Rodgers to unleash crowd in key match against Man City

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers ready to "unleash the crowd" on Manchester City in his team's bid to win Premier League

Brendan Rodgers  believes the club's record and support at Anfield will carry his side towards glory
Brendan Rodgers believes the club's record and support at Anfield will carry his side towards glory

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has warned Manchester City he will "unleash" the power of the Anfield crowd when they meet on Sunday.

Rodgers wants to take full advantage of fired-up fans hoping the Premier League leaders can secure their first top-flight title since 1990.

We will unleash the supporters yet again on our opponents," said Rodgers.

"I sense a real nostalgia about the place, a feeling of the old Liverpool. It will drive us, not hold us back."

Liverpool won the league championship 11 times between 1972 and 1990, when they won the last of their 18 titles.

Rodgers, whose side have a 100% home record this season against the four top-seven teams they have faced, said securing a Champions League place remains the priority because of the financial reward it brings.

But he added: "If we can continue to play well and get a little bit of luck then hopefully we can make [the fans'] dreams come true. We will give it absolutely everything."

Manuel Pellegrini's side are a major threat in the title race despite being four points off the top, as the third-placed side have two games in hand.

But Liverpool, who also still have to host second-placed Chelsea, are hoping that their home form can give them the edge in the final weeks of the season.

Rodgers, the Barclays Manager of the Month for March, has no new injury concerns ahead of Sunday's game, although left-back Jose Enrique remains absent with a long-term knee injury.

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero will be available for City for the first time since their 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League on 12 March.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini does not believe the game will "decide the title".

The Chilean added: "Of course, the team that wins this game has more chance to win the title, but if you think that, with this you finish [and win] the Premier League, it is a mistake.

"There are a lot of other chances to continue fighting, because I think this year the title will be decided by just one point at the end of the season."

Sunday's match will start a week of remembrance around the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.

"We carry it every day of our lives here: manager, players, supporters," said Rodgers.

"The victims and the families are with us every day and that is why we work hard to ensure they can have some comfort from seeing their club move forward."

The game will begin at 13:37 BST, seven minutes later than usual, to recall the period when Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest was stopped because of events unfolding on the Leppings Lane terrace at the home of Sheffield Wednesday.