The Devils View: Liverpool v Man Utd

Posted on 27. Jan, 2012 by Chris Martin in Match Reports

With one Manchester club disposed of mid-week, attention on merseyside has quickly shifted to the red half of Manchester and dismantling Manchester United’s FA Cup hopes. Yolkie, Old Trafford season ticket holder and creator of 7Cantonas.com has spared the time to answer our questions ahead of Saturday’s big clash:

In recent games at Anfield more often than not it’s been a case of ‘Do what your told’ rather than ‘Do what you want’. How do you see this one going?

I presume you’re referring to the fact that we haven’t won at Anfield since 2007, in fact, just over four years? Our last two defeats there I believe we played Scholes and Carrick in the centre of midfield which was disastrously pedestrian – the loss last season also had the silly error from Nani and Carragher escaping with what should definitely have been a red card for the challenge on Nani. If I’m being honest I think this is a very average Liverpool team but they will always raise themselves for United; I expect nothing other than a very tough afternoon for us. I don’t want it to sound like an excuse but Anfield is a little peculiar when playing early kick offs, as the sun always seems to play havoc for the goalkeeper in the stand opposite the Kop, so that might play a factor too.

Liverpool conquered Man City on Wednesday night, what effects do you see this having on the team?

I don’t think tiredness or fatigue will necessarily play a factor, especially in the early stages, I expect Liverpool to be up for it as they normally are.

What player do you feel could cause you the most problems?

More than likely Steven Gerrard due to the lack of an available player who would be able to track him effectively.

It’s safe to say your midfield doesn’t look as strong as in years gone by. Is this an area you think you need to strengthen? Maybe Bryan Robson or Djemba Djemba could come back to partner Scholes?

Anyone can see we need at least another player in midfield. That we won the league last season and are contending this season is a testament to the marvellous management of Sir Alex. A Bryan Robson in his peak would be exactly what we need!

Michael Owen is a player with a lot of history at Liverpool, how is he viewed by United fans?

Honestly, I was gutted when we signed him as an ex-Liverpool forward, and felt it was something of a bastardisation that he was given the number 7 shirt. He’s proved himself to be useful at least… scoring some important goals. He’s at best our fifth choice striker and though he clearly gets on with the other players, I don’t think anyone will be surprised if he leaves in the summer.

Considering your fixture list is about to become pretty congested with Thursday night Europa League fixtures, what sort of team do you see Mr. Ferguson fielding on Saturday?

As strong as possible. Or, alternatively, as bizarre as possible, as is his tendency. Make no mistake, it’ll be a game he wants to win, and United haven’t won the Cup since 2004, so I’m sure he’ll want to get there again.

You’ve had a few keepers over the years since Schmeichel with only really Van der Sar establishing himself. Is De Gea another flop to add to the list?

I think it’s unfair to call him a flop; and it all depends on the standard on which you’re judging. United players get scrutinised more and criticised despite achieving more than anyone else in the domestic game. You have someone like Torres at Chelsea who has underperformed dramatically and so have the club; so then I think it’s a fair question. On goalkeepers… The likes of Reina, Hart and Cech have all made high profile errors this season. That’s not to say that De Gea shouldn’t be criticised, of course if he makes an error he should expect that and learn from it. But flop? No chance.

What’s your favourite memory or story involving the two clubs?

11^th May, 1996 – Eric Cantona volleys through the sea of Liverpool players at Wembley to win the FA Cup in the dying minutes.

What is a little known fact about United that Liverpool fans are unlikely to know?

There can’t be anything, can there?!

What’s the score going to be then?

I steer clear of score predictions, I hate them! Just hope for a good game where all the post-match discussion is about what happened in the game of football rather than everything else that goes along with it.

So there we have it. With both sides hoping that the football does the talking and any post-match analysis is focused on the match itself, there may be a glimmer of hope. However, in the heat of battle this could unfortunately prove too tricky for many to adhere to.

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17 Responses to “The Devils View: Liverpool v Man Utd”

anfield rd dreamer

27. Jan, 2012

Feel like this site has been contaminated!
SAM CHARLES

27. Jan, 2012

These liverpool players should be so fIred up for this;
The crowd need to turn up and the even the day trippers- even though they have a right to enjoy the area and buy things and have fun – they need to remember that we all go to the game to act as supporters and that means singing and pumping in energy to the club and the team.

Every fan that goes to the game should not be a prawn sandwich person, if so stay at home your not needed.

Its war tomorrow and we need every banner, every lfc shirt, every voice and every amount of positive energy to beat these mother ********.

