Written by Ciaran Morris
Manchester United vs Liverpool Preview
This is a match that everyone looks forward to when the fixture list is released, and it is undoubtedly the fiercest rivalry in English football. As a Liverpool fan, there is nothing better than this individual game and the Liverpool fans will have never been so confident going into an away match at United. Liverpool have lost their last seven games at Old Trafford with their last win being the 1-4 victory in 2009.
Manchester United are having a surprisingly unusual season: 6th in the table, nine points off a Champions League place and four home losses. Four home losses would have been unheard of under Sir Alex Ferguson and you certainly cannot blame David Moyes for their performances this season. It is the players who step foot onto the pitch and they seem to be lacking the cutting edge and urgency that they had last season. The United defence has been shaky all season. Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are all past their prime and Moyes can’t seem to decide between Chris Smalling and Rafael at right-back. They also need to buy a reliable central midfielder in the summer, as Tom Cleverley isn’t pulling his weight. Adnan Januzaj has been their liveliest player this season and he will only get better. Although RVP and Wayne Rooney are not on form at the minute; class is permanent, form is temporary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4k1Wg7vSI
On the other hand, Liverpool’s strike force of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are in the form of their life. With 41 goals between them in the league, they are considered the best partnership in Europe in terms of goals and form. I don’t think anyone can remember the last time the leagues top two goal scorers were both from Liverpool. With Steven Gerrard playing in a deeper, Pirlo-esque kind of role, Liverpool have looked a lot more steady at the back but they are still very poor in defence. Liverpool have only managed to keep eight clean sheets so far this season and with teams like Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City all still to make the trip to Anfield, they really need to improve. If they qualify for the Champions League, I feel that they need to sign a consistent and reliable left back as Aly Cissokho is below average and Jose Enrique has been an absentee for a good few months now. They will also need to buy at least one solid center back because Martin Skrtel is a concern with his marking of players and Kolo Toure is a calamity waiting to happen.
When it comes to a game of this calibre, all form goes out of the window and the result is based clearly on passion and whoever is up for it the most. This is the first time in a long time that Liverpool have gone into a match at Old Trafford as favourites and I have a feeling that they may just edge in what will be a wonder of a game.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-3 Liverpool