender Patrice Evra last season. Until the ban was issued, Suarez was alleged to be happy on Merseyside, but reports last week had admitted he was considering his future in England squad as a result of being punished.

Liverpool has been quick to support the forward throughout the past few months, however, and it appears highly doubtful that they would agree to let him leave Anfield ground this month.

The Spanish giants would questionably stand a better probability of luring the former Ajax star away from Liverpool at the end of the season, but they may have to hope that Kenny Dalglish’s team fails to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League if they are to stand any chance of a deal happening.

Arsenal has lost just one of their last 35 FA cup games at home ground, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Leeds in 1997 year. Gunners have made it past the third round in each of the last 15 seasons, an enhanced record than any other team.

Simon Grayson hopes Thierry Henry plays tonight, even though he scored four goals in his last game over Leeds. Henry tormented Leeds in his heyday with Arsenal and netted in his last five debuts over them, scoring 9 goals in total.

But, while Leeds followers may be breaking out in a cold sweat at the thought of Henry making his Gunners return tonight, Grayson claims it would be special to face debatably the greatest player in the 20-year history of the English Premier League.

Leeds United have been drawn over a top four club for the third season in a row at this stage of the FA Cup rivalry, facing Arsenal in 2011 and Manchester United in 2010 year. The away team has won just one of their last 13 encounters with top-flight rivals, beating Manchester United with 1-0 goal score in 2010.

Both the clubs have been involved in some classic FA Cup encounters over the seasons, and the two teams met at the same stage last year.

Probable Line-Ups:

Arsenal: Almunia, Koscielny, Squillaci, Miquel, Hoyte, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Song, Coquelin, Benayoun, Chamakh and Park.

Leeds United: Lonergan, Connolly, Lees, O’Dea, White, Townsend, Clayton, Brown, Pugh, McCormack and Becchio.

The FA Cup third-round showdown, are here and the most anticipated one is the derby of Manchester ground. City has a chance to do a treble this season, given that they may win the title in Premier League.

Manchester City sent shockwaves around English football in October, when it thrashed United with 6-1 goal score at Old Trafford, a result United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described as the worst-ever day of his football career.

City have already crushed United by 6 goals to one in the premiership league game, but there is a strong feeling that Ferguson will be looking to make up for that in their upcoming game. Meanwhile, Milner thinks the overcome hurt United badly and that City need to maintain their form, if they are to try and pick a victory against the Red Devils once again.

Currently Manchester United continuing strong in UEFA Champions League, and securely leading in Premiership league. However, the Citizens’ win over Kenny Dalglish’s team, coupled with United’s shock with 3-0 goal score reverse at the hands of Newcastle United on Wednesday game.

They saw them return a three-point lead against their cross-city rivals at the top of the Premier League standings. Meanwhile, Ferguson appears to know just what to do and the manager is more than possible to make a number of changes going into the game against Man. City.

Probable Line-Ups:

Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Joleon Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Nasri, De Jong, Silva, Aguero and Dzeko.

Manchester United: Lindegaard, Rafael, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Valencia and Rooney.

The English Premier League (2011-12 EPL) football game between Manchester City (1st) and Stoke City (8th) kicks off 19:45 GMT on 21 December 2011 at Etihad Stadium.

The Citizens recorded their first loss in the past round over Chelsea, after opening the score, but poor defending and a red card, helped Chelsea overturn the game to 2:1 win. Mancini’s men have scored the most number of goals in the league this battle, hitting the back of the net 50 times so far.

Manchester City has played 8 Premier League games this season on City of Manchester Stadium. On home ground, Manchester City has won 8, drawn 0 and lost 0 games and this ranked the Citizens 1st in home team performance in the English Premier League.

Manchester City has left-back Gael Clichy existing after he served a one-match ban at the weekend. Striker Edin Dzeko took a knock in training but is likely to be fit, but Aleksandar Kolarov (groin injury) remains sidelined. Mancini could make several changes to his side ahead of a busy Christmas Festival period.

Stoke City made their nastiest start of the season, but has been able to slowly recover from that shock. The side is currently 8th with 24 points scoring 18 goals and conceding a great amount 25 through the league campaign so far.

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has played 8 Premier League games this season away from home. On away ground, Stoke City has won 3, drawn 1 and lost 4 games, and this ranked the Potters 10th in away team performance in the English Premier League.

Stoke will travel to the Etihad Stadium without Ryan Shawcross, who is suspended. Glenn Whelan (calf injury) is unsure after being injured in the 2-1 win at Wolves, while Andy Wilkinson (back injury) is expected to miss out again.

Probable Line-Ups:

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Toure, De Jong, Silva, Dzeko and Aguero.

Stoke City: Sorensen, Shotton, Woodgate, Huth, Wilson, Pennant, Palacios, Whitehead, Etherington, Walters and Crouch.

Despite being the dominant side in the Premier League so far this season, Manchester City’s task to win more than one trophy this season is not easy, bearing in mind they have been drawn against big rivals Manchester United in the in the FA Cup third round tie which is to be played in January.

However, Man City currently 5 points clear of Manchester United in the English Premier League, but will join United in the Europa League after Christmas festival. City has been made favorites for the Europa League in which they now compete instead of the Champions League.

According to the sources – Mancini told, he’s sure they will improve, but it is important to finish well this year. When he says finish well this year, he means to maybe win two trophies.

