The Official Not606 Match Thread: Manchester United Vs Liverpool. (Premier League)

Hello and welcome to the official Not606 match thread for Saturday's Barclays Premier League encounter between Manchester United & Liverpool. The game is scheduled to be played on Saturday the 11th of February 2012 at 12.45PM. Sky Sports 1 will be showing the game and BBC Radio Five Live will have the radio rights to this game.

Preview/Season So Far.

Manchester United & Liverpool meet for the third time this season in what is expected to be a highly charged game. After both sides picked up draws against London sides, United & Liverpool will want to get back to winning ways with the three points in Saturday's game.

Manchester United currently sit 2nd in the table with 55 points from 24 games. Sitting only 2 points behind Manchester City, I think, at this point in the season, United fans would be happy with this. United are normally stronger in the second half of seasons so United fans might be feeling quietly confident. Despite a rather long injury list which I shall list later in the match thread, United will still have players which will pose a massive threat to the Liverpool side. Players like Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck and even Dimitar Berbatov could be involved and pose a big threat to the Liverpool back line. With Ashley Young back after injury and Antonio Valencia on the wings, United are well set in the attacking sense.

It's the defence which most outsiders see as the problem. The goalkeeping issue has been debated all season with David De Gea having not settled since his move from Atletico Madrid. This has meant that Anders Lindegaard has had chances to impress and some United fans feel that, at the moment, Lindegaard should be number one. However, Lindegaard is currently sidelined with an ankle/foot injury; De Gea is expected to keep his place in the side. The back four has also been an issue for Sir Alex and his United side. With Nemanja Vidic out for the season, Sir Alex has had to shuffle his defence around in recent weeks. Jonny Evans has been at centre-back with either Rio Ferdinand or Chris Smalling partnering him at the back. The right-back position hasn't been settled either with Rafael or Chris Smalling (Who is a centre-back) playing there.

Recent form suggests that this hasn't a massive impact though. In the last four games, United have two wins, one draw and one defeat. Wins over Arsenal & Stoke in the Premier League have helped keep United in touch with City. The one defeat came against Liverpool in the F.A Cup though! And the most recent game was that 3-3 draw with Chelsea. Being 3-0 down at half-time and coming back to get a draw would have given United great confidence going into this game!

Liverpool currently sit 7th in the table with 39 points from 24 games. This leaves Liverpool 4 points off 4th place and a Champions League spot. Having dropped too many points already this season, Liverpool need the three points in order to keep the pressure on the teams above Liverpool fighting for the Champions League places.

Apart from Lucas Leiva who has been ruled out for the season, Liverpool has a strong squad to choose from. Jose Enrique is a doubt but could return for the clash at Old Trafford. You could say that Liverpool have the opposite problem to United at the moment! As I have said earlier on, United have a vast array of attacking talent and the stats prove this. (59 goals scored so far in the Premier League) Liverpool, on the other hand, have struggled in front of goal. (28 goals scored so far in the Premier League) Liverpool's defence, however, has been excellent this season. With Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger forming an excellent partnership at centre-back and Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique working well on the right and left side of defence respectively, Liverpool fans will see this as one of the highlights of the season so far. The Liverpool defence will need to be working well if they are to keep the United attack quiet.

Recent from leans towards Liverpool in this game. With two wins and two draw from the past four games, Liverpool will be feeling confident. Wins over Wolves in the league and Saturday's opponents United coupled with draws against City and Spurs have left Liverpool fans feeling a bit more confident about the rest of the season. This is a good run of form after the poor result and performance at Bolton a few weeks ago.

To summarise, a massive game for both sides. United need to win to keep up with City at the top of the Premier League and Liverpool need a win to continue the push for a Champions League place. With the Suarez/Evra issue expected to be brought up as well, this is in the long line of massive Liverpool-United games!

Here's hoping for a great game!

Injury News.

Manchester United.

• Chris Smalling- Knock.
• Anders Lindegaard- Ankle/Foot Injury.
• Nani- Ankle/Foot Injury.
• Phil Jones- Ankle/Foot Injury.
• Ritchie De Laet- Calf/Shin Injury.
• Anderson- Knock.
• Darren Fletcher- Bowel Condition.
• Nemanja Vidic- ACL Knee Injury.
• Michael Owen- Thigh Muscle Injury.
• Tom Cleverly- Ankle/Foot Injury.
• Bebe- ACL Knee Injury.

Liverpool.

• Lucas Leiva- ACL Knee Injury.
• Jose Enrique- Hamstring Injury.

Injury news taken from http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php. Please inform me via a post in this thread if any of the injury news is wrong.

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Manchester United 2 - 1 Liverpool​

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Goalscorers:

Manchester United... Wayne Rooney: 47th minute.
Manchester United... Wayne Rooney: 50th minute.
Liverpool... Luis Suarez: 80th minute.

Manchester United:

De Gea
Rafael
Evans
Ferdinand
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Scholes
Giggs
Welbeck
Rooney

SUBS:

Amos
Fabio
Park
Cleverley
Pogba
Hernandez
Berbabtov

Liverpool:

Reina
Johnson
Agger
Skrtel
Enrique
Henderson
Gerrard
Adam
Spearing
Bellamy
Carroll
Suarez

SUBS:

Doni
Carragher
Kelly
Adam
Shelvey
Spearing
Downing
Kuyt

Jay Spearing coming off and Andy Carroll is on: 61st minute.
Stewart Downing coming off and Craig Bellamy is on: 61st minute.
Dirk Kuyt coming off and Charlie Adam is on: 75th minute.

YNWA.

 

great thread chris, may i be the firs tto start the banter... owen is not out injured for a thigh muscle he's out because he's michael owen

Let the games begin!

 

Wicked, im first to say it......great post as usual Chris

dammit, next week.

In the injury section you forgot to mention Gigg's broken relationship....so looking forward to this one

 

I wonder why no one is optimistic of Liverpool win. I think it is likely to be a draw.

 

don't forget ferguson's hyper extended jaw when he put his foot in his mouth regarding capello

 

I'm hoping that we edge it 0-1. I think Andy Carroll could be a key player in this tie - if he can play as well as he has in recent weeks and link up play well, I think he could be pivotal in puncturing the makeshift United backline, particularly if he can isolate Jonny Evans.

On the other hand, if he reverts to the disinterested Carroll of the previous six months, United will be able to build wave after wave of attacks against the backline until somthing gives...

The only result I wouldn't back is a draw...

 

it would be hilarious if carroll who the mancs have lambasted actually scored

 

Like he did throughout the FA Cup match?

 

This would be funny. Not really a likely action. But funny .

 

From set pieces Liverpool can put David De Gea under immence pressure.

 

I hope we win or I will have a United Sig for a week

 

Just lure him off his line with a doughnut.

 

Remind me who was marking Carroll when he flicked on for Kuyt?

And who was marking him minutes later when he hit the upright?

 

Was it Evra.?

 

Wow! £35 million well spent Kenny.

 

Setting the world on fire is your World Class Andy.

 

100000% Agree with this!!!!!!

 

Delusions again. Typical ABU. Man Utd only win because of ref's and penalties.

 

Get that sig out ready
I love Liverpool me!!!!!!. not

 

Who cares - It's better than being a glory hunting Manc tosser