Liverpool legend John Barnes has asked if Manchester City have the team spirit and togetherness to bounce back from defeat ahead of their trip to Merseyside this afternoon.

The Citizens have been dominant on the domestic front this season and could go seven points clear at the top of the table with a win at Anfield. However, after the big-spending side's 2-1 defeat to Napoli in midweek, Barnes believes that doubts could begin to creep in.

"City are the best team in the country when things are going well," he told The Mirror. "But when things aren't going so well, will they have problems of character?

"At City, with a billionaire who wants to spend his way to success, if it doesn't work, he spends more money.

"Money brings you great players, but we will see, through the course of the season, whether it brings team spirit. We have seen them be a team when they win. The real test is when they lose a game."

Seventh-place Liverpool could fall 14 points behind leaders City in the event of a loss later today.