It’s a bitter old rivalry this one and it doesn’t get any prettier! United aren’t the powerhouse they once were, Liverpool is uncharacteristically faltering now…so some might have expected me to title this piece “relegation scrap at Old Trafford looming”.
Nonetheless, it’s a massive game whenever it is played. Last time out United thumped them – but that didn’t count of course. So, I guess Liverpool has it all to do!
English Premier League
Monday 22 August
Monday 22 August
Old Trafford
21:00
To Win
Manchester United 44/10
Draw 36/10
Liverpool 11/20
Liverpool 11/20
Manchester United
United were deservedly beaten by Brentford last weekend (and Brighton before that). Liverpool isn’t exactly the sort of opposition United need to meet now, but one can only play what is in front of them…
If I am to be completely honest, I’m not entirely sure of what I am to say here. Erik ten Hag has come in and like many before him, failed to have complete support from the powers that be and is still expected to perform miracles on the football pitch. His defense spectacularly came to nothing against a Brentford side that with the greatest degree of respect is driven by passion, belief, and working hard for the 90 minutes.
How it is possible that Brentford ran more than 13 kilometers more than United in their fixture is beyond me – but how the support base continues to think the players are doing all they can for the club is the greater sin.
United showed they were unable to build play through their phases and move into the Brentford half with any sort of poise. And yet, they were simultaneously unable to match the pace of Brentford’s play. The Red Devils were slow and static, lethargic to react, and incapable of finding a second gear.
Manchester United has failed to win a football match on the road for seven straight games. It is the worst since 1936! I really feel for the manager, the atmosphere at Old Trafford on Monday night will be relatively toxic and demonstrative even against the ownership of the club. Liverpool, as we know, will want to launch their attack early on and then absolutely go for the kill. Should United concede early, I just don’t think the players have it in them to respond. You compound that with the aggression which will inevitably be felt by the fans and you have a bomb waiting to go off…
Liverpool
Liverpool was flimsy against Fulham and consolidated that performance with a subsequent slip-up at home to Palace on Monday night. Jurgen Klopp would have certainly wanted a reaction from his players – who now sit four points adrift of City having not won either of their opening games for the first time under the pupillage of their German boss.
You could criticize the Reds’ lack of intensity, physicality, and pressing against Fulham, but against Palace, I didn’t think they were bad. Palace absolutely got their tactics right and played the perfect game for the situation. They frustrated Liverpool, stopped the game flowing at 120KPH, and when their chance(s) came, they took at least one of them.
Luis Diaz was required to rescue a point for the Reds at Palace after summer signing Darwin Nunez saw red in his first home game. For me, the interesting thing about the game on Monday evening was how Liverpool completely dominated possession of the football and still failed to put their visitors to the sword.
The reality though is the resilience shown by Patrick Vieira’s side isn’t something one should go into this fixture expecting to see. United players have been the furthest thing away from competitive when things go against them and I’m inclined to expect much of the same here.
Predicted
Line-ups:
Line-ups:
Manchester United: De Gea (GK); Malacia, Varane, Maguire, Dalot; Eriksen, Fred, Fernandes, Rashford, Sancho, Elanga.
Liverpool: Becker (GK); Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Milner; Firmino, Salah, Diaz.
Prediction: Liverpool (11/20)
To be fair, 11/20 about the away win is too attractive to miss out on. Liverpool are lightyears ahead of Manchester United in every area of the football club now. You can be sure they will come into the encounter looking to make a statement and if they get off to the start, they are more than capable of achieving – they could hurt United. As always, this is the sort of game whereby should I be proved incorrect – know that I will happily and graciously accept it.
Oh, and by the way, in case you were interested:
To Be Relegated
Manchester United 25/1
Liverpool 1000/1
Written by Ryan Liberty