Manchester, United Kingdom: Stevan Jovetic believes Manchester City’s title-winning experience in 2012 will give them the edge over the Premier League leaders Liverpool during the run-in and has promised they will not play for a draw at Anfield on Sunday.
The Montenegro international striker, who had yet to join City when they became champions, said: “The next game against Liverpool will decide a lot of things, but even if we win that game there are more hard games to come. This squad has a lot of experience because we won the Premier League two years ago. We know how to play and keep the pressure down, and I think Liverpool have more pressure. I think we are going to win.”
Although City are four points behind Liverpool, a draw at Anfield would put them in control of the title race because they have two games in hand on their rivals. Brendan Rodgers’ side went top on Sunday as a result of their 2-1 victory at West Ham United and will be champions for the first time since 1990 if they can beat City and then win their final four matches.
A point for City this weekend would leave Liverpool needing Manuel Pellegrini’s side to slip up in one of their remaining six matches, but Jovetic does not expect them to approach the game in a negative way.
“We always play the same way, because we only know how to play offensively,” he said. “I can’t wait for the game, because they have very good players and a good squad. A draw would be good but I think we are the team that always goes for the victory and I hope it will be the same at Anfield.”
Jovetic has had an injury-hit first season in England since leaving Fiorentina last summer, but he scored in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Southampton and hopes that he will be able to play a big part in what he called “seven finals” for City.
“I am happy for my goal but especially for the victory because now we have seven games, seven finals, and hopefully at the end we will win the league,” he said. “We must believe we can win all seven games, because we can do what we want, but it is important that we are in pole position.
“I have been fit for the last four games, but played in the first one against Fulham, was on the bus for the next two, and then played and scored against Southampton. I am fit and feel good every time I play. I am ready, and know I can do very good things for this club.”
Jovetic added that the number of players who can change a game in City’s favour is what makes them so difficult to play against. Edin Dzeko, Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure also scored against Southampton, while City are hopeful that Sergio Aguero will return against Liverpool after four games out with a hamstring injury.
“It’s important that a team has so many players who can score, as we saw on Saturday, with Samir, Edin, me and Yaya all scoring,” Jovetic said. “There is always someone who is going to score for us, but we also have the defence and midfield playing well. I think that gives us a small advantage. It is not important who scores, just that we score.”
