Topic: PREVIEW: Manchester United v Liverpool, Sunday January 13th 1.30pm

[Danny_]

Sorry but I would have taken anybody but Webb.  The club should officially complain about this as he seems to always get these high profile games and he is always biased towards United.  I have almost no expectation of our getting a fair game now.  Anyway, enough of that, onto the game.  I think that we should just go for their throat.   I know it's away and everything but they are vulnerable, especially in the air against crosses and set pieces. 

I hope we are practicing these all week long now that we have 6ft 2 Sturridge in the box to aim at.  If we sit back, put 10 men behind the ball and try to counter them, I think we will lose.

[Aido LFC]

Would take a draw right now.

[Gifted Right Foot]

great op mate.  im always excited yet nervous when it comes to these games.  their fire power is proving to be the best in the league this season but at the same time their defence is leaking a fair few goals so it could really go either way. 

i would like to see reina, wisdom, skrtel, agger, johnson, lucas, henderson, gerrard, sterling, suarez, sturridge.  i am a huge fan of robinson but i wouldn't put him against valencia away at old trafford especially only having played so little recently.  it's going to be a big ask but i think wisdom should be able to hold his own on the other side against who ever they put out, his physical presence is a bonus as well in these kinda games.  lucas, henderson and gerrard have gotta start in midfield for me.  they seem to be the most balanced midfield combo we have at this point in time.  having sterling, suarez and sturridge up top may seem too attacking but with uniteds defence the way it is i would rather we go out and attack from the get go and put pressure on them.  it's not like they don't work hard off the ball anyway so they will be supporting the midfield and backs as well. 

the worry for me though is the difference in the subs available.  even with rooney and nani out they have a lot more attacking threat than us on the bench.  depending who they start they could sub on welbeck, young or kagawa?  we might have the choice from shelvey, sahin, suso or downing?  it would be ideal to start sturridge on the bench and bring him on against tired legs but i think we would be relying on suarez too much to create anything if sterling and downing were supporting him for most of the game.  in saying that i guess he's kind of used to that though.  anyway all ifs and buts.  im no tactical wizard, im just here to support the club .  i'm sure who ever rodgers decides to pick will work their socks off and put in a decent performance. .  looking forward to the game.  come on lads!

[Uruguayan36]

The mancs know Luisito very well...defor...it is gonna be very hard 4 Luis to score...I guess Mr Fergurson will prepare a special treatment 4 Luis next Sunday...but i hope some other of our players will be able to score for us.

[dublinred101]

Have a feeling we're gonna be beat, 3-1 maybe. Just can't see us stopping their attacks.

[farawayred]

We will be beaten 1-0 with Webb scoring the winning goal from a non-existing free kick he awards to himself.

[hitman89762000]

We'll win. Fuck the negative attitudes off lads come on!!!!

[Barneylfc∗]

Have a feeling we're gonna be beat, 3-1 maybe. Just can't see us stopping their attacks.

Yeah they are potent in attack. The best in the league. But they're weak at the back. Suarez is on fire aswell. Sturridge probably won't start but will be a great option off the bench if were still in the game after an hour. As GRF says above, we've got to go with Gerrard Lucas and Henderson in midfield. Henderson has been a different player over the last month or 2 and deserves a start. After a promising start, Allen has been indifferent and I can't see where he is going to benefit us on Sunday. I think it will be an open attacking game and whoever scores more goals will win 

[Scott0908]

 reina
wisdom agger skrtel johnson
lucas gerrard allen
sturridge suarez sterling

1-2 gerrard,sturridge

[Metallinick]

Heart says 2-1 (Suarez, Sturridge) but a mate just told me Howard Webb has been appointed ref for the match so head now says...... Manure 3-0 (van rapist 2, granny fukcer 1).....Suarez sent off in first half to be followed by Martin in the second.

How the hell was the Webb appointment not a deliberate move by whiskey-nose?

[Walk on, walk on]

Honestly don't see how we can win this one. At best we'll scrape a draw.

If you think referees are unbiased and fair in this sport then we will just have to agree to disagree.

[Red Genius]

Honestly don't see how we can win this one.

By putting the ball in the net more times than them - forget the referee, we're making ready made excuses before a ball's been kicked. Lets just get behind the lads, give it our best effort and see if we can get the result.

Would piss myself if Van Persie picked up his annual injury in this one... ole bacon face will be roasting.

[Walk on, walk on]

Lets just get behind the lads, give it our best effort and see if we can get the result.

Naturally. I just did not want to set myself up for disappointment like I inevitably do.

