Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that striker Sergio Aguero is fit to face Liverpool this weekend.
David Silva, Wilfried Bony and Vincent Kompany are ruled out with midfielder Samir Nasri expected to spend at least three months on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury.
"Sergio [Aguero] is fit – he's ready to come back," Pellegrini told reporters.
"David [Silva] continues with some small sprain in his ankle so it's a risk for him to play. Unfortunately also, Samir Nasri is injured. [Wilfried] Bony and Vincent Kompany are also injured.
"One of the merits of this team is not just to depend on one player but of course our team is better with Sergio.
"It's important to retain the same way we finished – at the moment we are having a good season.
"We're the only English team to have qualified for the next round of the Champions League. We've also qualified for the quarter final of the Capital One Cup and we're top of the Premier League.
"One of the most important things in important games is to have a cold mind, not a cold heart but a cold mind. It's so important and I hope we can do it.
"I think that for me it is never a pressure to be top – you always want to be top as you only depend on what you can do.
"For me it's a pleasure to be top and we'll continue to try to be – it doesn't matter what happens, we're always the favourites with the media and seen as the team to beat."
