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anchester City’s defeat at the hands of Napoli in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, has sent shivers down the spines of every other team in the Barclays Premier League.

Not because the top team in England, and already many pundits’ ‘Champions elect’, were beaten by an Italian team sitting 7th in their domestic league, but because if Manchester City do get eliminated from Europe’s top club competition, their determination to win the BPL will be that much greater.

Title contenders such as Manchester United, Chelsea, maybe even Arsenal, were banking on City’s continued involvement in serious European competition — with only a mild disrespect shown toward the Europa League.

A decent run in Europe could have stretched City’s resources, to the extent that league results may have suffered a decline.

With qualification for the knockout stages of the UCL now out of City’s hands, and looking distinctly unlikely, concentration, and absolute focus will soon be brought to bear on the Premier League, and there’s no doubt that City have the wherewithal to win it.

They have been nigh on irresistible in league action so far this season, but in the game against Napoli, there were one or two signs that there may be chinks in their apparently flawless armour.

On Sunday they face a severe test of their credentials, both physical and mental, when they travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool side on the verge of being very good indeed, if they could only produce a higher level of consistency.

Kenny Dalglish must be tearing his hair out right now, as he inspects Liverpool’s recent run of results.

They have won their last 3 away league matches at Everton, West Brom and Chelsea, and drawn their last 3 at home. The 1-1 against Manchester United would have been seen as a decent result, while
draws against newly-promoted Norwich and Swansea could only have been regarded as immensely disappointing.

It’s surprising then that four of Liverpool’s six wins this season have come on the road, and only two at Anfield, a stadium that used to be synonymous with the word “fortress”.  

The big question then has to be, why can’t Liverpool despatch teams at home like they used to in their heyday?

A lot has to do with an influx of new players at the club through the course of 2011, and the time they take to gel into a coherent unit.

Another factor may have something to do with the team’s ability to get themselves motivated for games against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, and perhaps not apply the same levels of intensity for the Norwiches and Swanseas of this world.

It will both perturb and frustrate Dalglish, as he strives to return Liverpool to the pedestal they more or less owned when he was a player, although I don’t think he’ll have too much trouble getting his troops ready for battle when Manchester City visit Anfield on Sunday.

It will be a major test for both clubs, and the importance for Manchester City will have increased after their European fate was taken out of their control on Tuesday night.

Roberto Mancini will know that there is little or no time to lick wounds and carry out the necessary post mortem from the Napoli game, before embarking on a league fixture that used to be the most daunting in English domestic football.

We’ll know a lot more about the temperaments and abilities of both sides come Sunday’s final whistle, and it would be a brave man who predicts a result.

With 11 wins and a draw so far this season, Manchester City have carried all before them, and would probably take a point if it was offered to them right now — they don’t have to win every game.

Bearing in mind City’s strength right now, and their devastating wins at Manchester United and Tottenham already this season (the clubs currently in 2nd and 3rd) Liverpool would probably settle for a draw as well.

It’s clear though that home draws will not be enough for Liverpool this season, if they are to push on and secure their place back at Europe’s top table for the next campaign.  

Catch Andrew Leci on Monday Night Verdict every Monday at 8p.m. on ESPN and send in your feedback to theverdict@espnstar.com.