Jamie Redknapp Comments
With Champions League knockout matches to follow, Liverpool and
Manchester United might try to play down the importance of their
clash on Saturday. Dont believe them. This is the most
anticipated, the most ferocious, the most exciting match of the
Premiership season for these two powerhouses. The culture and
history of this fixture, the hatred between the two sets of
supporters and the tension means that defeat is a frightening
prospect.
Liverpool are unbeaten at home for 30 Premiership games, stretching
back to October 2005, but they have beaten Manchester United only
once in the last nine Premiership games. They are due a win. But
they will host a United team in imperious form, with Paul Scholes
and Cristiano Ronaldo leading the drive to reclaim the title.
Scholes will look to run the midfield, possibly up against Steven
Gerrard not a contest for the faint-hearted.
There is pace in this United team. They are almost a clone of the
side which had Roy Keane and Paul Ince in midfield, Ryan Giggs on
the left and the speed of Andrei Kanchelskis. They would pull you
in and then hit you on the break.
Kanchelskis scored 15 Premiership goals from midfield in one season
a record he shares with Frank Lampard and now they have
Ronaldo. The winning goal against Fulham last weekend was a perfect
example of their breakaway threat.
I have had some good and some bad experiences against United.
Liverpool beat them 2-0 in 1994-95 and I scored.The previous
season, I gave away a goal and we trailed 3-0.
We came back to 3-3 and then, in the last minute, I was one on one
with Incey, I cut inside and bent a shot towards the top corner. It
was the winner until Peter Schmeichel produced a brilliant
save.
My five key personalities
RYAN GIGGS
This will be Ryans 700th appearance for United and, after 16
trophies, we are talking about a remarkable footballer, a
Premiership superstar. He does not behave like that, there is no
flashiness about him, no modelling deals and the like. Which is
probably why he has survived under Sir Alex Ferguson for so long.
That and being a terrific player. He has altered his game, but he
has not changed much. He still has spindly legs and a slight frame,
but when he is running at you you are thinking: "Oh no, please pass
it, dont embarrass me."
I once got in a one-on-one dash with him. I wasnt the quickest or
the slowest. It felt like a 100metre sprint when it was really just
a 30-yard burst into the Liverpool box. We reached the ball
together, I appealed for a corner, he appealed for a penalty. And
Eric Cantona scored from the spot. He has lost a touch of pace but
he looks so comfortable. The role of dressing-room veteran seems to
sit easily with him and he can still skin a full back, especially
as he is playing with such freedom.
When he scored the opening goal against Fulham, he came through the
centre and ended up the furthest forward, on the right of the
attack, scoring with his left foot. He plays clever little passes
up to the front men and then joins in. His running and his movement
seem effortless. He is a finely-tuned athlete, which is why he has
suffered a few hamstring injuries. But he can still take defenders
to the cleaners with one shake of those snake hips.
JAMIE CARRAGHER
Liverpool have conceded only three goals at home in the league this
season. Here is the main reason why. What I love most about Jamie
is the desire and the hunger he shows to make it to this level.
There was a time when I wasnt sure about my mate. He was playing
right midfield or central midfield and didnt really look the part.
Then one pre-season he came back and he had changed. He had worked
on his strength and his stamina; at 18, he had left as a boy and
come back as a man.
Now he deserves comparison with outstanding defenders such as Kolo
Toure and John Terry. He shows no respect for any striker, he does
not fear any challenge. Good job too, because after Wayne Rooney he
will be up against Samuel Etoo!
RAFAEL BENITEZ
Despite having never beaten Manchester United in the League, Rafa
has a team who can trouble them this time, if anyone can guess what
team he will pick. I have a feeling he might rest some key men for
this game, with Barcelona in mind. It would be a daring plan but
you would not put it past Benitez.
The lads I speak to at Anfield have so much respect for him, for
his attention to detail, his knowledge of the game, his training
regime. Liverpool are very fit these days. He has three trophies,
but not the Premiership scalp of Manchester United. Would he rather
win on Saturday or see off Barcelona? I think we know the
answer.
NEMANJA VIDIC
THE new Steve Bruce: Vidic has scored four goals and, like Bruce,
he is a real threat from set plays. Watch him get his head to the
ball in defence or attack. He is brave and strong. He will put his
head in where it hurts. Jaap Stam took his time to settle at United
but Vidic has slotted in comfortably alongside Rio Ferdinand and
he is only 25.
United have the joint-best defensive record in the country,
conceding just 19 goals. You can see what an impact he has had by
how much they missed him at Reading in the FA Cup on Tuesday. He
takes responsibility, he will mix it with the centre forward and he
can deal with quick ones too. Solid operator.
HENRIK LARSSON
This is due to be Larssons final Premiership game for United. He
is a big-match player, as he so often proved for Celtic, and he
will look to go with a goal. He has scored two in 10 games since
arriving on loan, but he allowed Sir Alex Ferguson to rest Louis
Saha in that time, ready for the run-in. I still cannot see how he
can walk away from this, however the chance of a title, an FA Cup
Final and back-to-back European Cups.
Wayne Rooney will have learned so much from him, watching his runs
and movement. A masterstroke by Sir Alex to bring him in and Im
not convinced this is the last we will see of him in the
Premiership.
