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Barry set to focus on domestic competition

Fri 20th, November 2009

Liverpool, England (Sports Network) - Manchester City sits in sixth place as they enter a big showdown with seventh-placed Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

And while neither side is quite where they would like to be at the moment, City midfielder Gareth Barry believes that his team will benefit from a few months without international soccer.

"The first part of the season is always tough if you have international football as well," Barry said. "I've played in a few games for England plus all the games for City, so in a way it feels like Christmas should be just around the corner. But now there's no international games until March, and I'm looking forward to getting a few months of solid work in with the lads here. This is a very important period of the season coming up where we need to make things happen."

If City wants to keep alive its hopes of a top-four finish this season the club must start collecting wins as opposed to picking up one point at a time.

City has lost just once in its first 11 games, but the team has been held to five draws, leaving them 10 points back of leaders Chelsea.

However, Barry feels as though the size of City's team will be a big factor over the next couple of months as other teams begin to show signs of tiring.

"In the early part of the season the teams in Europe generally have big squads so they can rotate, but it can take its toll around Christmas. That's when it could benefit us, we feel fresh right now so if we can steer clear from injuries we will be looking to kick on from here in this next part of the season."

Liverpool will be hoping that the worst part of its season is behind them as the Reds have already lost five times in their first 12 games.

Rafael Benitez has seen his team win just once in its last five league matches, and the club is barely alive in the Champions League.

One player who was expected to make a big impact this season is midfielder Alberto Aquilani, but he has made just two substitute appearances for Benitez since joining over the summer because of an ankle injury.

Aquilani was signed from Roma to replace the departed Javier Mascherano, and although the Italy international would provide a nice boost for Benitez, the boss is being very cautious about bringing Aquilani back too soon.

"Alberto wants to play for us and he is so desperate to be involved as quickly as he can but he understands the reasons he cannot start yet," said Benitez.

"He wants to keep improving his condition and now it is just a matter of him keeping calm as it won't be long before he is there. He is pushing us all the time.

"He is very positive and wants to help the team now but you must remember that we have a responsibility to him and we will not take any risks at this stage."

Chelsea has won 10 of its first 12 games and the Blues host second-from-the- bottom Wolverhampton, while second-placed Arsenal visits the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland.

Manchester United lost to Chelsea in its last league match and they will try to rebound with a win against Everton, while Tottenham hosts Wigan, Aston Villa travels to Burnley and Fulham squares off with Birmingham.

Two of the bottom four teams in the league meet up at the KC Stadium as Hull City hosts West Ham, Bolton entertains Blackburn and last-placed Portsmouth invades Stoke City.