Pellegrini admits SAS concern as Man City sweat on Kompany

Manuel Pellegrini admits he is concerned about Liverpool duo Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez.

Third-placed Manchester City can move to within a point of leaders Liverpool if Pellegrini’s men seal victory at Anfield on Sunday.

Both teams have scored a lot of goals during the season but if we are with Liverpool and Chelsea at the top of the table, it is because we also know how to defend

Manuel Pellegrini

Liverpool’s strike partnership, which has been dubbed SAS, have scored a combined 49 Premier League goals this season.

And Pellegrini, who could be without captain Vincent Kompany after he limped out of training on Saturday, backed his defence.

“It’s exactly the concern Liverpool will have against our team, if they want to be an attacking team – and they are an attacking team,” Pellegrini said.

“But I think we’ve done very well (defensively), Southampton didn’t have many chances to score. There is a team with 11 players and the 11 players must know how to defend and the 11 players must know how to attack.

“Of course if you defend with 10 players near your box, you are not going to have space for the other team. But the most important thing about these two teams is they play attractive, offensive football. Both teams are very close for this.

“Both teams have scored a lot of goals during the season but if we are with Liverpool and Chelsea at the top of the table, it is because we also know how to defend.”