You can watch Liverpool v Manchester United Live online here.
Liverpool v Manchester United
Anfield, Liverpool
Sunday 25 October 2009
Kick-off: 14:00 BST
Billed this week as the game that could end Rafa’s reign at Liverpool and end Liverpool’s title aspirations before the end of October, this game is none of the above. Rafa Benitez is going nowhere, although the same could be said about Liverpool as well and that’s never a good sign.
Manchester United also faced injuries in midweek – Rooney and Giggs, two of their most influential players this season, were out injured. Their defenders have also faced problems this season with injuries and mistakes taking their toll.
You can compare the transfer history for Manchester United and Liverpool since Rafa Benitez came to Anfield here at ROM.
But where Liverpool have faltered, Manchester United have ground through. It’s a mark of the team’s character, developed and redeveloped over two decades, that you can rarely count Manchester United out of any contest (which is why last season’s defeats at the hands of Liverpool, Fulham and Barcelona were such a jolt).
The game promises to be a classic, and Soccerlens will be bringing you the game live through Live Sport Network and through our live blog below.
Liverpool v Manchester United Live
Liverpool Preview
Liverpool are not looking strong at the moment at the back and with the injury scares to Torres, Gerrard and Johnson they don’t look that strong offensively either.
Mind you, Liverpool beat Manchester United at Anfield without Torres and with Gerrard only as a second-half substitute. Johnson wasn’t even in the squad at the time. What that tells you is that Rafael Benitez’s tactical system works and works well when the players are clicking and have confidence in their abilities – and the big ask for Rafa will be to motivate his players to look beyond their four consecutive defeats and play a barnstormer of a game on Sunday.
Manchester United Preview
The telling statistic – beyond the four consecutive defeats – is that United can open up a 10 point lead on Liverpool if they win at Anfield. With the Premier League title race expected to be a tight one and all teams dropping points, such a lead this early in the season will be a big ask for Liverpool to recover from.
Last year’s Liverpool-United game in March at Old Trafford had a similar storyline to it – Liverpool went into it knowing that defeat would leave them 10 points behind, but a win that day and a defeat for United against Fulham in the next game pulled them back near level terms. Could the same happen this time around? United play Chelsea two weeks after playing Liverpool, so it’s not out of the question.
If Torres is fit, we’re in for an entertaining duel between him and Vidic. Nemanja Vidic was quite uncomfortable against Torres during last year’s game at Old Trafford and it’ll be interesting to see how Vidic copes with the challenge this time around.
On a broader picture, it’s going to be interesting to see how Ferguson tackles Rafa’s tactics this season. After successfully tactically over-powering both Chelsea and Arsenal last season, Manchester United were caught flat-footed against Rafa’s 4-2-3-1 and I’m sure that Ferguson will have a plan to counter the system.
Liverpool v Manchester United Prediction
To sum up Liverpool and United this season would be to look at the two teams’ Champions League games in midweek. Liverpool conceded a late goal to condemn themselves to defeat, while United scored a late goal to wrap up victory and basically book progression to the next round.
That sums up where they are.
Having said that, who knows what could happen? We’ve seen tight games in recent years but we’ve also seen absolute maulings – United putting four past Liverpool a few years ago and Liverpool doing the same to United last season.
This game to go in just about any direction (and that’s before you account for beach ball deflections) but there’s one thing for sure – there will be goals.
Prediction: Liverpool 4-4 Manchester United
You can watch Liverpool v Manchester United Live online here.
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Also See:
Predict Liverpool’s Next Four Results
Fact: Benitez will NOT get the sack from Liverpool owners
What to do with Liverpool FC (and Rafa)?
Liverpool v Manchester United Live Blog via AnfieldRed
