Topic: Manchester Utd vs Liverpool Prematch thread (Sun Jan 15, 4pm)

[So… Howard Philips]

I think Utd will be quite gungho for this. I can't see Mourinho wanting them to be cautious and I think they will have a go at our defence from the off, try and unsettle us.

If we have Henderson and/or Matip back we should be able to get something but our recent performances, both as a unit and in some individual cases hasn't been great.

[adruk87]

If no Hendo then it has to be Lucas over Can for me. As much as I really want to see Can do well, he was abysmal last night, Lucas at least looked forwards with the ball.

Like many have said Lallana must be in the middle, Phil left and Divock right, with Firmino up top.

[Stevie-G4]

Hendo and Coutinho set to start, thank god

[Isaacsways]

With players missing and our form not really being the best, a draw would be a brilliant result for us. I'll take that all day. Tough place to go, they are in decent form and desperate to beat us...

[Djimi Smicer34]

Can't see Sturridge starting after last night and I hope Emre Can doesn't; I like him a lot as a player but he's in really poor form at the moment, looks well off the pace and in this sort of game we can't afford that.

I'm expecting: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino, Origi.

I just hope we move the ball a bit quicker, we get a bit more movement in attack and don't just resort to putting aimless and easily cleared crosses into the box as we have in the past couple of games.  We're obviously going to miss Mane while he's away but we've still got enough to put in a good performance and win on Sunday. 

[gatcliffe]

What worries me if we loose and other results go against us we drop to 5th. I know it is still early days but it the physcological impact that would have.

[pyroparty]

What worries me if we loose and other results go against us we drop to 5th. I know it is still early days but it the physcological impact that would have.

You always seem really, really, really worried. I'm sure the players aren't as weak mentally. If the worst happened and we dropped to 5th we'd be right back in it the week after when we beat Swansea and City and Spurs play eachother. Relax.

[gatcliffe]

You always seem really, really, really worried. I'm sure the players aren't as weak mentally. If the worst happened and we dropped to 5th we'd be right back in it the week after when we beat Swansea and City and Spurs play eachother. Relax.

You again the number one stalker on Rawk. Do me a favour please kindly do not respond to my posts, because you never have anything worthwhile to say in response to them apart from personal sarcasm!

[TravisBickle]

 Worried about this after last night. They have momentum, we don't and they'll be well up for it. No Mane is a massive blow as well because their back four struggles with pacey attackers. If we're going to win, I imagine Coutinho will be absolutely crucial for us. We need to get the ball to him in the final third as much as we can, exploit any space they leave and do our best to dominate them in midfield.

 Majorly hope Lucas has no role to play. The idea of Mata running rings around him is knocking me sick already. Gini will be important.
 
 Up the fucking Reds.

[Warks Moustache]

We typically show a reaction after setbacks. I think we will perform well at Old Trafford. Whether that is enough given our appalling record there is a different matter...

[YoungKopite]

Probably the best time to play us to be fair. They'll be up for this one.

This is a great opportunity for players such as Sturridge to really make an impact, and help us push on in the league now that Mane will be away for a bit.

[diegoLFC7]

We can smash these. If they want to play possession and have a go, we can counter and nick it. They have sheer quality with pogba and zlatan so the defense needs to step it up.

[Crosby Nick]

Even though we haven't been at our best of late we have an outstanding record in the big away games under Jurgen. Since he's been here we've had two wins at Chelsea,  a win at Arsenal, a win at City,  a win at Everton,  a draw at United and two draws at Spurs.

I'll take that as a sign we'll be much improved on Sunday.

[diegoLFC7]

Even though we haven't been at our best of late we have an outstanding record in the big away games under Jurgen. Since he's been here we've had two wins at Chelsea,  a win at Arsenal, a win at City,  a win at Everton,  a draw at United and two draws at Spurs.

I'll take that as a sign we'll be much improved on Sunday.

City at Wembley and Sevilla in Basle comes to mind.

[Purple Red]

City at Wembley and Sevilla in Basle comes to mind.

Technically those aren't away games in the conventional sense.

[Red_Irishman]

City at Wembley and Sevilla in Basle comes to mind.

I am brutally cynical and even I couldn't try to say cup finals class as away games.

We've an excellent record in big away games, this is a fact. However I think it doesn't mean a whole lot this time as circumstances are very different.

[bodhisattva]

Think we need the Henderson, Wijnamldum, Lallana midfield back it has been a huge part of the reason we were doing so well, Can has had chances but his style of play at the moment is negatively impacting the team (too many touches, not mobile enough to press well) so getting that midfield 3 back I think is key.

In front of that it's tricky, there's no doubt Firmino is a better player for us when he plays as the 9 but then the problem is who plays in the wide position? Coutinho will be one and personally i'd play Origi wide on the other side simply because he's more willing than Sturridge out there and his pace is badly needed in the team at the moment.

[zufar]

Who will kiss the camera on sunday!!!!! ?   

[amirani]

Who will kiss the camera tommorow!!!!! ?

Game is on Sunday..

[zufar]

Game is on Sunday..

Haha my bad.....it's just that i'm too excited for this.

