Cantona doing the famous pole-dance against Liverpool in 1995

It would take a Neanderthal man living in a rock cave to not realize the importance of the Liverpool-Manchester United game on Sunday. To borrow an oft-used cliché, this is going to be massive. Liverpool’s worst start to a league campaign in 22 years has seen them lose 4 games on the trot. It has seen questions being asked of their once untouchable manager. It has lent credence to the belief that they are a two-man team. Liverpool enjoying a torrid run is surely good news for United right? Wrong. In fact, Liverpool could not have chosen a better time to pick a bone with their biggest rivals. Sure we can win it and kick-start a full blown crisis there. The taste of victory will be very sweet without a doubt. However, borrowing another cliché, an opposition is at its most dangerous when backed into the corner. Liverpool know that if they win today all will be forgotten, their league title bid will be back on track. Make no mistake, if United are not at their best, it is going to be a long day.

If you have been keeping an eye on Fergie’s tactics for the big games over the past few years, especially away from home, you must have realized that his risk taking propensity has been varying inversely as his age. Rarely does he deviate from a 4-5-1 and I don’t see any reason for him to change. As a fan I would like to see a more attacking 4-4-2 or even a 4-3-3 but Sir Alex is sure to keep it tight and a tad boring. Call it cowardice or call it tactical brilliance- it is your canvas, paint it with your own brush. Benitez is not a daredevil either, which will ensure that the match will be a tight, tense affair. However, the fact that both defences have been leaking goals will ensure that the game will not end goalless. With all the beach-ball drama and the suppressed frustration inside the Liverpool crowd bubbling just underneath the surface, the game is sure to be on a knife’s edge. Expect a red card or two, especially if Liverpool are staring at a defeat.

Rafael Benitez has labelled all of Torres, Gerrard and Johnson as doubtful for the game. That is all horse-shit. Take my word, all of them will play. Simply because they can not afford to miss this one. It is do-or-die for them even if they don’t admit it. As for us, Rooney remains a doubt and seeing as he is the key to our title winning aspirations, we should not be risking a half-fit Wazza in such a volatile encounter. Fletcher is also struggling with a groin problem and with so many options already available in midfield, it is unlikely that Fergie will take a risk with him. Giggsy is sure to reclaim his place on the left wing with the in-form Valencia occupying the right one, in the process consigning Nani to the bench. I expect Carrick, Scholes and Ando to don the midfield roles with Berba resuming his lone furrow as our only marksman. Owen, contrary to popular opinion, will not start. Instead, he will come on as a substitute looking to exploit the tiredness of the Liverpool defence. Our back-four is much easier to predict with Rio, Vida, Evra and O’Shea sure to be the four. I would have liked to see Wesley Brown in there but for some reason, Fergie has been largely ignoring him.

While I don’t know about you, the line-up that I have just spelt out does not instil any confidence in me. We were lucky to beat a self-destructing Arsenal with a similar line-up and our European travails have been similarly uninspiring. Against a charged-up Liverpool, the line-up will not be hammered but does not have the ability to hammer them either. What I would not give to see United annihilate Liverpool. Sadly, the best we can hope for is a 2-1 or a 1-0. But looking at the circumstances, a 2-1 or a 1-0 would not be the worst thing in the world, would it?

If you are unaware of the history of this encounter, you can check it out here. The Liverpool-United rivalry has been graced by a number of unforgettable games. Excluding the last two of course, which have been largely forgettable for United fans. That 4-1 loss still rankles me. It is time for revenge. There is no doubt about Liverpool players being motivated for today. The question is- Do our boys want it as much? If they do, then they will find me along with all other United fans cheering my heart out. And if I ask for a Michael Owen, would it be asking for too much?

Prediction: 1-1

Tagged as: 11Reds Preview, Liverpool