Text here to move the logos across. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Hello and welcome to the official match thread for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League encounter between Liverpool & Manchester United. The game is to be played at Anfield on Sunday 23rd September 2012 at Anfield. It will kick-off at 1.30PM. Sky Sports 1 will be showing the game and talkSPORT have the radio rights to the game. Preview. Sunday 23rd of September sees two of England’s biggest sides meet again. Liverpool versus Manchester United is one of the biggest games in world football with millions around the world tuning in to watch every season. Sunday’s game is the 186th meeting between the two sides. Manchester United have 72 wins, Liverpool have 62 wins and there have been 51 draws. You would be inclined to think that tomorrow’s game would be another tight encounter. In the past couple of seasons, there have been low-scoring games. Last season was an example of this. The game at Anfield was a closely fought 1-1 draw with Javier Hernandez cancelling out Steven Gerrard’s opener. In the game at Old Trafford, Manchester United came out on top with a 2-1 victory. Wayne Rooney scored twice to give the Red Devils a 2-0 lead before Luis Suarez got the deficit back down to one goal but is wasn't enough and United came out on top. As we can see, the games between Liverpool & Manchester United are tight affairs. Tomorrow’s game would seem to lead that way as well. Both managers won’t want to lose and this approach would normally lead to low-scoring games. So, we’ve established that tomorrow will probably be a tight game! Let’s have a more in-depth look at the home side, Liverpool. Liverpool had endured a difficult start to the season. 4 games in and Brendan Rodgers & his side have collected just the two points thus far. These were collected in the games against Manchester City (2-2 draw) & Sunderland. (1-1 draw) It’s obvious that this wasn’t the start Rodgers was looking for but there are glimpses of what Rodgers is trying to implement into the side. As you would expect, it will take time but there is a feeling that it will all come together in the very near future. Liverpool fans will be hoping it starts tomorrow! Now, Liverpool were in European action on Thursday as they faced BSC Young Boys in the group stages of the Europa League. In Liverpool’s previous European game, a draw with Hearts, Rodgers played a strong side with a lot of first-team regulars getting the full 90 minutes. Liverpool then played Arsenal at home and just didn’t look at the races that day. A 2-0 loss then followed and Rodgers confirmed that this was in his thoughts for the Young Boys/Manchester United games. The likes of Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen & Luis Suarez were all left back in Merseyside as a younger squad was taken to Switzerland. The younger players, mixed in with some experienced campaigners, did a good job as Liverpool beat Young Boys 5-3 in an entertaining game. With a fair few first team regulars left behind, the younger players were given an opportunity to force themselves into contention for a chance against Manchester United. The one player who put in a very strong claim would be Jonjo Shelvey. The midfielder came on in the 66th minute and changed the game in Liverpool’s favour. The game was locked at 3-3 and the ex-Charlton player scored twice in the final 15 minutes to secure Liverpool’s first points in the Europa League group stages. It’s certainly a strong application for a starting position and it will interesting to see if he gets one of the midfield slots. Now, the team will be changed from the Young Boys line-up. In goal, Pepe Reina will go back into goal after being rested for the Europa League game. In defence, Daniel Agger & Martin Skrtel will slot back into the centre-back positions. At full-back, things are slightly more difficult to predict. Jose Enrique was considered Liverpool’s left-back last season but injury has restricted him this season. In his absence, Martin Kelly has gone to right-back with Glen Johnson shifting to left-back. This could happen for tomorrow’s game or Enrique could come back in at left-back with one of Johnson or Kelly playing in the right-back position. In midfield, there are three positions to fill and I would suspect that Joe Allen and the captain, Steven Gerrard, would take two of those positions. The one last position would seem to be a battle between Jonjo Shelvey, Jordan Henderson & Real Madrid loanee, Nuri Sahin. All three played in Switzerland with Henderson & Sahin getting the full 90 minutes whilst Shelvey, as I have previously mentioned, came on with 25 minutes and got the crucial 2 goals. I would suspect that the performance by Shelvey against Young Boys may earn him a starting berth alongside Allen & Gerrard. In the forward positions, Luis Suarez will get a start. In the previous league game against Sunderland, he was on the right-hand side, cutting in and creating chances for his teammates. However, in previous games, he was deployed in the middle with support coming in from the left & the right. It will be interesting to see where Rodgers plays him tomorrow. Fabio Borini will probably get a start as the Italian has played in all of Liverpool’s Premier League games so far this season. His position would seem to depend on where Suarez plays. On the left-hand side, Raheem Sterling seems likely to continue. The 17-year old has impressed since starting against Manchester City & provided the assist for Luis Suarez in last week’s game against Sunderland. Now, let’s have a look at Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson and his side currently sit 5th in the Premier League table with 9 points from their 4 league games. After an opening day defeat in Merseyside, against Everton, United have once again responded well after a defeat. They are on a 4 match winning run which includes one Champions League game. Manchester United, like Liverpool, also had a European game in the week but they were in Champions League action as they faced Galatasaray. United produced a resilient performance and got a 1-0 victory. However, it wasn’t all United as Galatasaray