Old Trafford will host one of the most eagerly awaited fixture of the season so far between two clubs who have made this fixture as special as El Clasico in La Liga. Manchester United have been on the ascendency since Van Gaal took up the reigns from David Moyes but it has not been plain sailing despite the huge spending and rebuilding. United have however qualified comfortably from the pre-qualification for the Champions League. Both clubs however will be looking to bounce back from defeats in the Premier League with Liverpool going down 3-0 to West Ham and Manchester United defeated by a 2-1 margin to Swansea City in week 4.
Previous Meetings:
Manchester United will go into the match with something of a psychological advantage having won 6 out of the last eight encounters with a 3-0 thumping being the revenge result of the last Old Trafford match in December last year. The previous season in the Moyes era Liverpool inflicted a rare away defeat by the same 3-0 margin.
For those that might expect the two clubs to cancel each other out this simply isn’t a conceivable outcome with this fixture which has ended in stalemate on just two occasions since 2005.
The rich dna of this fixture is full-blooded and has been goalless just once in 2005 since 1991.
Team News:
Phil Jones and Michael Carrick are unlikely to start for United due to injury with Carrick being sent home whilst on England duty but more will follow after the pre-match press conferences.
De Gea and United are expected to put the botched transfer behind them and focus on football rather than fax machine toner and file conversions. Sergio Romero, whilst competent cannot hold a candle to David De Gea and many feel Swansea’s second goal should have been saved.
Did you know Rooney is now England’s all-time top goalscorer…I expect that fact will still have mileage but it can only be a confidence boost for the United captain.
United are looking light in personnel up front so Anthony Martial could start from the bench if Van Gaal feels the player is ready. The potential transfer fee of £58m for a player with unproven potential seems a little baffling so it would be good to see what the fuss is all about. A goal against Liverpool could certainly silence the critics.
Kick-off: 5:30pm Saturday 12th September
Source: DSG
