It’s the last quarter of the Premier League season and every game is crucial to each and every team in the League.
Brendan Rodgers’ side travels to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, with three points a must in the Reds’ bid to mount a late title challenge. Four wins in a row and seven from the last nine games have put Liverpool right in the mix for the Premier League title, sitting seven points behind league leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.
The Reds have won two league matches on the bounce, scoring seven goals in that span. Man United defense will be facing a Liverpool offense that has scored the most goals in the Premier League.
Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge remain the league’s most lethal attacking duo and they rank first and second in Premier League top attackers log with 42 goals scored collectively.
Hot and smoking Uruguayan striker Suarez has spear-headed the Reds attack and forming a brilliant partnership with England international, Sturridge to wreck havoc on any team they face.
The Reds are coming off a clean sheet in their last match, but they have had their issues in the defense of late. Before their 3-0 win over Southampton in their last match, they had conceded seven goals in their previous three.
Steven Gerrard scored a penalty in the last Liverpool match and the leader in the midfield has been playing well. The Reds must control the midfield and play solid defense as they did in their 1-0 home win over the United earlier this season.
In that encounter, they thwarted all of the Red Devil’s scoring chances even though they lost the possession battle (57 percent to 43 percent).
Despite losing their first leg Champions League match against Olympiakos away, Man United have been playing well in the Premier League after a rough spell.
They are unbeaten in their last four league matches with wins in their last two. Their defense, an issue all season, suddenly is enjoying a stretch of solid play with clean sheets in their last three EPL matches.
These two teams have already met twice with United beating Liverpool 1-0 at home in the Capital One Cup and losing to the Reds at Liverpool 1-0 in league game.
Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, who has scored two goals in the last two league matches, each have 11 goals apiece. Their perfect combinations and understanding will be key for the home side.
Four of United’s eight losses this season have come at Old Trafford. However, last season the Red Devils beat the Reds 2-1 at home. Liverpool have not won at Old Trafford in league play since the 2008-2009 season.
David Moyes’s team hasn’t performed well in any competition so far. Questions are being raised over his future.
It’s time he proved his managerial credentials. He cannot get any better opportunity to send a message that he’s ‘the chosen one’ than this game.
Performing well in such a crucial game will not only silent the critics but also help United keep pressure up the teams fighting for the Europe spot.
The 50-year Scottish manager has written an apology letter to United fans and admitting that he is desperate to compensate for the dismal start to his tenure at the club.
The former Everton manager took the reins from legendary boss Alex Ferguson last summer, but has seen the champions form take a nose dive as they sit seventh in the Premier League, have been knocked out of the FA Cup and are on the brink of Champions League exit.
But the United faithful continue to back their manager, despite some shocking performances both at Old Trafford and away from home.
United –Liverpool cracker is the most anticipated game for both supporters. It’s no surprise that this weekend game holds a special weight. There’s no doubt in saying that United face a great danger in facing a resurgent and rejuvenated Liverpool.
Liverpool fans may well be dreaming of another rampage like they did five years before during the same course of the season but their poor away form and defensive frailty must concern Rodgers.
Rodgers and his men would be foolish to under estimate Red Devils’ capability but there are no second thoughts that this game is going to be decisive in defining both teams’ season.
Anthony Nlebem
