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[u]Liverpool v Man City, 19:45, Sky Sports 1[/u] This writer finds much to fault in terms of Kenny Dalglish's performance since returning to Liverpool, including his transfer dealings - for which Damien Comolli is also culpable - points dropped to lowly clubs, inconsistent criticism of officials and handling of the Luis Suarez affair. One area in which he has consistently delivered in his second stint however is in getting the best out of his players in big-match environments, which is perhaps why he took the unusual step of publicly berating them after Saturday's 3-1 defeat away to Bolton. Under Dalglish, the Reds have won two and drawn another of their four meetings with Manchester City, gone three for three against Chelsea and beaten both Manchester United and Arsenal. And...

[u]Manchester City v Liverpool, 7.45pm, BBC1 [/u] A first home defeat of the season against Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday means that Manchester City enter this Carling Cup semi-final first leg on their worst run of 2011-12, having won just one of their last four games. Making matters worse is the fact that captain and star centre back Vincent Kompany will now miss four matches, including both legs of this tie, due to his dismissal at the weekend. Add into the mix the absence of another defender, Kolo Toure, and Yaya Toure, their most used outfield player, and you get the impression that January, the month that the Premier League leaders usually look forward to more than any other club, will be the most testing of their campaign. Get through it still top of the table...

[b]Liverpool and Chelsea are two of the most successful clubs in Carling Cup history, but Michael Lintorn isn't convinced that either will be in the quarter-final draw this year.[/b] [b]Stoke v Liverpool[/b] (19:45) Tony Pulis' side have tasted defeat just once in 21 games in 2011, and that was when they had little to play for at home to Wigan on the final day of last season. Factor into the equation their cup prowess - Manchester City are the only team in 18 matches over the last 19 months to have seen them off in 90 minutes, and they have won six of their first seven in the Europa League - and Liverpool's 2.22 favourite status appears rather bewildering. The Reds have been to the [b]Britannia Stadium[/b] four times since Stoke's promotion without success, heading home empty-handed...

[u]Arsenal v Bolton [/u] The youngsters will be drafted in by Arsenal, but given their recent improvement with six wins in seven, the fact that their second string reached the final last year, and that they last lost at home in the Carling Cup in January 2004, 1.63 is a tasty price for the Gunners. Arsene Wenger's men have won seven on the spin at the Emirates in the competition and six in a row when entertaining Bolton. One area in which they continue to struggle though, even as the results get better, is at the back, conceding in four of their last five in north London. Bolton have scored in four of their five away fixtures, so expect both to score. [i]Best Bet: Both teams to score @ 1.7 [/i] [u]Cardiff v Burnley [/u] In tribute to Paraguay's run to the Copa America Final,...

[b][u]Aldershot v Manchester United, 19:45, live on Sky Sports 2[/u] [/b] You have to feel, and fear, for Aldershot don't you? Just two days before the club's most prestigious game in their 19 year history they had to witness Carling Cup opponents Manchester United embarrassed and humiliated at Old Trafford. And then they had to listen to United boss Sir Alex Ferguson angrily confess that he will be looking for an instant response from his players. The Shots boss Dean Holdsworth dubbed his club's 7,100 capacity Recreation Ground the Theatre of Magic in anticipation of this game, but if it's his opponents who have the Theatre of Dreams, then Aldershot could easily have the Theatre of Shattered Dreams come Tuesday night. In normal circumstances - normal being United coming into this...