Mancini saw his team beat Bayern Munich with 2-0 score on Wednesday night but Napoli’s win at Villarreal make sure that the Italian team qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League alongside Bayern.

Manchester City are in the last four of the Carling Cup and also have a possibility of defending the FA Cup, but face a tough test in the third round after being drawn against Sir Alex Ferguson’s team.

Mancini is confident of an enhanced display in the Champions League next season, and should they qualify but is eager to move on.

He added: City is disappointed, that is normal. But the Premier League is the priority. We also have the Europa League, FA Cup and Carling Cup. He thinks that if they are lucky with not a lot of injuries in the future we have a side that can play in all competitions.

The 22-year-old, Blackburn Rovers midfielder has been banned after the Premier League club accepted charges of violent conduct. This means the former France under-21 international will be away for the fixture over Sunderland, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion.

Blackburn Rovers lost with 3-1 against Stoke City, in that match incident occurred while the referee did not see the incident, it was trapped on video-tape and N’Zonzi charged accordingly. The Frenchman was shown elbowing Ryan Shawcross in the face, a chargeable offence.

Rovers had the choice of opposing the charges, but they have accepted the FA’s charge and punishment. An official statement released by Blackburn Rovers stated that, The Rovers midfielder has accepted the FA charge and his ban will start right away, making him away for tonight’s Carling Cup quarter-final at Cardiff and the two upcoming league matches at home ground to Swansea City and away to Sunderland.

Steven N’Zonzi began his football playing career with his hometown team Racing Paris and shortly joined the youth academy for Paris Saint-Germain. He initially started as a striker but was move down to an attacking midfielder, when it turned out he was not cut out to be a forward.

He stayed with the Ligue 1 giants for three seasons before moving to CA Lisieux, after one year spells at AS Beauvais Oise and SM Caen, later he joined Amiens SC in the year 2005.

Manchester City have won the FA Cup four times and their last Championship was in 1969. Manchester City appeared their last FA Cup final in 1981. Reading’s best success in the competition was to enter into the FA Cup semi finals in 1927, when they lost the game 3-0 with Cardiff at Wolves. In this season, Reading have stunned Premier League Clubs West Bromwich Albion and Everton as Reading’s captain Matt Mills had scored the winning goal at Goodison Park. Reading team have growing on injury list, on Tuesday as Mills walked off after 15 minutes of play with a groin injury, during the 3-1 victory at Ipswich. Sources stated that, left back Chris Armstrong has been forced to retire, due to multiple sclerosis.

Reading Goalkeeper Adam Federici, wingers Jimmy Kebe, Jobi McAnuff, defenders Alex Pearce, Shaun Cummings, Andy Griffin and Jay Tabb were unavailable for the trip to Portman Road due to Injuries and illness. In the last game, Manchester City was amazed by Dynamo Kiev in the Euorpa League as they lost with 0-2 on Thursday. So, the Sunday’s game has became crucial for Robert Mancini squad.

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure banned after testing positive for a banned substance while James Milner, Adam Johnson and Shay Given are on long term injury list.

The Red devils have been defeated 3-1 against Liverpool and the Arsenals were also crashed out from UEFA Champions League after being defeated 3-1 against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Keeping in view on the results of the past six matches by both the clubs, Manchester and Arsenal has similar results. Manchester club has won three games against Wigan 4-0, Crawley Town 1-0 and Manchester City 2-1. However, they were defeated twice by Liverpool and Chelsea which also include a draw to Marseille. Coming to the Arsenal club, they won two games which were against Leyton Orient 5-0 and Stoke 1-0. However, they were defeated in two matches against Barcelona and Birmingham. But, the team has managed to draw the games against Sunderland and Leyton Orient.

The 25-year-old winger, Antonio Valencia has been out of Manchester United since last September and he might return in the battle of FA Cup against Arsenal this weekend. However, Arsene Wenger, the manager of the Arsenal believes that they will win against Manchester on Saturday match.

Getting the past statistic reports of the matches between two clubs, Manchester United has won four games but unfortunately Arsenal has not won a single match. Will history repeats again, or does Arsenal rewrites the lines of their own fate against Manchester United remained as big question.

Manchester United, Birmingham, Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City and West Ham United are teams which have reached the last eight; Everton Vs Reading is scheduled on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at Goodison Park.

Other teams Man-City Vs Aston Villa will be playing their round 5 match on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at City of Manchester Stadium and the winner will join the other five teams in the quarters round.

Leyton Orient Vs Arsenal will be played on the same day Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at Emirates Stadium along with Man-City/Aston Villa and the winners will be moved into the last eight.

Birmingham Vs Bolton Wanderers will be playing their quarterfinal match on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at St Andrews Stadium and Stoke City Vs West Ham United will be on the same day at Britannia Stadium and the other two quarter final games will be played on the same day and the playing teams will be decided after all the round 5 matches are completed.

Manchester United will play against the winner between Leyton Orient and Arsenal at Old Trafford and the other fourth match will be decided on the winners between Man City/ Aston Villa and Everton/ Reading.

Man-United has lifted 11 FA Cup’s and Arsenal Will defiantly try to clinch their 11th FA cup to equal with the English Giants and their arch rival. If Arsenal beat the Leyton Orient they will be facing Manchester United in the quarterfinal.

Defending Champions Chelsea has been knocked out of FA Cup who was on a verge to lift their 3rd straight FA Cup.