You can forget Manchester United against Manchester City and Liverpool against Everton, this is the real derby. This is the one both sets of fans are desperate to win.
Liverpool look to be consolidating fourth place after a mid-season wobble and United have opened up what could be a crucial three point gap at the top.
With both teams challenging for the Champions League and Liverpool’s hopes for the title probably gone, you could be forgiven for expecting Benitez to rest a few of his players in this game. Whilst you never know what Rafa will do, I would think he would be risking public execution in Merseyside if he were to give it anything less than 100% against their old enemy.
United got a 1-0 win at Anfield earlier in the season with a Carlos Tevez goal late in the first half. Last season’s game at Old Trafford ended in a comfortable 2-0 victory for the home side.
It is unlikely to be comfortable for anyone this Sunday.
Let’s have a look at the runners and riders:
Form
Manchester United have just one defeat in their last six league games, the derby day game against Manchester City. Likewise, they have only that defeat in their last six home games, winning all the rest, including the somewhat tedious win over Bolton last night.
Liverpool go into the game on a great run of form winning their last five league games and drawing the one before that. Their recent away record is not quite so strong with two wins, three draws and one defeat in the last six.
The teams
MANCHESTER UNITED (Possible) Kuzszcak, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney.
This team is based purely on the fact that Scholes, Carrick, Giggs and Rooney were all rested from last night’s win.
LIVERPOOL (Possible) Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Torres.
Obviously anything is possible when Rafa is picking the side, but the above would be unchanged.
Danger Men
For United there are danger men all over the park. Ronaldo with 24 goals this season, including two last night, together with Rooney and Tevez with 19 between them can be a frightening prospect for any side.
Liverpool will be looking to their two talismen, Steve Gerrard who has found the net 19 times in all competitions, back playing at his best and Fernando Torres with 27 goals, 9 in the last 6, possibly challenging Ronaldo for the player of the season award.
The Managers
It is pretty clear that Sir Alex and Rafa haven’t got a great deal of time for one another. Fergie recently supported Benitez in his public disagreements with the Anfield money men, but he did so in such a way that you were pretty sure he was taking the p*ss.
United, and Ferguson in particular, have accused Liverpool of ‘tapping up’ Gabriel Heinze last summer and have said that Benitez has a ‘chip on his shoulder.’
In return, Benitez has made comments about the ease with which United signed Tevez compared to the difficulty they had getting Mascherano. The insinuation he is making is obvious.
Predictions
In the last nine games between these two at Old Trafford, United have won five, Liverpool three and there has been one draw. United have won the last three.
It’ll be a battle, it always is between these two. Liverpool are going into the game playing well, but so are United. There was a time when Liverpool held something of the upper hand for a couple of seasons at Old Trafford, but that run has ended.
The battle between Torres and Ferdinand/Vidic will be crucial, as will the decision taken by Rafa as to whether to sit back or go for it.
It would, as they say, be a foolish man to predict this one. I’m foolish enough to say that I can see a 1-1 draw…or a Manchester United win…or a Liverpool one…Oh, I don’t know!
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