Football EPL Update: Manchester United vs. Liverpool- Match Preview (Part 1)
It’s time to rekindle one of the biggest and oldest rivalries in the English football history; it’s the battle of the reds as Manchester United take on Liverpool this Sunday. Manchester United are not in the best of forms right now and the season has not
gone all their own way, Liverpool meanwhile would be fresh from a midweek Europa League win against Steau Bucharesti.
Under the new manager, Roy Hodgson, Liverpool have not had the best start to the season either. Currently the reds lie on the 13th spot in the table, having got just 5 points from 4 games and have a goal difference of -2. Liverpool will make
their way to Old Trafford with most of the big guns well rested for the all important premier league encounter. It does seem strange but Liverpool is no longer part of Champions league and is playing in the 2nd tier competition in Europe.
Liverpool had a poor last season under Rafael Benitez, and following the 7th position and no champion’s league in new season. There was strong speculation that number of big names would be leaving the club. However, new manager Roy Hodgson did
well to hold on to 4 of their most important players who were believed to be on their way out. Fernando Torres, the Spanish Marksman , Steven Gerrard fantastic captain, Jamie Carragher the veteran defender and Pepe Reina the safe pair of hands between the
posts are all still at Liverpool. Hodgson’s team may not be part of Europe’s elite competition but they still have players that can be a match for anyone on their day. This season Liverpool has not had the best of starts and Manchester United has also had
an indifferent beginning so the next match becomes all the more important. There is an element of unpredictability as the form and record of the teams goes right out of the window when fierce rivalry is on stake.
Liverpool boss, Roy Hodgson like any other new manager did a fair amount of business in the summer transfer window. There are no less than 8 new first team additions this season.
Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey, Brad Jones, Paul Konchesky, Christian Poulsen, Milan Jovanovic, Raul Meireles and Joe Cole are all names trying to settle in the ways of the reds. Out of all those, Joe Cole has to be the most crucial one, not only due to his
past record but also because he was signed on a free transfer so it really was an excellent piece of business.
The first 4 games in the league for Liverpool in simple words have been unconvincing. The last games saw them play out a goalless draw against and un-fancied but determined Birmingham side. A scrappy win against West Brom was their only 3 points. 3-0 drubbing
against Manchester City was a real shock to the system and the first match of the season against Arsenal saw them play with 10 men for most of the match and got away with 1-1.
Liverpool manager has repeatedly said that his aim is to get Liverpool back to where they belong, and he would do it the right way. The former Fulham manager has acknowledged the fact that winning the league is not really a possibility and all he wants is
to get back the champions league spot this season, and have a decent outing In Europa league. However, in order to win back the anxious Scousers at the Mersey side, a win against the old enemy would be more than welcomed.
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