Liverpool versus Manchester
United and all the fiery history that
goes with it is just the game to
blow away the cobwebs after the
international break and herald the
return of the Premier League.
Some cynics may even suggest
it's the perfect showpiece upon
which Reds managing director
Ian Ayre might like to hang a
controversial proposal to break
away from the league's collective
TV bargaining deal in order to go
rogue and land bundles of lovely
foreign lucre. But we digress.
Back to the football.
United head into Saturday's early
kick-off at Anfield in a position of
strength, six points clear of fifth
place Liverpool and top of the
league, having made one of their
best ever starts to a season. But
United's recent performances
have not been as convincing as at
the beginning of the campaign
and questions are starting to be
asked of a relatively inexperienced
back line that, although they have
conceded just five goals this
term, have allowed 97 shots on
David de Gea's goal, the most of
any club in the division.
Newly-capped England
international Phil Jones, Chris
Smalling and Jonny Evans have
filled in admirably in the absence
of first-choice centre-back pairing
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic,
but the young trio have started to
look somewhat shaky of late and
United will need an experienced
head at the back when they travel
to Anfield, a venue where they
last avoided a defeat in 2007,
courtesy of a Carlos Tevez strike
in 1-0 win.
A good time then to welcome
back captain Vidic, who has finally
recovered from the calf injury he
suffered against West Brom in
United's opening match of the
season and is back in contention
for a starting berth following a
rather (mentally) painful run out
with Serbia on Tuesday. Vidic, 29,
will bring added maturity and
leadership to a defence that is
sure to be severely tested by the
dual threat of leading-scorer Luis
Suarez and the physicality of
Andy Carroll. That is, of course, if
Vidic manages to stay on the
pitch.
The Serbian defender has
famously been sent off on three
consecutive occasions against the
Reds, although his last dismissal
came in 2009 and his tormentor
in chief, Fernando Torres, now
wears the blue of Chelsea. Vidic
was absent when the central
defensive partnership of Wes
Brown (now at Sunderland) and
Smalling shipped three goals in
last season's humbling 3-1 defeat
at Anfield but was present in
United's 3-2 victory at Old
Trafford, even managing to put
the shackles on Torres.
It was Steven Gerrard who
popped up to score both of
Liverpool's goals in that particular
Premier League clash and the
Reds' skipper is set to make a
timely return to the starting line-
up on Saturday. The 31-year-old
is slowly recovering from the
groin operation he underwent in
April and, having featured as a
substitute in Liverpool's last three
games, is ready to take his place
in the team following a rest
during the international break.
The last time Gerrard started a
game for Kenny Dalglish's side
was the aforementioned 3-1 win
over United in March. The
returning captain, who has
scored five goals against United
down the years, remains a truly
talismanic figure and will give
Liverpool, who head into the
match already high in confidence
following back to back victories
over Wolves and Everton, a
further boost.
Dalglish's biggest headache will be
how to squeeze Gerrard into an
overstocked midfield that was
further boosted by the arrival of
£20 million Stewart Downing, £16
million Jordan Henderson and £9
million Charlie Adam over the
summer. Gerrard replaced Adam
in the Merseyside derby and the
Scotsman could once again be
the victim, unless the manager
opts to revert to a five-man
midfield and ditch the 4-4-2 that
has brought maximum points
from the last two games.
Manchester United have also gone
with a 4-4-2 in their three away
matches in the Premier League
this season, with Anderson and
Tom Cleverley the preferred
partnership in central midfield
before the latter injured his foot
against Bolton in September.
However, Cleverley, who recently
signed a new deal with the
English champions, could make
an early comeback at Anfield.
Liverpool player to watch: Dirk
Kuyt. The Dutchman was
restored to the Liverpool side in
place of Jordan Henderson against
Everton and, despite missing a
penalty, excelled in the 2-0 derby
victory at Goodison Park. Kuyt is
Liverpool's equivalent of United's
Ji-Sung Park in that he is not
usually the most spectacular
player on the pitch but is always
dependable. However, Kuyt did
score a hat-trick, his first for
Liverpool, the last time United
visited to Anfield and he's clearly a
man for the big occasion.
Manchester United player to
watch: Wayne Rooney. The
England striker was sent off
against Montenegro last Friday,
leading to accusations that he
wasn't in the right frame of mind
to play in the Euro 2012 qualifier
following the arrest of his father
the day before by police
investigating a football betting
scam. However, United manager
Sir Alex Ferguson has defended
the former Everton striker's
temperament and is confident he
is ready for another tough test at
Anfield. The Premier League's
leading goalscorer possesses
undoubted quality and, if he can
rise above the inevitable taunts,
could well add to his nine-goal
tally for the season.
Key Battle: Jose Enrique v Nani.
Liverpool's new left-back has
started all seven Premier League
games this season, earning a
man of the match performance
against Arsenal and turned
provider for Suarez and Carroll
against Wolves and Everton
respectively, but it will be his
defensive qualities that are put to
the test by Nani. United's pacy
winger has enjoyed a prolific start
to the season with three goals
and three assists in seven games
and will be one of the main
threats at Anfield.
Trivia: After three home games
this season Liverpool remain
unbeaten at Anfield, with two
wins and a draw, while
Manchester United have exactly
the same record away from
home.
Stats: Manchester United have the
best shot conversion rate in the
Premier League this season at
26%.
Odds: Liverpool (3.00),
Manchester United (2.40) and the
draw (3.25) are all available at
bet365 but, given that both teams
are evenly matched and could be
rusty after the international break,
there could be real value in 0-0
halftime, 1-1 fulltime at 14.00.
Prediction: Only one of the last
four matches between these two
rivals has been won by more
than a single goal and this game
should be another close one. It
would not be a surprise if they
shared the points.
January 31, 2010, 03:47:49 PM