January Preview: What's in store for Liverpool?

Liverpool have had a rollercoaster of a season to date, but as the year winds down, the Reds still find themselves very much in the thick of the mix for a top-four finish.

With matches at Wigan and at home against Blackburn and Newcastle to end the 2011 slate, things could look even rosier heading into 2012, but they must keep the momentum going in January to ensure that those top-four hopes are fully intact heading into the season’s final few months. And they’ll be attempting to do with the distraction of two other competitions, as along with a big league match, Liverpool will also be busy with the Carling Cup semifinals and the third round of the FA Cup in January. Can they handle the heavy workload and start the new year off with a bang?

Manchester City away in the Premier League

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Liverpool will be seeing a lot of Manchester City in January, starting with a league trip to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, 3 January.

Liverpool held the current Premier League leaders to a 1-1 draw at Anfield last month, but repeating or bettering the feat will require an even better performance, as City are perfect at home in the league to date.

But Liverpool have been up to the task in their biggest away matches thus far this season, winning at Arsenal and Chelsea, so it won’t be a surprise in the least if they come away from this match with a point, if not more.

Carling Cup Semifinals v. Manchester City

Liverpool are set to face City not once, not twice, but three times in January, as the two sides are also set to face off in the Carling Cup semifinals. The first leg will be in Manchester on Wednesday, 11 January, with the second leg at Anfield a fortnight later.

This is the first time Liverpool have made it to this point in the Carling Cup since reaching the 2006 final, which they lost in extra time to Chelsea. And while securing a top-four league finish and a place in next season’s Champions League is the main objective this season, this is a fine opportunity to win silverware for the first time since 2006, as the winner will be a heavy favorite in the final against either Cardiff or Crystal Palace, who face off in an all-Championship semifinal. So, Kenny Dalglish could field a full-strength starting XI in these ties to give the Reds the best chance to advance to February’s final at Wembley.

Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup

Liverpool also open their FA Cup campaign next month, as they will take on League One side Oldham Athletic at home in a third-round tie on Friday, 6 January.

The FA Cup is known for its upsets and near-upsets, so Oldham can’t be dismissed, even though they’re currently 13th in League One. However, the Reds will be expected to secure a comfortable win, even with a lineup that will likely feature fringe players and promising youngsters instead of the likes of Luis Suarez and Pepe Reina.

Liverpool Tickets in 2012

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