English Premier League | Sunday March 16 | Old Trafford | 15:30
Super Sunday’s mouth-watering clash sees Liverpool travel to the Theatre of Dreams to take on Manchester United in what is undoubtedly the biggest derby in English football and one of the biggest in the world.
To Win (90mins)
Man United 15/10
Draw 9/4
Liverpool 18/10
MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United returned to winning ways at the weekend as they claimed a 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.
Phil Jones, Wayne Rooney and substitute Danny Welbeck found the net to ensure a second consecutive league victory for David Moyes’ team.
The win lifted United above Everton into sixth place in the Barclays Premier League and left West Brom in the relegation mire.
United have been struggling for form this season and have not looked anything close to the side that took league honours last season.
The maddening aspect of this season is on paper they have the players to be doing so much better.
Everyone knows about the soft centre, but there is no way a team with attacking talent of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Juan Mata, Adnan Januzaj and Shinji Kagawa and the experience of Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick should be scratching around the way they are.
United traditionally come on strong in the latter stages of the season winning games in the second half of the season and putting pressure on the teams above but the big problem for Moyes is much of that history was created by Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Old Trafford fear factor has clearly been dented this season and it is doubtful whether the likes of Liverpool will look over their shoulder with the same trepidation as they once might have done.
Moyes needs to start creating positive history of his own, and fast.
If United’s players perform to their potential they are well capable of overcoming their rivals and Moyes will be clinging to that hope.
Last season’s top scorer Van Persie will be out to prove he can continue to be a scoring threat under Moyes.
The Dutchman has been one player who has delivered on several occasions this season netting 11 times.
United will take confidence from their last result but they will have to improve if they are to stop the likes of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge and beat their old enemy in a match that will be crucial for Moyes’ future.
Victory over Liverpool will keep United’s slim chance of finishing in the top four alive as they will move seven points behind their rivals.
LIVERPOOL
The Reds have benefited massively from the disastrous season being experienced by Moyes and Spurs unfathomable failure to convert big money signings into a good.
Second place Liverpool are the current Premier League ‘flavour of the month’, and rightly so.
They are playing great football, scoring a lot of goals (most of which are spectacular) under an expansive British manager and are the surprise title contenders.
It feels like everyone is willing them to qualify for the Champions League, and in most punters’ books it is a done deal.
The Reds have ridden their luck at times and the brilliant form of Sturridge, coupled with a World Class performer in Suarez means that they are likely to outscore most teams at the moment, converting games the old Liverpool would have drawn into victories.
Philippe Coutinho will be their main source of creativity in midfield and the man they look to provide that killer pass for their deadly pair.
The Brazilian has already shown his intelligence to find pockets of space in between opponents’ defence and midfield and is one of few players blessed with the ability to create something out of nothing.
Liverpool last beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the 2008/09 campaign winning 4-1, goals scored by Fernando Torres, Fabio Aurelio, Andrea Dossena and loyal skipper Steven Gerrard on the day.
Betting Prediction: LIVERPOOL 18/10
Manchester United go into the game as slight favourites at 29/20 while rivals Liverpool are priced at 19/10. The Reds are undefeated in their last nine league fixtures, winning seven times while drawing twice. The lethal duo of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez have scored a combined 42 goals and pose Liverpool’s greatest threat. The game should be a tight affair but Liverpool are tipped to claim the three points and they are well worth the punt.
Written by Chadley Nagel for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
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