[Inverse]

Sooo... Webb eh?

M. United 1 - 0 Liverpool
V. Persie (pen. 95')

Liverpool : 1 Red card, 5 Yelow cards

[ThepepeReina]

Think united are shite an constantly get bailed out by van persie, but wont this time and we will do them an their shite midfield/defence.

[woof]

We always gear up for the big match against our arch enemies. It's also a big test for BR to see how far the team has come. We've beaten teams in the lower half of the table comfortably and this is our first test in the second half of the season against a top team. Mancs may not be playing as well as they should but they have RVP who will score against any team given half a chance. Our defence needs to be on the alert at all times. I believe we can score but can we defend? That will determine if we win, lose or draw.

Would love to see Suarez, Sterling and Sturridge terrorise their defence by playing on the pitch together. I believe Sturridge has sufficient time to prepare for this.

[hitman89762000]

Naturally. I just did not want to set myself up for disappointment like I inevitably do.

Thats the spirit....

[Hij]

I hope as big a deal as possible is made over the week about Webb being biased in Man United's favour - never know, small margins and all that- they are 7 points clear, we're 7 points away from the top four - might not be a crucial fixture in the scheme of things for something to go 'wrong' with a dodgy Liverpool win as the impact wouldn't be immediate. You never know, subconsciously it might be easy to award us something we shouldn't get to prove he's not biased towards Man United. I feel we've suffered the opposite way of thinking with refs this season, with them almost making sure they don't award Luis Suarez clear fouls sometimes so as not to look like they are falling for his dives.

I always get really nervous the week before this match. It's the big one. Fortunately the Manc house mate I live with is off to the game, so I don't have to put up with his shite during the game.

I think we'll score, but the fear is they will score more than we do and thus win the match. Like woof alludes too, the defence will be our biggest concern. Infact, simply keeping a clean sheet however difficult would guarantee a result most would be happy with I imagine.

[andy in warrington]

I think Webb will be under pressure to referee the game fairly having been 'outed' as a United fan previously.
I feel that Ferguson's choice of referee for this game will come back to bite him on his arse.

[n00bert]

The only thing that's tragic is this fucking attitude.17 league games to go, still in the FA Cup and UEFA Cup, and the season is a write off? Fucking do one. What makes it a fucking write off? Because we aren't going to win the 4th place cup? Maybe you'd be better supporting Arsenal or Spurs.

Christ I was just being glib. You lads need to untwist your knickers. Context mate -  it's everything in the world. 

Yes we have hit our best run of form, yes we are playing better than we've been played for a good year and yes we are within touching distance of fourth. I haven't given it up myself, not by a long shot. But it is a bit of a mountain considering a) Chelsea and Arsenal each have one game in hand b) Spurs are playing pretty fucking well and c) even the Bluenoses are churning out victories. I want it to happen but just looking at it through my eyes I don't think that it will.

Even with all that said when I said 'write-off', it doesn't mean I want us to play fucking academy players against United. We need LB cover, Robinson did well against Mansfield for the most part, we need to start playing him at some point so why not against the old enemy. It's not that he will be poorer for the experience. Everyone wins here. We may be a touch exposed but who knows - maybe he'll be a revelation and we don't have to play Downing at LB ever again? Maybe he'll be so good that when Enrique comes back from injury he'll have some proper competition for his place?

I believe we'll beat their arses this weekend. Feel it in my fucking bones.

[kevindublin]

If we dont have anyone sent off, and dont have any dodgy penalties given against us, we have a good chance to get something out of this game.

However, as Webb is the referee, You just cant see that happening.

[blood.red]

Cant wait for the weekend . The fact that sturridge and suarez will play together for the first time is making me even more restless .  what formation will we play ..who will play upfront as striker  .. n all..

[chromed]

Really looking forward to this game. I look forward to it at castle greyskull more than I do at Anfield, because I love beating the mancs away. As for Webb, I think he will be a c*nt for most of the game, yet still give us a pen.

Got quite a good feeling actually, for the next 5 games in fact, I think we will only fail to pick up points at City.

So come on Redmen! My prediction is 1 - 3 (Suarez, Gerrard pen, Sturridge)

[n00bert]

Got quite a good feeling actually, for the next 5 games in fact, I think we will only fail to pick up points at City.

That's how I'm feeling actually. Think we will do well in this run of return fixtures and get some much needed momentum going into the end of the season.

