Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Liverpool vs Manchester United
When: Sunday, 23rd September, 2012, at 13:30 UK Time
Where: Anfield, Liverpool, England
More Than Three Points
Liverpool have not yet won in the Premier League this season and defeat at home to bitter rivals Manchester United would be another huge blow. Arsenal visited Anfield earlier this season and came away with a 2-0 win that was shocking in how comfortably it was achieved and, for the sake of prestige, Liverpool cannot afford a repeat. In truth though, the Reds have slipped so far down the Premier League elite that it is not Arsenal and Manchester United they are competing with, but more Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and Everton.
The match is sure to be an emotional affair as both sides pay tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster, in the shadow of a recent report which showed how the South Yorkshire Police attempted to blame the supporters for the tragedy, launching a widespread cover-up. How this will transmit to the players and the game is unclear, but it may be the opening exchanges are punctuated by more respect between the sides than is usually the case.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has shown through his actions, leaving a number of key players out of Liverpool’s Thursday night Europa League clash, how importantly he views this game. Liverpool have a fine record against Manchester United in these fixtures in recent years, winning four of the last six meetings between the two at Anfield. Now captain Steven Gerrard is aiming to give Rodgers and Liverpool the three points they crave.
"It’s a massive game – we’re looking for our first win of the season and there would be no one better for us to start getting three points on the board [against]", said Gerrard. "Hopefully then we can go on a run of winning games and move up the league because our start to the season has been inconsistent."
Defensive Issues Bailed Out By Firepower
Manchester United have had the class to win without playing particularly well so far this season and boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be confident that his side can pick up the pace. Whether a tough trip to Anfield will bring the best out of his charges remains to be seen, but Ferguson certainly has the weapons to hurt Liverpool.
The Red Devils manager has appealed to his club’s fans to behave responsibly as the Hillsborough victims are honoured and a slower, more thoughtful opening to the game, with emotions running high, may suit the visitors. Manchester United’s defence has wobbled this season, being breached twice by Fulham, twice by Southampton and once by Everton, suggesting that weathering the early storm could be key to their hopes.
Should Manchester United do that, as the game progresses Ferguson will be hopeful that class will start to show. Robin van Persie, expected to be fit for this game, and fellow summer signing Shinji Kagawa, may have crucial roles to play, the former in finishing any half chances and the latter in bursting forward unmarked.
Ahead of the match, Ferguson has shifted pressure onto his Liverpool counterpart, suggesting that while new managers should be given time, it is rarely the case.
"The only route for any manager is success. It’s a results industry so winning matches is important", said the Manchester United boss. "It’s a different game from when I started. There was less pressure. The world has changed, the press has changed, but I always still felt I needed to win games."
Recent form
Liverpool:
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal (02/09; Premier League)
Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool (15/09; Premier League)
Young Boys 3-5 Liverpool (20/09; Europa League)
Manchester United:
Southampton 2-3 Manchester United (02/09; Premier League)
Manchester United 4-0 Wigan (15/09; Premier League)
Manchester United 1-0 Galatasaray (19/09; Champions League)
Key absences
Liverpool: Lucas Leiva; Joe Cole
Manchester United: Ashley Young; Wayne Rooney; Phil Jones; Chris Smalling
Players to watch
Liverpool – Jose Reina: The usually reliable Spanish shot-stopper has been the centre of much attention of late, after a series of uncharacteristically poor displays. Reina appears to be going through a dip in form, which has even led to suggestions he could be dropped. In truth, Liverpool have no one capable of putting pressure on the Spaniard and must hope that a good performance here is the start of a renaissance.
Manchester United – Robin van Persie: Van Persie could be the difference between the sides – and a totemic one at that. While Liverpool failed to bring in a top quality striker to replace Andy Carroll in the summer, Ferguson signed a world-class finisher for his team. The Dutchman has already taken to life at Old Trafford like a duck to water and looks a good bet to score at least as many goals as he managed with Arsenal last season.
Match Prediction
This is sure to be an emotional affair as both sets of supporters remember the injustice those who died in the Hillsborough disaster and their families have suffered for the last 23 years. But, once the respects have been paid, this is still perhaps England’s biggest club football game. Liverpool could give their season a shot in the arm with victory and once again dream of at least a top six finish, while Manchester United have the job of keeping up a title pace to worry about. It is likely to be scrappy, with Liverpool enjoying the lion’s share of possession. The lack of a natural finisher could cost them though. Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United.
Read betting previews at Inside Bet: Swansea v Everton and Manchester City v Arsenal
