Liverpool vs Manchester City team news: Yaya Toure major doubt after suffering foot injury

Yaya Toure is a major doubt for Manchester City's Premier League showdown with Liverpool on Wednesday 2 March. Toure struck the winning spot kick that secured his side the Capital One Cup at Wembley on Sunday (28 February), sealing a 3-1 win on penalties over Jurgen Klopp's side.

Just three days on, the two sides meet again at Anfield with City looking to keep pace with Premier League title challengers Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. Fifth-placed Manchester United are now only three points behind their neighbours.

City could be without their Ivory Coast international for the trip to Merseyside, however. "Yaya has a problem – a kick on his right foot – we will see tomorrow if he can play or not," Manuel Pellegrini told a press conference.

One player Pellegrini is certain will start is Raheem Sterling. The 20-year-old will return to Anfield for the first time since his £49m ($68.4m) move to City last summer but his boss is confident is young star is ready for what will almost certainly be a hostile reception.

"I don't know what will be the starting XI," Pellegrini continued. "One player who I am sure will start is Raheem Sterling. He is a young man, a young player, starting his career, and he knows how to deal with pressure."

"He'll receive the same treatment tomorrow as he did at the weekend, but I'm sure he can play without a problem, and he'll be a very important player, as he was in last game."

Pellegrini added: "I don't have any doubts about him, it's important for him to play under pressure, that's what big players do. I have 100% trust in Raheem. He will play tomorrow and he'll be important.

"I think in the way he played the other day he demonstrated – maybe he missed a goal – he worked, was always concentrated, and he was difficult for Nathaniel Clyne one on one."

City could find themselves 12 points off the top of the league by the time they kick off, with Leicester in action at home against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday 1 March.