Ryan Giggs insists Manchester
United will not be caught off guard by Liverpool's Jekyll and Hyde
form
Rafael Benitez's side are again proving a force to be reckoned
with in the Champions League, going from strength to strength, as
proven by their 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid on Tuesday.
In the Premier League, however, Liverpool have recently endured
one of their customary falls from grace that has left them facing a
game they cannot afford to lose tomorrow at Old Trafford.
Defeat in the early afternoon kick-off will almost certainly
wreck their title chances as they will be 10 points off the pace,
having played a game more than United, and with just nine matches
remaining.
Despite Liverpool's hot-and-cold nature at times when it comes
to playing at home and abroad, United skipper Giggs is fully
expecting Liverpool to be firing on all cylinders.
"They've proven again this season they are a top European side,
something they've managed to do over the last four or five years,''
assessed Giggs. "But this year I feel they've improved, they've got
good players, and so we're not going to be complacent. We know we
will need to play well to win.
"If we do then it will obviously make it difficult for them to
win the title. The games might be running out and the momentum is
with us, but we still have to go out and win.
"I'm sure after their great result and performance the other
night they'll be looking forward to the game as much as we are.
"No matter what is riding on the outcome, United v Liverpool is
one of the games of the season, and as they're our closest rivals
right now, along with Chelsea, it makes it a massive game.''
United striker and former Evertonian Wayne Rooney has stoked the
fires ahead of the game by claiming a United win will spell the end
of Liverpool's title hopes.
With United unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League matches, on
a winning streak of 11 and having dropped just two points at home
all season, Liverpool seemingly face a mountainous task.
Summing up the situation, Rooney said: "They know in coming to
Old Trafford it's going to be a difficult game for them. They also
know they need the three points, and I'm sure they'll be up for it
- we certainly will be.
"But I think if we beat them it will probably end their chances
of winning the league.''
Rio
Ferdinand, meanwhile, was not quite so outspoken
as the centre-back appreciates the season does not end
tomorrow.
"Could it end their title chances? Possibly, but we still have
games after that to win,'' stated Ferdinand. "People say 'If you
win this game, you win the league', but it just continues until
it's mathematically over and one team wins it, and hopefully that
will be us.
"If we win it will obviously make it hard for them, but I
couldn't care what happens to Liverpool as long as we beat them. If
we do that and that leads to people thinking they're out of it,
then so be it.
"We're there to win games, we're at home and people will be
expecting us to get the three points. Fingers crossed we can go out
there, do a good job and give a good account of ourselves.''