I hope bellamy can play some part, carroll if plays worrys me so much, i cant stand him to be fair……

My team would be;

REINA
KELLY SKRTEL AGGER ENRIQUE

JOHNSON SPEARING HENDERSON DOWNING
GERRARD
KUYT
- strebby
  
  27. Jan, 2012
  
  jonno will never play right wing… IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.
  
  jonno is so effective going forward because he comes from deep on the overlap where there is plenty of room in front of him, if he plays further up the field as a starting point it negates the space he is utilising now, that space would then be filled by whomever the full back will be…kelly, who is not nearly as good going forward…why do you think nobody ever asked for players like phillip cocu roberto carlos cafu, why do you think these players never played as wingers? because they were so effective doing what they do coming from deep….3 successive managers have NOT played jonno as a winger FOR A REASON
  - imissxabi
    
    27. Jan, 2012
    
    I think Kelly is very good getting forward. Remember last year when we lacked any natural wingers, our most dangerous crosser was often Kelly. I agree that Johnson won’t be plated at wing but I understand what Sam is thinking. Kelly and Johnson are both great players and he wants them on the field at once. Last year would have been the perfect time to try Glen out a little further up the pitch but Kenny never did so I don’t see it happening now. Hopefully Spearing will be back as we definitely need a holding mid in this game. I also like Hendo over Adam, his motor and athleticism will be needed.
strebby

27. Jan, 2012

i do get the point but i just think its either kelly or jonno, im fine with either playing as it happens, i do think jonno is more dangerous all round, he’ll take people on and drive into the box, whereas kelly mainly will just cross the ball, theres pros and cons for each, but such attacking ful backs are only that effective because of the space they tend to have to run in to, push them further up the field it reduces their space, and thus negating a lot of their attacking runs
SAM CHARLES - KELLY IS HUGE PLAYER

27. Jan, 2012

imissxabi- great call. people who think kelly is slack going foward just do not know the game, yes johnson is in great form and he has been helping with some goals and assist’s etc. but martin kelly – make no mistake about it is a cracking player and he has pace going to the ball and then being able to bring it forward, he is a better crosser of the ball then johnson by a mile.

Yes you could play them both on the right flank.
martin also brings height and is very good in the air, for me tomorrow we could use both, johnson looks a bit jaded, and with kelly he is full blooded into the challenge, we need raw power tomorrow and he brings this.

Also johnson could play down the right as his goal and timing of his run proved when he linked up with kuyt for the goal v city!!!!

johnson and kelly down the right,

could do this;

REINA
KELLY SKRTEL AGGER ENRIQUE
JOHNSON HENDERSON SPEARING DOWNING
GERRARD KUYT
truered

27. Jan, 2012

although the idea of

……………….reina…………………

kelly……..skrtle………agger………enrique

glen…hendo…gerrard…downing

……………….kuyt…..bellamy……..

wpuld be nice to see out….but the question is….A) would glen risk his england place
and b) would lfc be willing to do that to their player
my answer would be a straight no
Dan

27. Jan, 2012

At least we not the only ones to find our team average.
Tom

27. Jan, 2012

How about Djibril Cisse? He is linked to QPR? Would you like to see him back at LFC?
KopDieHard

27. Jan, 2012

United have won 8 of the last 9 FA Cup games with LFC. They are better than us and have been excellent away whilst we’ve been very poor at home.

The most we can get is a draw, but that’s pointless as we’d get our botties rinsed at the Theatre of Dreams, so…

Liverpool 1 United 2.
- sam charles- why do kop source let another mug post what kop die hard said?
  
  27. Jan, 2012
  
  f**** off what are you doing posting on this site of you come on and start writing things like that, why are you here if all you can do is post that drival…. you sound like a two minute liverpool fan, and for a liverpool fab to openly state that man utd are better than us is digusting.
  
  you can just see kenny saying that cant you!!!!!!!!!! dear god what another plank we have here…
  
  why dont you take your mum for a nite out because you will not have a girlfriend you sad c*** you……….
goal with a hole.

27. Jan, 2012

If we drew we would have Suarez back for the replay
Dan40v

28. Jan, 2012

Evra is getting hell at anfield.
Bobbie Erkkila

02. Feb, 2012

If you really want you can look the other way and not talk about it. Don’t give up your morals for anything. Generally this will lead to a mistaken and unproductive life.
Willard Breakell

03. Feb, 2012

Great post. Nice to able to find valuable information from Google Search lol.
Mike Divan

03. Feb, 2012

An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
flooring charleston sc

07. Feb, 2012

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