EPL 3rd March - Liverpool v Manchester United

Dead_Man_Inc SG

true

the defence department seems to be in chaos the last few games Laughing

iceFatboy SG

Fortunately, MUFC players got their feet on their grounds and firmly believe they just to go to the finishing line to win it and not at Anfield.

dragg SG

i am rooting for a liverpool win.

it will open up the title challenge. if man u wins only man u fans will remain interested in the remaining fixtures.

zocoss SG

Reina: Edwin holds title key

LIVERPOOL keeper Jose Reina reckons opposite number Edwin van der Sar is key to Manchester Uniteds success this year. The two old enemies go head-to-head at Anfield on Saturday.

Reina reckons Van der Sar is among the best in the world but expects the Merseysiders to dent Uniteds title hopes by taking the three points. Spaniard Reina said: Edwin is a big part of their success. He is so consistent and one of the best keepers in the world.

But, collectively, Man United are playing so much better than last season. I dont know why. Perhaps it is the return of Paul Scholes that made the difference and the form of Cristiano Ronaldo.They give United great balance.

Liverpool trail their rivals by 16 points. But Reina added: We fully expect to repeat the performance and victory we got at home to Chelsea and take all three points off United.

We wont give up on the title until its mathematically impossible but we arent preoccupied with it, just winning this game.

iceFatboy SG

even if MUFC loses, it will only open the title race to Chelsea.
just another set of fans.

if MUFC wins, the same set of fans are still keen cause they now know Chelsea can't afford to lose. so they will monitor both MUFC and Chelsea's games.
So more people interested, So better if MUFC win.

no difference to arsenal or liverpool fans. They are aiming for european cup victories.

Wrong logic, Dragg.

SumOne SG

I agree with IceFatBoy, there are those other than Man-Utd fans who want to see a different Premiership Champion this year.

SumOne SG

Ferdinand is slow in responses. Brian Mcbride's goal for Fulham could have been prevented. He was just slow to react. Carrager would have been able to clear the ball unlike him.

iceFatboy SG

Rio is famed for his timely intervention, speed not for physical.
and that's why Vidic is a good partner.

but Rio is also infamous for his concentration lapses and that's probably why he can never be as good as he can be. And to add to that, he is not a defender-defender who just clears the ball, but he tries to play the ball out of trouble which puts him at higher risks. there are pros & cons to that too.

lpx88 SG

They've not been playing really well since the last FA cup tie against reading the first leg. U might argue that cause we're not playing our full 1st team but still we should have dominated that game and win convincingly.

Then dono Fergie wil play Captain Neviile not..He should la..club captain mah

If they lose this 1 Man Utd must win all their remaining games to win the title. Except the Chelsea match.Can afford to lose this 1 and Chelsea's one and win all the rest..but risk waaay too big. A draw against a mid table team - title chances are heavily dented

At Anfield somemore... If man utd want to win they have to give nothing less than 200%.

Just my 2 cents

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Kuyt keen to make amends

Dirk Kuyt says Liverpool are determined to make amends for their early season defeat at Old Trafford when they entertain United on Saturday lunchtime.

Rafael Benitez's side went down 2-0 back in October following goals from Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand.

United can temporarily move 12 points clear of Chelsea with a win at Anfield this weekend, but Kuyt insists the Merseysiders will be going all out for victory themselves in a bid to banish memories of their earlier defeat.

"I think we owe a performance after Old Trafford. That was a disappointing time and we definitely want a better result at Anfield this time," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"It would be a great result for us if we could do it. We just need to go and approach the game as weve done in the last week.

"If you can beat a side like Barcelona with players of the quality of Messi and Ronaldinho, you know you can beat a lot of teams.

"Weve come back from Barcelona and done a good job at the weekend with a win over Sheffield United and a clean sheet and now we want to beat United.

"Its one of the most important games you can play in the season and there would be nothing better than beating them," he added.

In order to do that Kuyt and his team-mates will need to find a way past the striker's Dutch pal Edwin van der Sar.

"It will be particularly good for me to play against Edwin," explained the Liverpool forward. "Hes a legend in Holland and if you can score against him, you can score against anyone in the world."

zocoss SG

Gerrard risks supporters' wrath with praise for United

Steven Gerrard yesterday revealed a grudging admiration for Manchester United's commitment to playing stylish, attacking football before admitting that Sir Alex Ferguson's side could effectively secure the title at Anfield on Saturday.

"They'll be coming looking for maximum points because that would virtually win them the league," said Liverpool's captain, well aware that United will kick off their lunchtime game on Merseyside boasting a nine-point lead over Chelsea at the top of Premiership.

The so-called "M62 rivalry" between Manchester United and Liverpool ranks as one of the most intense in football and Gerrard risked accusations of heresy from his club's more fanatical supporters when he admitted: "It hurts to say this but United have been playing some really good attacking football this season. They're also really hard to beat because they have some great defenders."

If that was conceivably a coded message to the sometimes tactically cautious Rafael Benítez, perhaps hinting that emulating a few of Ferguson's swashbuckling game plans might be welcome, there is no doubt the Merseyside-born Gerrard would relish undoing United. "The rivalry for this fixture has got bigger and bigger over the years," he explained. "These are the games you want to play in."

Gerrard's team-mate, Dirk Kuyt, is equally aware of the challenge facing the club as they seek their first Premiership victory over United at Anfield since a 3-1 win in November 2001. "Facing Manchester United is one of the most important games you can play in a season, so no one can be thinking about Barcelona until after this match," said the 26-year-old Dutchman. "I want to score and beat Manchester United."

X-men SG

Games like this usually ends in a goaless draw as both teams sits back and defence waiting for the other to come out and attack then break on counter attacks.

