Manchester United vs Liverpool: Considerations Given how infrequently Liverpool have challenged for the Premier League title over recent seasons, it’s unusual for them to arrive at Old Trafford at this time of year in any other capacity than as a spoiler. Not so this year, though, and instead Manchester United are left playing for the short-term pride of denting their opponents’ title ambitions – with Chelsea facing a frail Aston Villa on Saturday night, Liverpool will likely be ten points adrift of first by the time this game kicks-off. Maybe this is one of those fixtures which is more about mental strength than form. Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League in 2014, and owe much of their success to a lightning fast, fluid brand of football which, theoretically, Manchester United should struggle with – but Brendan Rodgers’ side have already lost once at Old Trafford this season in a game that they dominated, and so Sunday is really just about having the resolve to cross the finishing line at a ground which can have a funny effect on in-form sides. Irrespective of the qualities of their opponent, Manchester United were hugely improved last weekend against West Brom. Beyond the full cast of forwards and attacking-midfielders whom David Moyes was able to select from, there was a security and confidence about United that has been missing for almost the entire season – whilst that up-turn is clearly too late to salvage the Championship or probably even re-qualification for Champions League football, it does make them a far more daunting proposition for Liverpool. Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata seem to be developing some chemistry, and behind them Marouane Fellaini is showing, if not his true worth, then at least some signs of life. Predictions in these kinds of games are essentially worthless, because the occasion generally neuters any logic. However, on a theoretical basis you would expect goals – a Liverpool defence who are always capable of making mistakes, and a Manchester United back-four who are very susceptible to pace. Both teams are set-up to take advantage of their opponents’ respective weaknesses. One final consideration: in their away games against the biggest teams in the division this season (Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea), Liverpool have come up short every time – we know that they’re good enough to win these sorts of matches on the road, but do they really believe that and do they have the kind of steel which separates elite teams from the merely very good ones?
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 11:49:15 +0000
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