After an impressive pre-season which saw Liverpool brush aside six sides including Olympiakos and Melbourne Victory with relative ease, the question was could Rodgers’ reds sustain that impressive form into the new season?
With three wins out of three in competitive matches, the answer can only be ‘yes’. After dominating Stoke, grinding out an away win at Villa to obtain maximum points in the league, the Anfield outfit also narrowly defeated Notts County after being taken to extra time, to secure a place in the Carling Cup third round – which, quite fittingly, will see Liverpool travel to Old Trafford.
However, the first real test for Rodgers comes at home against the current Premier League Champions. Despite what can only be described as a poor pre-season for The Red Devils under new manager David Moyes, Manchester United visiting Anfield is arguably the biggest game of the season.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson in the Premier League, against Liverpool, the Scot masterminded 25 wins from 53 games, 10 more wins than Liverpool have managed; with the spoils being shared 13 times. With David Moyes now at the helm, Manchester United are a different animal, but nevertheless an animal that can still inflict deep wounds if the right precautions aren’t taken to nullify last season’s league top goalscorer – Robin van Persie.
Liverpool have three additional injury concerns from midweek after Cissokho limped off just 10 minutes into his Anfield debut, Joe Allen also came off with a Hamstring problem and Kolo Toure has been ruled out for a month with a groin problem. Martin Kelly is still not ready to return to action while Luis Suarez also will miss out through suspension.
Manchester United have injury concerns of their own and will be without right-back Rafael as the Brazilian is ruled out until mid-September with a hamstring problem. Team-mate Javier Hernandez is also likely to miss out also with a Hamstring issue. Nani and Darren Fletcher could also miss out; however United will be boosted by the return of England winger Ashley Young.
Possible Line-Ups
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson; Aspas, Sturridge, Coutinho.
Manchester United (4-4-1-1): De Gea; Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Cleverley, Carrick, Welbeck; Rooney, van Persie.
The two forwards for either side are likely to be the key men. Liverpool are joined by Spurs and West Ham as the only clubs to have kept 2/2 clean sheets in the league and they will need to be extra vigilant to stop Robin van Persie scoring; especially as he bagged a goal in each game between the English heavy-weights last season to secure 2-1 home and away victories.
Daniel Sturridge, although not at full fitness, is in scintillating form; scoring 15 goals in 18 matches, since his £12m January move from Chelsea, which includes winners against Stoke and Aston Villa to give Liverpool maximum points from their opening two fixtures as well as a two-goal brace in Liverpool’s 4-2 Carling Cup defeat of Notts County.
Liverpool v Manchester United is always a special and passionate encounter and I’m expecting some meaty challenges, as this fixture in Premier League history has seen 14 red cards and multiple yellows, and a much more open game than the drab 0-0 that United played out against Chelsea on Monday night.
With home advantage, coupled with the early form, I’d like to predict a 2-1 or 3-1 to Liverpool, however without being too optimistic; there is a sincere possibility that both teams could cancel each other out for a second United draw in 7 days.
But if Sturridge and co can take maximum points from the home encounter, it would open up an early 5 point gap over their arch rivals, which would surely give Kopites from Anfield to Adelaide, some early bragging rights.
Betting
Liverpool to win 2-1 is currently at 19/2 with BetVictor. The last four encounters have all ended 2-1 and although Liverpool have only emerged victorious once from those four, it is a scoreline that is more than likely to crop up. Bet On This Market Here
Daniel Sturridge to score first at 11/2. 4 goals in 3 games this season for Liverpool says it all, with the Englishman currently in lethal form a first goalscorer punt on Sturridge is one that could certainly pay off. Bet On This Market Here
Or anytime at 17/10. If you fancy shorter odds, but more chance of success an anytime goalscorer bet for Sturridge could be perfect. As previously mentioned his lethal form makes him a great shout to score and with this bet you don’t have to rely on him scoring first. Bet On This Market Here
Or even better is Daniel Sturridge to score and Liverpool to win 2-1 coming in at 40/1. A combination of the above if my personal tip and one I’ll be betting on myself. Bet On This Market Here
Manchester United to win at 19/10. Or, if you fancy betting against your side, the dark horse could be Manchester United to take all three points at Anfield, as RvP faces up against Martin Skrtel, who is without match fitness. Bet On This Market Here
