Source: PA
Hodgson aims to avoid Manchester meltdown
Liverpool visited Manchester a month ago and received a "kick in the teeth" from Roberto Mancini's City side, so manager Roy Hodgson is hoping to avoid a similar outcome against United.
The fixture list has not been kind to the Reds as they have already faced Arsenal at home and City and Birmingham away - games which have brought just two points.
Their only Barclays Premier League victory so far has come against West Brom at Anfield, but Hodgson knows a win at Old Trafford would do wonders for morale.
"You might get the shots in the arm which you help you or the kicks in the backside which bring you down, but the health of a football club should be judged by what goes on on a daily basis," said the 62-year-old.
"We all know that you get your shots in the arm - like we did beating Steaua Bucharest 4-1 on Thursday in the Europa League - but we will also get our kicks in the teeth, like we did when we went to Manchester City (3-0 defeat).
"It is a part of football life and players need to be aware of that."