[Mr_Shane]

I have a feeling Humongous D is going to play his part in this match which could turn out to be a thriller

[StrikingMidfield]

Imagine how great it would be if we managed to beat the first place team? With Suarez and Sturridge playing how they have been they can give the United defense pure hell     

I think we could reasonably pull off a tie, but of course I'll be rooting for a win 

[Danny_]

Sooo... Webb eh?

M. United 1 - 0 Liverpool
V. Persie (pen. 95')

Liverpool : 1 Red card, 5 Yelow cards

This is probably a good summary of what's going to happen if it's close.   It's sad that we actually EXPECT the ref to ruin the game and give an unfair advantage to the opposition but we've been fucked over so many times in the last few years that it would be stupid not to expect it.   

And we're not the only ones.   The bookies are in on it too. Paddy Power have actually shortened the odds of United winning after Webb was appointed as ref.

[blood.red]

This is probably a good summary of what's going to happen if it's close.   It's sad that we actually EXPECT the ref to ruin the game and give an unfair advantage to the opposition but we've been fucked over so many times in the last few years that it would be stupid not to expect it.

With Suarez being involved in controversies recently  , i am afraid Webb's target will be Suarez . Fergie will instruct Webb to keep his card  ready and just wait for suarez to loose his  balance n fall so that  he can be booked for diving . Media next day will take care of framing a story to prove how suarez intentionally dived  and what a cheat he is ....

[ghost1359]

I get the feeling Wisdom's going to be in for a very long afternoon. They're going to get at him as much they can. Wouldn't surprise me if we went 3-5-2 in an effort to combat it.

[Danny_]

I get the feeling Wisdom's going to be in for a very long afternoon. They're going to get at him as much they can. Wouldn't surprise me if we went 3-5-2 in an effort to combat it.

They are all going to be in for a long afternoon - RVP and Hernandez.  I hate to say it but that is just a ferocious strike force.

[Mr_Shane]

As will be Suarez and Sturridge. which is why I think there will be goals, maybe loads of them

[harleydanger]

Webb is the ref..

Don't need to even mention it anymore.

In future we should get in contact and see if Ferguson just wants to start the game 1 up and save himself the trouble of organising it all.

[PaLee]

They scores a lot of goals and concede a lot as well. Hoping Suarez and Sturridge can outscore Van Persie and Hernandez.

Heart says 1-0 to us. Head says 2-1 to them.

[damomad]

We pounded them at Anfield for the majority of the game, even with 10 men.

Although this occassion bares no significance in comparison, we have absoultely nothing to fear. We will have to be at our best but I expect us to go away with at least a point (forboding any dodgy decisions).

[Max_powers]

We will outplay them. There midfield and Defence are nothing special, but as usual we will either get a player sent off or a penalty given against us which results in us losing.

[Uruguayan36]

After the game against the mancs Luisito in gonna be the great loser whatever the outcome is...
If Liverpool lose the game he is gonna be blamed for it.
If Liverpool wins the game the mancs will blame Luis and all the country will hate him...but Liverpool.
If the ref book Luis...he will be blamed.
If he is shown a red card...Luis will be blamed.
If he scores all the press will accuse Luis of cheating in order to score.
If his kicks somebody he may be sent off.
If some player kick him and he goes down...he is gonna be a diver.
If any old women is raped around Manchester...Luis may be blamed.
If Luisito score two goals next sunday and Mr Fergurson have a heart attack...all England will be crying (but Liverpool) and Luis will be blamed for it as well.
Luis...u will be better off if u do not play this game!!!

[blood.red]

they never look too convincing to me without Rooney 

[nocturnalvin]

It all depends on our mental strength. When we went to Stoke, we took awhile to pass the ball, it was as if the players had in already that "its a cold night in Britannia". If we go into this match lacking the self belief, then i think we are done. Teams that have gone to OT with a mentality to get at them can do well. I think we don't need to fear them, lets hope the manager put the belief into the lads.

[Hij]

It all depends on our mental strength. When we went to Stoke, we took awhile to pass the ball, it was as if the players had in already that "its a cold night in Britannia". If we go into this match lacking the self belief, then i think we are done. Teams that have gone to OT with a mentality to get at them can do well. I think we don't need to fear them, lets hope the manager put the belief into the lads.

yep very important that.

I actually think Sturridge will get 20-30 towards the end rather than starting. But then maybe the 60 he got at Mansfield may help him, plus a week off. But if he can't last the whole match, he could be more effective coming on as they tire.

[redscorpio]

I really hope we get something out of this game. I have an Evertonian friend who is unbearable this season so anything we can do to catch up to them is more than welcome. Hope Luis scores a winner to shut the press up.