'We can cope in Cole absence'

David Fairclough believes Liverpool can go to Manchester City with renewed optimism and is backing Roy Hodgson's side to take at least a point at Eastlands on Monday night.

The Kop hero insists there are a lot of positives to take out of the performance last Sunday against Arsenal, and feels the new-look squad can show they are a real force to be reckoned with this season.

"Maybe it's a good time for us to be playing Manchester City as they have a lot of new players and sometimes it does take time to gel," Fairclough told Liverpoolfc.tv.

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"They have got two excellent goalkeepers in Joe Hart and Shay Given but I do feel they are vulnerable at the back and the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can cause them problems.

"I felt we made a very good start against Arsenal last Sunday. It also showed how much spirit and togetherness is in the squad with the way we all worked for each other with 10 men.

"We can go to City with confidence that we can get a result.  I think it's important we get something out of the game on Monday."

Joe Cole begins a three-game domestic suspension following his red card against Arsene Wenger's side and despite his absence being a major blow, Fairclough claims the squad is stronger now to cope with that.

"I know we haven't got Cole which is a blow, but we still have good options and Torres looked really sharp in the second half against Trabzonspor," he added.

"Maybe in Cole's absence we will see Gerrard playing just off Torres or David Ngog, and hopefully Javier Mascherano will be fit to start. I thought Christian Poulsen did quite well on Thursday and he could be a good addition."

Fairclough also spoke about the progress being made at Anfield by Hodgson and added: "I have been very impressed with Roy. He has made a real impression on everybody with the way he goes about things.

"I was also impressed with him after the Arsenal game. Some people would have made a big deal about the Cole sending-off but he didn't. He just gave an honest opinion."

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