My heart tells me Reds to kick the Devils arse 2-0 Twisted Evil

My head tells me a scored draw. 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3?

Dead_Man_Inc SG

my heart says rooney will score Laughing

Spica SG

I'm rooting for Ronaldo and Larsson to contribute their share of goals too. Smile

zocoss SG

Liverpool v Man Utd preview

Liverpool aim to stop old rivals Manchester United establishing a 12-point lead in the Premiership on Saturday as Ryan Giggs reaches a personal landmark. With closest pursuers Chelsea not in action until Saturday evening, United have the chance to briefly forge a dozen points in front. But the league leaders will come up against a Liverpool side determined to make up for a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford in October. Producing arguably their most insipid display of the campaign, Liverpool were beaten by goals from Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand, and are eager to exact revenge.

Since taking over as manager at Anfield, Rafa Benitez has seen his side score just once in five Premiership games against United. He will be desperate to improve that record and could recall both Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy to the starting line-up for the lunchtime kick-off.

Peter Crouch broke his nose in last week's 4-0 thrashing of Sheffield United, while Robbie Fowler's penalty brace is only likely to see him make the bench at best. Xabi Alonso started on the bench against The Blades, but could come back into the team, possibly at the expense of Jermaine Pennant or Mark Gonzalez.

Such a move would likely see captain Steven Gerrard shift out wide, with Javier Mascherano starting his second match for Liverpool. Steve Finnan will make his 400th career league appearance if selected at right-back, while Daniel Agger hopes to replace Sami Hyypia.

Fresh from a nervy 3-2 win over Reading in a midweek FA Cup replay, United could make up to nine changes for the trip to Merseyside. Only Edwin van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand seem guaranteed to keep their places, with Sir Alex Ferguson having no major injury concerns.

Nemanja Vidic should be okay to return at centre-half after coming off in last week's 2-1 win at Fulham with a knock. Captain Gary Neville should also return at right-back, having sat out the last two games, while Patrice Evra is on the opposite flank.

Welsh wizard Giggs will come back into the team to make his 700th appearance for United and will hope to mark the occasion by emulating his brace from the 2-1 win at Anfield in November 2003.

Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo should also come back into midfield, with Wayne Rooney also recalled. Louis Saha has overcome a calf injury sustained against Reading, but could make way for Henrik Larsson as the striking spearhead.

a-Lost-9uY SG

maybe this is e season tat RB will hav back to back joy(1st joy was victory against e Blues) by having his 1st win against MU..

zocoss SG

Man Utd win will seal title

Liverpool's fans used to taunt their Manchester United counterparts with a little tune that went: "You lost the league on Merseyside." It harked back to a crucial United defeat in the penultimate game of the 1991/92 season when goals from Ian Rush and Mark Walters handed the title to Leeds United.

United supporters may be stretching it to claim they won the league on Merseyside if they beat Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. But victory will clear a massive hurdle on the road to returning the title to Old Trafford. I believe if United avoid defeat in the lunchtime encounter, the title is as good as theirs - and if they win the title WILL be theirs.

It would put United 12 points clear before Chelsea's tea-time visit to Portsmouth, a massive psychological advantage apart from the points gap with games running out. But before we get ahead of ourselves, Liverpool will see this as a chance to halt United in full flow, leaving the door ajar for a Chelsea charge.

It's a toss-up which club Liverpool fans hold in greater contempt out of the two Premiership pace-setters, but the old enemy United probably still get the nod. And that is why the usual level of hostility will be cranked up an extra notch at Anfield.

There have, however, been whispers that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may take the heat out of the situation by fielding a weakened team. Liverpool have no chance of the title, and their priority now is the Champions League second leg game against Barcelona at Anfield on Tuesday. But a weakened Liverpool team against Manchester United? Never.

Benitez would be insulting Liverpool's supporters and players by making such a move - and his previous forays on to this hazardous territory have proved disastrous. Imagine Steven Gerrard's reaction if Benitez told him he was sitting out a meeting with United?

If Benitez is pondering this, and I cannot believe he will, he must dismiss the notion now. Liverpool's full-strength side, with a midfield trio of Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko, is well capable of beating United. And look at their last 30 league games at Anfield - 25 wins and five draws.

Liverpool have not won a league match against United at Anfield since November 2001, so throw that in for some added inspiration. Liverpool can also test a United rearguard that looked vulnerable at Fulham. But United will look to a blend of youth and experience to fashion a result that will push them towards the finishing line.

Cristiano Ronaldo's running and ability will push a Liverpool defence not blessed with pace, while boyhood Evertonian Wayne Rooney needs no motivation against Liverpool. And if Paul Scholes can exert his influence, United may be able to repeat the domination they exerted over Liverpool at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Neither side will lack the desire to win, albeit for vastly different reasons. Liverpool will not want United crowing on their turf - and United will have ringed this fixture as one of their few tricky assignments on a relatively comfortable run-in.

Defeat will hardly tilt the title balance back in Chelsea's favour, but victory will surely give United unstoppable momentum. Liverpool know that. And that is what makes the game a special prospect.

CKeer SG

I'm backing United to nick it 2-1. Ferdinand will score his "Hat-Trick" tonight against Liverpool. Mr. Green

Cheers.
C.K

4getmenot SG

4 more hours before kick off....

maybe i should take a quick short nap?...tonight fixtures are interesting Mr. Green

zocoss SG

Liverpool vs Man Utd Line ups.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Gonzalez, Kuyt, Bellamy

Subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Aurelio, Crouch, Pennant

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Larsson

Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Saha, O'Shea, Silvestre

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

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