After a two-week hiatus, the Premier League is back this weekend, and it returns with a game that for many Liverpool fans is the first one they look out for when the fixtures are announced in June.
The Reds’ league trips to Old Trafford have yielded mixed results under Brendan Rodgers, with a 3-0 victory in 2013-14 sandwiched in between two defeats against Liverpool’s arch-rivals.
To see what the mood is like down the M62, I spoke to Adam McKola from Full Time Devils.
What are your feelings coming out of the transfer window? Were you disappointed that Martial ended up being the only deadline day signing?
I feel we had a magnificent start to the summer. Bringing in Darmian, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger and Depay gave us some quality in areas we really needed the improvements.
The problem for me is we haven’t replaced ALL the players that have left this summer and if we have a run of injury or poor form at centre back or up front, we could be in trouble.
Overall, I’m reasonably happy though with the players brought in, I just felt we’d get one or two more.
David de Gea was the difference when we last met at Old Trafford; do you see him featuring on Saturday?
Whether he plays or not, I’m not sure. Louis van Gaal likes his players to have trained/played for a few weeks but I fully expect him to be involved with the squad and I can’t wait to have him back in between the sticks.
I have no doubt he’ll give us 100%. Yes, he wanted to go back to Madrid, that’s obvious but I don’t think it’ll affect the way he plays for us. If I was the manager he’d go straight in!
Neither Liverpool or United have been particularly convincing in the early stages of the season; who do you consider the favourites and why?
The old cliché is often reeled out for these games, “form goes out the window” and it’s right, it does, but I always make the home team favourites in these games.
With a draw and a defeat in recent games, Louis van Gaal will have the players up for this one and we should come out all guns blazing.
Our issue wasn’t against our rivals last season, it was against the ‘smaller’ teams so I feel as confident as you can be going into a game against Liverpool.
Do you think we’re both in a battle for fourth again this season, or are you setting your sights higher?
We always aim for the top – you have to – but I’d say Chelsea and Man City are still ahead of us in terms of squad depth and quality.
We’ll be there or thereabouts and with a bit of luck can push them all the way. As for you guys, it’s the battle for 5th and 6th isn’t it? ;)
How much do you think Philippe Coutinho’s absence helps United?
Coutinho is a gem; a great footballer who occupies the spaces in between defence and midfield fantastically well. He makes things happen for Liverpool and he’ll be a huge miss but I do think how successful Liverpool are in this game is down to the performance of Christian Benteke.
We struggle against strength and height at times, and he has both and can finish. It’s important that Daley Blind and Chris Smalling keep an eye on him and if they can take care of him, we’ll be halfway there.
Any other individuals in the Liverpool side do you think could cause United problems?
As above, Benteke, and also Firmino. I imagine he’ll be doing what Coutinho normally does; occupying those areas in between midfield and defence. With Michael Carrick injured on England duty (typical!), Morgan Schneiderlin will have to pick him up.
And, conversely, who should Liverpool be most wary of in the United team?
The usual suspects like Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay and Juan Mata would be obvious (although Rooney is usually too emotionally wrapped up in these games to play to his full ability), but I’d say Ander Herrera.
In my opinion, he makes us tick. When he’s not on the team sheet, I’m gutted. If he plays in front of Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin, he’ll link up the play with Rooney, Memphis and Mata. He likes to get stuck in, likes to make things happen and has an eye for a goal – I love him!
Finally, let’s get a score prediction from you!
It’ll be close, I don’t think it’ll be as easy as last season, 2-1 United.
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