Could Liverpool defeat Manchester United if Ronaldo wasn’t around?
Liverpool full-back Alvaro Arbeloa reckons (while talking to Sky Sports) that Ronaldo leaving Manchester United and going to Real Madrid can only be good for Liverpool.
Which brings us to the topic of this post – can Liverpool beat United if Ronaldo isn’t playing? And perhaps just as important, can Liverpool finish ahead of United in the Premier League if Ronaldo wasn’t around?
One would expect United’s form to suffer if you took Ronaldo out of the mix but that just assumes that a) Ferguson won’t replace him with another goal-scoring machine and b) the other players won’t adapt and will deteriorate instead of improving.
I think that while United will perhaps lose a little on the goal-scoring front they will ultimately start playing better as a team as opposed to playing around one player, as the trend has become in the last two seasons. Replacing Ronaldo with an orthodox winger and bringing in a natural striker (as opposed to midget frontline of second strikers) would also help other players take on the responsibility of winning games. Similarly, Taking Fernando Torres out of Liverpool won’t evaporate the goals – it would just shift the responsibility to the rest of the team.
On the other hand the question is perhaps unfair – handicapping a team and then wondering if they can be beaten may give opposition fans an ego-boost but it ultimately proves nothing.
For what it’s worth, Ronaldo hasn’t been awesome against Liverpool at Anfield so I’d expect United to keep winning despite his absence. The league is a different story but while the gap might get closer United would still have the edge.
What do you think?
With or without Ronaldo we should still be able to beat them. Other than last seasons abberation which can be put down to a hot head and a dodgy ref, all our games have been very close and down to Fergies luck or how much the ref was paid (lol).
I think it will require more than Ronaldo leaving for us to get close to beating United. First, Rafa needs to believe that he actually can win against United. Next we have to ditch the zonal marking. Then get more mobile defenders to cope with ManU’s style. StevieG needs to step up and have one of his great games against them, rather than being a subdued passenger. To be frank, Ronaldo hasn’t actually done much against us over the last few years. Anyway, being realistic we’re still some way off their level.
I agree with Bill (largely) I know we shipped a few goals from set-pieces but I think our defensive record speals for itself overall. I would agree with the comment that Ronaldo has not done that much against us however and I think also that some self belief will do the trick! once we get past them we will have our fair share of wins against them and clearing this mental block will clear the biggy allowing us to win the PL!
Ronaldo has been shining at United for 2 seasons, we’ve been beating Liverpool quite easily and finishing above them in the league for the past 10-15 years so I think that answers the question. Ronaldo is a great player, but one of quite a few at United, Liverpool just don’t have the same quality of depth, so with or without Ronaldo, with current squads, United are far better.
Too many intangibles for my crystal ball… bet nobody knows the answer to that question. They only have preferences. Yes, I want Liverpool to begin winning these hard fought battles with the Manure. Both teams keep getting better every year but I wonder how a team gets better when the best player in the world leaves your team? Adjustments need to happen yes, things must go on yes, others will get a chance to play yes, but better??????
Ronaldo never made a difference against Liverpool anyway. It’s a mind set between the clubs.
As much as it pains me, utd have a better mental strength than Liverpool which is why they have won so many leagues recently.
The only benifit for Liverpool with Ronaldo leaving would be that maybe other teams might be able to take some more points away from utd.
Well, I hope so anyway.
Ronaldo didn’t play at Anfield last year!So the answer is Liverpool aren’t in the same league as United!We won the Champions league and the Premiership,Liverpool can only concentrate on one because they’ve got an inferior squad.
With or without, United will go on winning silverware – Just as Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are very likely to go on and win cups and leagues over the next few year.
What United fans, and Premier League fans in general, really would miss is the excitement to watch a player with his flair and ability – there are simply too few that can entertain crowds like Ronaldo can – Regardless which team you support it’s always a shame when a quality player leaves the premier league. As a united supporter I’d still hate to see, for example, Gerard or Fabregas go to another country.. They may not be playing for my favourite team but it doesn’t mean I do not enjoy watching them.
Liverpool beat MU…MAYBE can happens with lil bit of LUCK.
Liverpool beat MU in BPL charts…Never.
For the past season, Liverpool never managed to sneak into top 3. Even though PL dominated by so called “the big 4 “, only MU , Chelsea and Arsenal rotating the championship each year.They only race with Everton for 4th spot and that is FACT.
Selling Ronaldo would only bring more funds to United and they could bring in a player who doesnt fall like a girl all the time. Liverpool do need a tougher mindset and a few transfers in wouldnt hurt.
P.S. Chelski dont deserve to be in the top 4, the only reason they r is because they got that rich prick spending money blindly for top talent.
I think it’s hilarious reading a couple of these comments. Bottom line, Manchester United don’t need Ronaldo in order to beat tough opposition, his purpose is to smash goals past obviously weaker teams and boost goal difference. To bill: have a look at Liverpool vs Manchester United record since your beloved Rafa has taken over as manager. No liverpool player has had his name on the score sheet, and your only goal came from a piece of individual brilliance from John O’Shea.
Liverpool have a long way to go to challenge for the title let alone defeating the red devils.
@Jay
…Oh, so Crouch putting Utd out the cup when Liverpool WON it in 2006 was in my mind only?
The bad news for you as well is Liverpool are not THAT far away from you as you might think… look at last season’s table – for all your Ronaldo goals consider that if Liverpool won both games between themselves and Utd… (And OT last season aside, they have been close games in recent seasons) you end up with an instant 12 point swing, enough for Liverpool to leapfrog Utd.
Now, even if that doesn’t happen this season, 2 draws in those fixtures will be enough to start levelling the playing field…
…despite the pap peddled by Andy Gray and co, Liverpool aren’t ‘miles away’.
But haven’t United been beating pool even before Ronaldo joined? Didn’t Ronaldo go missing(like Liverpool fans put it), in both legs of the United vs. Liverpool match last season? So if we’ve been beating pool without Ronaldo and when Ronaldo went missing we still beat them 1-0 and 3-0, what makes the writer of the article think Ronaldo holds the keys in United beating Liverpool or not.
lol Liverpool
This isn’t the 70s or 80s
enjoy 4th place scouse scum.
It depends….When you take Ronaldo out, do Liverpool play against 10 players? If yes, then they have a small chance. Otherwise, it makes no difference, just as it hasn’t in the last 5 years lol
listen to this ronaldo interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foLT0EnDTi0&feature=related
and this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q30eSTkhHxk
QUE SERA-SERA. everything will be-will be. Do you think that Manu’s d best club in the world. NOPE !
We’re goin to win the league next year, remember what I said.
We’ve won everything in the last few years, except the EPL.
Rafa knows that, and all he thinks about right now is winning the EPL next season.
Can’t we beat Manchester ? lol
Remember Michael Owen ? lol
Remember the League Cup few years ago ? lol
The best club my arse. I hope Cristiano will get injured, not because I hate him, but I wish to see how ManU will manage to survive without him.
YNWA