Premier League
Sunday 13th January 2013
Old Trafford
Manchester United VS Liverpool
It's a place which strikes fear into the weak hearted. A stadium like no other, for many an opponent is already beaten just by it's sheer presence. Coming here represents the biggest challenge in English football. It's a task no-one is expecting us to complete and for that reason I cannot wait for the game to begin. When the stakes are like this, with nothing to lose and everything to gain, when Liverpool Football Club is backed into a corner; one which we are not expected to get out of, that is when we are at our most dangerous. I am not afraid.
The pressure that comes with this fixture cannot be underestimated. Not just for the players but the officials. With the perception being that United are more often than not being favoured by referees and this being one they want to win more than most, it is up to Howard Webb to make sure that he is not intimidated by the crowd of levity of the occasion itself. Having taken charge of a world cup final, some would say that's unlikely to happen. Others would say that this is likely to be more intense than a world cup final.
From whichever angle you care to gaze upon, it's hard not to focus on Luis Suarez. Whether you're focus is on the negative and the potential for controversy or - like me - you see his ability as the key to an unlikely victory. I'm not sure as to whether Rodgers will be bold enough to go with Sturridge up top as well as Suarez and although I'd like to hope we have that kind of courage I can fully understand should we opt to have him on the bench. There's also the very remote possibility that Fabio Borini who has returned to training as of late is well enough to make the bench, which would be a massive plus for us in terms of options. United don't have the best of defensive records this season but we're hardly best placed to capitalize on that. We need all the firepower we can get.
I don't know what seems more improbable. The fact that Robin van Persie went from Arsenal to Manchester United in the first place or that he appears to have gotten even better than he was last season. Of all the players in world football right now I think only three (Falcao, Messi & Ronaldo) would strike more fear into the heart of a defence and given his ability to put away even so much as a half chance I'm not sure whether we're going to be able to keep him out. This could be a game in which we're going to have to punch ourselves out and attempt to come out on top of a goalfest because of the level of attacking power they have at their disposal. Keeping van Persie quiet will be no guarantee of anything, but it will go a long way toward getting something from the game.
Brendan Rodgers has an opportunity. He is not expected to win this game and as such we should be able to play with a great deal of freedom. I would like to see a glimpse of the future here today for even though the gap between the two clubs may be vast right now the hope is that our football can be something of a leveller. If we can come here and impose our will on them in the same way that we did at Anfield then the future looks very bright indeed. Even if we fall short and are caught valiantly on our sword, at least we will have tried. Regardless of what happens however, no matter how much they may hurt us and revel in that fact, it won't be all over at the end of the game. As a matter of fact, we've only just begun.
It's a place which strikes fear into the weak hearted. A stadium like no other, for many an opponent is already beaten just by it's sheer presence. Coming here represents the biggest challenge in English football. It's a task no-one is expecting us to complete and for that reason I cannot wait for the game to begin. When the stakes are like this, with nothing to lose and everything to gain, when Liverpool Football Club is backed into a corner; one which we are not expected to get out of, that is when we are at our most dangerous. I am not afraid.
The pressure that comes with this fixture cannot be underestimated. Not just for the players but the officials. With the perception being that United are more often than not being favoured by referees and this being one they want to win more than most, it is up to Howard Webb to make sure that he is not intimidated by the crowd of levity of the occasion itself. Having taken charge of a world cup final, some would say that's unlikely to happen. Others would say that this is likely to be more intense than a world cup final.
From whichever angle you care to gaze upon, it's hard not to focus on Luis Suarez. Whether you're focus is on the negative and the potential for controversy or - like me - you see his ability as the key to an unlikely victory. I'm not sure as to whether Rodgers will be bold enough to go with Sturridge up top as well as Suarez and although I'd like to hope we have that kind of courage I can fully understand should we opt to have him on the bench. There's also the very remote possibility that Fabio Borini who has returned to training as of late is well enough to make the bench, which would be a massive plus for us in terms of options. United don't have the best of defensive records this season but we're hardly best placed to capitalize on that. We need all the firepower we can get.
I don't know what seems more improbable. The fact that Robin van Persie went from Arsenal to Manchester United in the first place or that he appears to have gotten even better than he was last season. Of all the players in world football right now I think only three (Falcao, Messi & Ronaldo) would strike more fear into the heart of a defence and given his ability to put away even so much as a half chance I'm not sure whether we're going to be able to keep him out. This could be a game in which we're going to have to punch ourselves out and attempt to come out on top of a goalfest because of the level of attacking power they have at their disposal. Keeping van Persie quiet will be no guarantee of anything, but it will go a long way toward getting something from the game.
Brendan Rodgers has an opportunity. He is not expected to win this game and as such we should be able to play with a great deal of freedom. I would like to see a glimpse of the future here today for even though the gap between the two clubs may be vast right now the hope is that our football can be something of a leveller. If we can come here and impose our will on them in the same way that we did at Anfield then the future looks very bright indeed. Even if we fall short and are caught valiantly on our sword, at least we will have tried. Regardless of what happens however, no matter how much they may hurt us and revel in that fact, it won't be all over at the end of the game. As a matter of fact, we've only just begun.
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