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English Premier League Preview: Liverpool v Manchester United [Sat Sep 17th, 2005]
After an impressive UEFA Champions League performance during the week, Liverpool will be hoping to continue against Manchester United at Anfield. Benitez’s men will be looking to heap more misery on United after a tough week for Sir Alex’s side.
BACKGROUND
It is always a massive clash when Liverpool face their old enemies and Sunday will be no exception. Liverpool’s performance in the Champions League on Tuesday bodes well for this tie, after Rafa’s reds played some good football against Real Betis. The Spanish tactician has brought in several players to the squad during the summer and the team now embodies Benitez’ footballing philosophy more than the side that actually won the Champions League last season.
With two games in hand over most of the sides around them, Liverpool could leapfrog several teams with three points against United and Rafa’s men will be desperate to do so against United. Benitez’ starting eleven will be difficult to predict due to the size of Liverpool’s squad and the manager’s well publicised rotation policy. Benitez dropped Gerrard, Steve Finnan, Djibril Cisse, Stephen Warnock and Dietmar Hamann to the bench for Tuesday's starting eleven. Gerrard was rested for Betis match and the Red’s captain will be of vital importance against the Red Devils.
Manchester United’s match against Villarreal ended in an away draw after a balanced encounter. However, the headlines were dominated by the petulant sending off of Wayne Rooney. Whilst the debate rages on whether Rooney’s temperament must change, United have been shocked by the news that Gabriel Heinze will miss most of the season after picking up an injury against Villarreal. The left back suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury and will be sorely missed after establishing himself as one of the best left sided defenders in England. Sir Alex’s growing injury list means that the tactician will look to younger players for his bench.
United have made a good start to the season and have conceded just one goal so far. With Van Nistlerooy, Rooney and Ronaldo looking to have found a good understanding, United look more capable of challenging Chelsea than any other team at the moment. Sir Alex will be hoping that his mounting injury problems do not undermine their progress after last season failed to match expectations.
FORM GUIDE:
Liverpool (all competitions – oldest result first): DWLWDW
Benitez side have not set the world alight yet, but with key players returning from injury and the continued improvement of players such as Sisoko and Zenden, Liverpool could be set for a good run.
Manchester United (all competitions – oldest result first): WWWDD
United’s form has taken a slight dip in the last two matches but they remain unbeaten this season and will look to continue that against Liverpool at Anfield.
TEAM NEWS:
Liverpool: After impressing against Betis, Crouch looks set to start this match. Benitez still has Fernando Morientes out with a hamstring injury, while Harry Kewell and Neil Mellor are long-term injury victims and neither will feature.
Manchester United: Sir Alex is already without Roy Keane (hamstring), Gary Neville, Wes Brown (both thigh), plus long-term casualties Quinton Fortune, Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the United squad is low on numbers and Ferguson will be forced to use teenagers on the bench. It has been suggested that Kieran Richardson will fill in for Heinze in an unfamiliar role for him.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool:
Peter Crouch will be looking to further enhance his growing reputation with a good performance against United. The England hopeful has the technique and size to trouble most defenders in the country and could give Sir Alex’s side a hard time at Anfield. Steven Gerrard will also be a major influence of the game from midfield.
Manchester United:
With all the talk of his temperament, Rooney will want to remind people of his talent and make the back pages for his footballing ability and not his temper. With Rooney in top form, United have one of the best young players in World football and Liverpool will be wary of a backlash from the teenager after the former Everton man's troubled week. ‘Once a blue, always a blue’, well maybe not for Wayne, but the youngster will still want to put one over Everton’s rivals.
PROBABLE STARTING XIs:
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Zenden, Gerrard, Alonso, Riise, Cisse, Crouch
Man Utd: Van der Saar, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Richardson, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Ronaldo, Rooney, Van Nistelrooy
Jamie Obertelli
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