had chances to get a goal with their players hitting the post/crossbar and having a strong-looking penalty appeal rejected by the referee. The line-up United played against Galatasaray will be similar to the expected line-up for tomorrow’s game. This in the line-up from the Galatasaray game: De Gea Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani Kagawa Van Persie I would expect a line-up very similar to this. Rio Ferdinand could come in to replace Evans and form a partnership with Vidic but with United keeping a clean sheet in their last game, it isn’t a certainty that Ferdinand comes in. The likes of Tom Cleverly, Javier Hernandez & Danny Welbeck could all be called upon from the bench and these are players which can change games. Hernandez scored last season for United after coming off the bench so he has previous good form off the bench in this fixture. Now, tomorrow’s game will be the first home game for Liverpool since the Hillsborough Independent Panel exonerated Liverpool fans of all blame relating to the stadium disaster in 1989. There has been a lot of talk in the build-up about chants relating to various disaster involving both sides. I think I speak on behalf of fans of both Liverpool & Manchester United when I say that the headlines on Monday morning should be about another excellent game of football involving two great rivals. Injury News. Liverpool. Lucas Leiva: Hip/Thigh Injury. Joe Cole: Hamstring Injury. Manchester United. Phil Jones: Cartilage Knee Injury. Ashley Young: Knee Injury. Wayne Rooney: Deep Leg Laceration. Chris Smalling: Metatarsal Fracture. Liverpool 1 - 2 Manchester United Goalscorers: Liverpool... Steven Gerrard: 46th minute. Manchester United... Rafael Da Silva: 51st minute. Manchester United... Robin van Persie: 81st minute. (Penalty) Liverpool: Reina - Kelly Carragher Skrtel Johnson - Henderson Allen Gerrard - Suso - Suarez SUBS: Jones Agger Enrique Sahin Sterling Assaidi Borini - Liverpool Substitution: Fabio Borini comes off to be replaced by Suso: 45th minute. Liverpool Substitution: Raheem Sterling comes off to be replaced by Jordan Henderson: 66th minute. Liverpool Substitution: Daniel Agger comes off to be replaced by Jamie Carragher: 80th minute. - Jonjo Shelvey: 38th minute. (Sent off) - Manchester United: Lindegaard - Valencia Ferdinand Evans Evra - Carrick Scholes Giggs - Hernandez van Persie Welbeck SUBS: De Gea Rafael Da Silva Buttner Cleverley Anderson Nani Kagawa - Manchester United Substitution: Nani comes off to be replaced by Paul Scholes: 45th minute. Manchester United Substitution: Shinji Kagawa comes off to be replaced by Javier Hernandez: 81st minute. Manchester United Substitution: Rafael Da Silva comes off to be replaced by Danny Welbeck: 89th minute. - YNWA.
If i were Rodgers, i would go; please log in to view this image Enrique is one of the better LB's in the league, if he's fit he should start. Shelvey deserves to start after his sub appearances this month, he's made an impact off the bench a few times. I was tempted to suggest dropping Gerrard, and starting Sahin next to allen, as he (gerrard) doesn't seem to suit Rodgers style, but i'll persevere with him there.
Can't have seen too much of Enrique I guess? I would have Carroll back from his loan and at right back before Enrique.
He was good last season, i know he's been a bit rusty from injury, but some players raise their game for the games against their rivals.
enrique has been shocking this season so far. there would be no chance of him starting if i was in charge. glen on the left with kelly on the right would be my full backs...the rest of kyle?s team looks good...
Like this for me please log in to view this image Back four picks itself considering Enrique's form. Gerrard ahead of Sahin as he always gives more on derby day. Shelvey deserves a place following some impressive appearances. Suarez on the right and Borini in the middle could work.
Johnson's average on the left. If my estimations are correct, Johnson at LB would face Nani. I've seen Johnson give away a lot of cheap fouls, you cannot leave a leg anywhere near Nani or he'll go over.
Same could be said of all the United players, cheating bastards. Fergie has brought in Webb to make sure all goes to plan, so the loss of Young should not be too bad.
On balance, I totally agree. You sure you are an Arsenal fan Kyle? If so, you are very 'tapped in' to our zeitgeist. All this stuff about Enrique I disagree with. Yeah, recently he's been poor, and the safe bet would be as alexb says and use Kelly and Johnson. But, on their day (hopefully tomorrow!) Enrique and Johnson are our best pairing.
It would be nice to see the Assaidi and Sahin on the bench as those are two players who can come in and change the game. Hendo looked good the other day and could come in and sit deeper as well.
I'd be tempted to start Gerrard, Allen and Hendo in the middle, to be honest, and keep Shelvey as an impact sub in the second half where he's looked more dangerous. Hendo also looked good against YB, kept possession well and is happier to sit deep than Shelvey meaning Gerrard could push up a little bit along with Allen (BR says Allen is even better when played forward). Forward 3 picks themselves, back 4 also (Kelly/Johno as FBs). Hoping for an attacking bench with people who can change things up, ie: Assaidi, Sahin, Suso, Yesil (imagine if he grabbed the winner!), Enrique, Coates, Jones But I'd expect something like: Assaidi, Downing, Sahin, Enrique, Carra, Coates, Jones - which doesn't look quite as promising...
Sad that is the case with Rooney, Young, Jones, and Smalling all out. Must say though, I feel we can get at them in the back if you just make better decisions in the final third. Hopefully this is the game that helps kick start Borini.
Agreed, but I think it is the case, unfortunately. If we had a Fowler or Collymore, or even an Owen, we'd probably be favourites. Even now, we've got a good chance, but we need to play well and be solid at the back. The threat of Persie and Kagawa needs to be dowsed. If we can score first and not sit back we'll do very well. Our defense needs to show it's better than people think. If only we had a forward line who were firing...