[Crosby Nick]

I am brutally cynical and even I couldn't try to say cup finals class as away games.

We've an excellent record in big away games, this is a fact. However I think it doesn't mean a whole lot this time as circumstances are very different.

I dunno,  Spurs away this year as after the Burnley defeat. Chelsea and City wins last season were in the middle of fairly patchy results.  Hopefully we can turn it on again.

[Liver-Land]

Haha my bad.....it's just that i'm too excited for this.

I wasn't aware that 'excitement', as in the emotion, triggers a negative approach to timekeeping or any other 4th dimension intangible process. You really do learn something new every day.

[Digger2God]

Yikes.... how quickly has Sturridge disappeared from people's starting 11s for this game! 

I knew his game has changed due to all the injuries, but I was surprised to see how different he looked. I am hoping it is just ring rust and that he will rediscover some of his dynamism, but I am starting to worry that it might not come back.

The ManU game might be too much of a gamble to see if he can recover so I understand the strategy to keep him out...that said, Origi did not cover himself in glory in the last few games.  I can see Can slotting back in midfield with Lallana moving up to the front three with Firmino and Coutinho. But then again, Can was a disaster last night. Hope we get a reaction!

[Ara]

Mata is slow, Martial is still inconsistent at best. In an open game, the real damage may come from Micky Ryan, Pogba and Rashford.

[alonsoisared]

Bit worried about this game for obvious reasons, please dont call me a fanny or hit me with a "man the fuck up"

It feels like we are in a bit of a slump the last month or so. Every team has them and our slump has still contained some great results, the fluidity seems to have gone missing since we were 3 1 up and cruising at bournemouth. I am confident that it will return and the goal has to be to keep close to chelsea until it does happen.

We have a great record in these big games under Klopp but this one feels like a massive test of our credentials. Its them who have momentum despite being in sixth, we were disjointed again last night. If we show up at that shithole and get the points by any means possible then I think its our biggest statement of the season. Over the last few years its been us resurging going into games against these, believing we would catch and overtake them only to end up frustrated.  Its time for us to turn the tables and bury them. A win will boost us massively and help us kick on in our challenge for the title. And the icing on the cake would be the effect it would have on united.

[OOS]

Normally confident for these type of games but we look knackered at the moment. Just hope Henderson and Phil are fit.

[newterp]

Normally confident for these type of games but we look knackered at the moment. Just hope Henderson and Phil are fit.

Here's my question - do we look knackered - or do we look disjointed. I think they are two different things.

[DHKopper]

Scruffy 2-1 win by my reckoning.

[diegoLFC7]

Technically those aren't away games in the conventional sense.

They are away from Anfield.

[newterp]

Scruffy 2-1 win by my reckoning.

for us right? RIGHT??

[the_red_pill]

Here's my question - do we look knackered - or do we look disjointed. I think they are two different things.

I think for players who been training together for the entire season, in every session(including the youth propsects), it's a luxury to look disjointed so it must be brought on by other factors- such as fatigue/match sharpness/fitness(some are at peak, some are on a downward curve etc).

[jay0130]

Believe

[the_red_pill]

Believe

Fuck that. It's a certainty- we don't need to believe.

[DHKopper]

for us right? RIGHT??

Of course 

[harrylfc]

I would go with a midfield 3 of Gini,Hendo(if fit)and Lallana,and a front three of Divock right,Firmino in the middle and Coutinho coming from the left ahead of them.Coutinho and Lallana together are pretty flexible which would allow Lallana to still get into advanced positions.
Think it's time to take Can out of the side for a while if we can,see if we can quicken our tempo up a bit when in possession,people seem to forget he's only 22 and still learning his role.

[Suareznumber7]

Has there been any mention of Milner's fitness?  It looked to me at the end of the game that he was limping and grabbing a hamstring. 

[DonkeyWan]

Or we win well, Chelsea drop points and we are suddenly loads of peoples favs for the title again!

(Apart from among our fanbase as generally we shit ourselves and look down rather than having faith in the team)

I would be a lot happier about the weekend if the next 10 games didn' look like this

Manchester United  A
Swansea City H
Chelsea H
Hull City A
Tottenham Hotspur H
Leicester City A
Arsenal H
Burnley H
Manchester City A
Everton H

With cup matches mixed in.

[amirani]

I would be a lot happier about the weekend if the next 10 games didn' look like this

Manchester United  A
Swansea City H
Chelsea H
Hull City A
Tottenham Hotspur H
Leicester City A
Arsenal H
Burnley H
Manchester City A
Everton H

With cup matches mixed in.

We have got 23 points out of those reverse fixtures.. no need to be afraid.

[CANADAlglish]

100% their going to start that afro-Qtip in the middle and just hoof it to his microphone like cranium for 60 mins.
Rush at Carrick every chance.
Origi to start with Milly on the right and trust given to Moreno.
might just get something from that vile gypo camp.

[LallanaInPyjamas]

100% their going to start that afro-Qtip in the middle and just hoof it to his microphone like cranium for 60 mins.
Rush at Carrick every chance.
Origi to start with Milly on the right and trust given to Moreno.
might just get something from that vile gypo camp.

We won't if we play Origi up front and Milner right wing.

Never happening.