As part of our build-up to Liverpool’s fixture with Manchester United this weekend we’ve interviewed an opposing fan for their thoughts on the game…
Sunday’s Premier League encounter at Old Trafford sees second place Liverpool visit struggling champions Manchester United, who are surprisingly 11 points and four positions further back.
Contrasting form means the Merseysiders, unbeaten in the league during 2014, will be confident of recording a first away victory over their bitter rivals in five years.
The two sides have already met twice this season with both recording 1-0 victories back in September; Liverpool winning the reverse league fixture at Anfield and United edging a League Cup tie.
To provide an opposition slant on proceedings, we’re joined by Golfmagic Assistant Editor and United nut Andy Roberts to discuss the game and plenty more besides…
Q. How do you rate your season so far and where do you see yourselves finishing?
It’s been a rough old ride for United since Alex Ferguson’s departure. We’ve endured some heavy defeats to our biggest rivals, none worse than the 4-1 demolition at the hands of Manchester City. Falling out of the FA Cup in the first game against Swansea City at Old Trafford was also a bitter pill to swallow. The nail in the coffin was drawing 2-2 in the last minute to Fulham at home. It’s simply not been good enough.
Q. Is David Moyes the right man for the job? If not, who would you like to see in charge?
No. I didn’t want him in the first place. Jose Mourinho was the right man to succeed Sir Alex and I still believe he will manage United one day. Moyes is clueless in my honest opinion. I have MUTV and I watch all of his post-match interviews, and he looks scared. It’s frustrated me after games where we’ve played atrociously and he comes out and says we deserved to win. I want to see some fire and passion in his interviews, like Tim Sherwood did after Spurs’ loss to Chelsea the other day. The first leg vs. Olympiakos proved to me that Moyes has no tactics whatsoever when the pressure is on. He just chucked on all four strikers and said ‘go on lads, do what you can.’ He’s won nothing – except a Community Shield vs. Wigan Athletic – and has no Champions League experience.
But time will tell I guess, and yes, everyone keeps reminding me it took Fergie a while to get things ticking, but I personally don’t think Moyes has what it takes to take United forward. I can’t see him lasting any longer than the end of next season – but I hope things change for the better and he proves me wrong.
Q. Juan Mata and Marouane Fellani were high-profile, big money signings but were they the right signings?
Mata, 100%. Fellaini 0%. Mata hasn’t quite hit the ground running as everyone expected since his £35m arrival in January, but everyone knows the talent the boy has. That was vindicated when he won our Player of the Month award for February. Fellaini was simply a panic buy and everyone knows that. After everyone we were linked with in the summer, including high-profile names such as Gareth Bale, Cesc Fabregas and even a potential Cristiano Ronaldo home-coming, we simply ended up with Moyes’ mate. Fellaini has been a shadow of his former self at Everton. It’s as if the stage is too big for him at United. It wasn’t just Moyes’ fault, though, our Chief Executive Ed Woodward must take some of the blame for the lack of summer signings and being far to slow to realise just how weak we were in central midfield. The summer transfer window was an absolute shambles and every United fan would probably agree with that. You only need look at the Ander Herrera saga and the misunderstanding of transfer dealings to realise what a mess it all was. None of that would have happened under Fergie’s reign.
Q. Who are the United players in form that we should watch out for?
Wayne Rooney has been man of the match in just about every game he’s started this season and it’s great to see him sign a new deal with us. He looks happy to be playing for us again, despite everything that’s going on at the moment. Then again, I’d be happy on 300K a week. Danny Welbeck is looking lively, too, and with Robin van Persie not exactly firing on all cylinders, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Welbs let loose for at least half an hour against Liverpool on Sunday. Mata excites me a lot. It’s great to see a big player walk through the door and he definitely brings a little more excitement to the midfield. I’d also like to see Adnan Januzaj start against Liverpool because he gets fans on the edge of their seats just like Ryan Giggs once did. He’s still young and learning all the time, but he’s definitely something special.
Q. What have you made of Liverpool so far this season and where do you see us finishing?
I’ve been very impressed. Without doubt, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have been the deadliest strike partnership in world football this season. United need to be on their guard on Sunday, because if we’re not, which is a distinct possibility given the weakness of our defence right now, we could be ripped to shreds. It just goes to show how no European football can be a benefit to a side. Liverpool look fresh and ready to go every weekend, and I still believe they can challenge Chelsea and City to the title. I see Liverpool finishing third but comfortably ahead of Arsenal.
Q. Which Liverpool player(s) do you rate the most and why?
Suarez. He’s unplayable when he’s on it. Sturridge has supported him incredibly well this season, and right now, he’s arguably playing even better than the Uruguayan. It’s great to see ahead of the World Cup and I can’t wait to see if he can link up just as well with Rooney in Brazil.
Q. Are we still your biggest rivals or would you rather beat neighbours City these days?
It’s a tricky one because the atmosphere for both Liverpool and City games is always the best. I’d say City is the bigger rival of the two right now, but only because they took the title out our hands in 2012. I still haven’t gotten over that last-second Sergio Aguero strike and probably never will.
Q. What is your probable line-up and tactical approach for the game?
With Moyes, there are seemingly very little tactics except cross the ball in the box, but here goes: de Gea, Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Januzaj, Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Rooney, van Persie.
Q. How do you think you can be successful against Liverpool?
By getting a bit of luck. We’ve played poorly for much of the year, but we’ve also had a few decisions go against us. If we can keep Suarez and Sturridge quiet, as we did when we beat Liverpool in the Carling Cup earlier this season, then I believe we’ll sneak the win.
Q. What’s your prediction for the result?
2-1 United.
So that’s what he thinks, how about you? Let us know your thoughts on the game below or vote in our poll to the right…
Click here to read Vital Liverpool’s preview of this game
Click here to read former Red Mark Lawrenson’s prediction
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