Premier League preview: Manchester United v Liverpool
Rotation, rotation, rotation. It either works or it doesn’t, and both of these North West giants experienced differing fortunes when they shuffled their packs in Europe this week.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rolled the dice when making a “calculated gamble” against Rangers in the Champions League, and he came up with a one. One point against a side that he would have been comfortably expected to beat, and one tough grilling from the media post match. Not that he’d ever consider something as drastic as apologising to the thousands of fans who turned up of course.
He prefers to pretend that it never happened – although sadly Antonio Valencia’s injury can’t be forgotten – and so he’ll bring back the big guns for this Sunday lunchtime clash. With the first team restored, he’ll be hoping that one big gun in particular can continue his fine form – form which has flown in the face of his army of critics.
“Dimitar Berbatov has had some marvellous games for us,” says the Scot, about the £30million Bulgarian forward who has scored in three of his four Premier League appearances this season. “I’ve told him he has to dismiss the press. I think he worried about the headlines sometimes. But he’s expressed himself this season very well, he’s enjoying his football and he’ll play on Sunday.
“Not everyone’s questioned him,” Ferguson continued, “he has a lot of admirers, particularly within this club. When we buy a player for a lot of money there’s more focus on them. When they have a bad game they get criticism other players might not get.”
Berbatov, Ferguson and everyone connected with Manchester United must have thought that the Bulgarian’s 66th minute goal at Goodison Park last Saturday would have confirmed the three points.
It put the visitors 3-1 up, but a mad few moments in stoppage time somehow allowed Everton to snatch a point amid extraordinary scenes on Merseyside. United would have been low after that, and the failure against Rangers wouldn’t have raised spirits, yet here comes the team that they most enjoy beating.
Liverpool’s own midweek chopping and changing went rather better than United’s, as boss Roy Hodgson left out the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Jamie Carragher from the side that went on to beat Steaua Bucharest 4-1 at Anfield in the Europa League.
Competition for places in Hodgson’s fledgling tenure is still fierce, and so the stellar displays of the likes two-goal David Ngog, midfield youngster Jay Spearing and Brazilian Lucas – who perfected a Gerrard impersonation with a stunning strike in front of the Kop – will have pleased the boss, but this clash is all about big names and big reputations, and one of Thursday’s goalscorers is determined to carve his name into Liverpool legend after a stalled start.
“It's been a long time,” says Joe Cole, “and the suspension [for a red card against Arsenal] just seemed to last ages so I just want to get back into it now. I'm enjoying it here and I'm happy to be here.
“All the lads here have got belief in what the manager wants us to do and the new signings have looked good. It's a rebuild for us but we're doing alright, and we just need to keep improving slowly and gradually.”
Cole will line up alongside Gerrard and Torres for the first time in his Liverpool career on Sunday, and the midfielder is in no doubt about the quality of his captain.
“He's a fantastic player and if he plays well the team plays well, and it's up to me now to assist him and try and help the club move on. A player like him deserves to win the championship, I know that's what he wants over the next four to five years at the club.”
Such hopes look likely to remain pipedreams for the time being, and while Liverpool must not be counted out ahead of the Old Trafford clash – Torres loves playing against United, and has scored in each of his last three matches against them – it is the hosts who are overwhelming favourites.
Perhaps if the Reds weren’t in such a state of flux themselves they’d be able to take advantage of United uncertainty, but an away win looks unlikely.
A defeat shouldn’t undermine all of the good work that Hodgson has done in his brief reign, but this test looks like it’s too tough and too soon.
Provided that Ferguson plays his strongest hand of course.
Prediction: Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1
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