Here’s a lowdown of what our players are saying ahead of the much anticipated clash on Sunday. A common theme seems to be a sort of determination to avoid complacency and rightly so. In matches like these, form becomes totally irrelevant. Expect a wounded Liverpool side to come out fighting.
Club captain Gary Neville, in an interview to MUTV, speaks about the United-Liverpool rivalry and the risk of underestimating Liverpool.
“This is always a great fixture, a passionate fixture but a game that can always go either way. We just hope we’re at the top of our game, because you have to be in these ones. The fact Liverpool lost [against Lyon] and we won in Moscow will mean nothing come Sunday lunchtime. They’re at home in front of their fans. It’s always difficult at Anfield. We have to make sure we’re on top of our game. It’s far too early to talk about knocking Liverpool out of the title race, we’re only nine or ten games into the season. Any team in the top four is capable of winning six or seven games on the trot and getting back into it. We just need to think about our performance and what we do.”
Paul Scholes has said something along similar lines, reiterating the need to avoid complacency seeing as for Liverpool, there could not have been a better time to face United.
“Obviously they’re going through a bit of a sticky patch at the moment but they’d be looking at this game as an opportunity to turn things around. In fact, it’s probably the perfect game for them to try and bounce back from the problems they’ve had. United-Liverpool is a massive fixture and it’s always difficult, especially at Anfield in front of their fans. Liverpool are a good team and not many sides pick up good results there. That said, we’ve done quite well there over the years. We got beaten last season but apart from that we’ve come away with some good wins and we hope to get another on Sunday. If we concentrate on ourselves and play well then we can get the right result.”
Nemanja Vidic, who had a torrid time against Liverpool last season picking up red cards in both Liverpool outings, has tried to exorcise his demons by saying that his troubles against Liverpool in general and Torres in particular were a one-off thing and that on Sunday, he will be back to his best.
“It was just a bad day. I played two games against Torres before and he didn’t score. Of course it bothered me. When you make mistakes, especially in such a high-profile game, you always go through a hard time. Players who play football make mistakes. Only players who do not play never make mistakes. As well as that bad game, I can also remember having some good games for Manchester United.”
Nani,who continues to dazzle and frustrate in equal amounts, has spoken of extracting revenge for last season’s 4-1 humbling at the hands of the Scousers.
“To win at Anfield and leave them 10 points behind us would be such a shattering blow for Liverpool – but that’s what we want to do. We remember losing 4-1 to them at Old Trafford last season and this is the best moment for us to show the other side of the coin. It’s a great chance for us to gain revenge and to show everyone we are the Premier League champions. And while the pressure is on Liverpool, for many reasons, we go to Anfield with no nerves. United are playing with a very positive rhythm at the moment and we want to satisfy our supporters.”
Now that our players have talked the talk, it is time to walk the walk.
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Never write off Liverpool especially when they play us. I know we have a great record against them but they have Torres and we don’t. Our problem is not taking enough of the chances we create and without Rooney we could find it hard to score. Still think we will win tho.