Manchester United vs Liverpool – Match Preview
Jose Breton- Pics Action / Shutterstock.com
With the Carabao Cup Final taking place on Sunday it means this weekend’s Premier League programme is somewhat curtailed and although the battle to win the first major trophy of the English season is up for grabs, it arguably is not the showpiece event of the day.
That’s because there is the small matter of Manchester United playing host to Liverpool at Old Trafford earlier that afternoon and although any meeting between these two clubs is titanic is size, this one seems even bigger.
That’s because for Liverpool it is the use of their game in hand over current league leaders Manchester City and they know that should they lose this encounter with their long-standing rivals, then the title momentum swings back to the defending champions.
And it’s not just the desire to win their game in hand which is the challenge, it is also the fact that they go up against a resurgent Manchester United and the Red Devils would love nothing more than to halt any championship charge that Liverpool have.
Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer have been a revelation and they continued their progress in the F.A. Cup on Monday night when they got the better of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge by a score of two goals to nil.
And of course, it is Chelsea that are one of the teams that are competing with United in the battle to finish fourth in the Premier League this season, a place that in turn pays out an entry into next season’s Champions League as the reward.
Therefore, it is not just playing the role of spoiler that will be the motivational tool for United on Sunday, it will also be their own desire to win and in turn further solidify their current top four standing in the league.
Liverpool also played in midweek and they were held at home in the Champions League by Bayern Munich, the goalless stalemate means that the Merseysiders have a difficult albeit not impossible task ahead of them if they want to progress to the Quarter-finals.
At the same time though if you were to ask Liverpool fans about what result they want the most, it will certainly be not losing to United on Sunday. Therefore, should this task be completed then there won’t be too many tears shed in regard to their relative midweek disappointment.
Whisper it quietly but if Liverpool were to crash out of Europe at the Round of 16 stage, then it may well give their title hopes a further shot in the arm. With only one competition to then deal with, they would be a lot fresher than their nearest rivals Manchester City.
Whether Liverpool do end up with a lighter schedule or not remains to be seen and for now those thoughts will have to be placed on the backburner, as the sole focus will be dealing with the challenge that a trip to Old Trafford poses.
If Liverpool made the trip there and United had Jose Mourinho in charge, then you could see nothing less than an away win. Now that the hosts have switched managerial personnel, then you get the feeling they might not be as welcoming. Don’t be surprised if the Ole’s boys come out on top in this one.
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