After beating Liverpool 2-1, City defender asks team to step up their game starting with tonight's EPL clash against Crystal Palace
Defender Pablo Zabaleta has acknowledged the second half of the season is when Manchester City have to step up their game.
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Vincent Kompany (second from right) celebrates Man City’s first goal with teammates at the Etihad Stadium. Pic/Getty Images.
Although their 100 per cent home record remains intact after nine matches it was given a severe examination by Liverpool in a 2-1 win on Boxing Day. That moved City into second place in the English Premier League, just a point behind Arsenal, and with struggling Crystal Palace visiting on Saturday there is a chance for them to go top ahead of the Gunners’ encounter at Newcastle tomorrow.
“It was a massive win. We played against a very strong side and it was really important to get three points and keep the team winning their home games. I think we did a good job,” Zabaleta said.u00a0“We have to push even more now. We know December and January is one of the key points for the big teams to make a difference because we play many games and you need to try to keep winning. At the moment we are doing well, are one point behind the leaders and that is why Crystal Palace is also a key game. We are very comfortable and we feel good and have huge confidence.
“Sometimes there is talk we need to improve our performances away from home but we had a good win at Fulham and now our next game is at home to Crystal Palace so we need to have a good rest and be fit for that game.”
City will look to use their dominance at home to overpower Palace but that was far from the case against Liverpool, who were happy to go toe-to-toe with their hosts.
On another day Manuel Pellegrini’s side could have lost as Raheem Sterling had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside and Luis Suarez had claims for a late penalty waved away.u00a0The fact City were able to restrict EPL’s leading scorer’s chances in front of goal was a key factor in their victory.
“They have fantastic players, especially up front with Luis Suarez — who is probably the best striker at the moment, Sterling and (Philippe) Coutinho,” Zabaleta said.u00a0“They also try to play good football from the back and I think they did well but at the end we took big chances and it was great to score two goals.
“When you play against the best players, you always try to keep them quiet. If we look at the overall performance of Suarez, I think we kept him very quiet and that is why we need to give credit to the back four.”
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