Report and reaction
PS City v Palace here. Now do one.
That’s it for today’s blog. Thanks for your company and emails. Goodnight!
Updated
And here’s Jurgen Klopp
“If we win this game 1-0 it’s completely fine because of the possession we had, the football we played; a lot of things. You cannot deny Man United for 90 minutes - we never could, it’s probably not possible for anybody, especially when they are in a good moment. But with all the things which were said before the game - they are flying, we are struggling - the boys played a really good game tonight, my boys, against a good, organised side.
“We played exceptionally well in the first half - the counter-press was great, the passing was good, positioning was good. We didn’t score. We know that’s the most important thing in football, so we don’t want to miss that but we missed that. But there were really good football moments. In the second half the game was a little bit more open. They had two big chances, I have to say, and Ali made two really big saves. You cannot deny them everything.
“We had to be dominant here, and with their counter-attacking threat it’s a tricky one. There’s no easy explanation [why the goals have dried up]. You have to keep going, you have to try to ignore the [external noise]. We have to stay focussed on doing the right stuff; you cannot force it and shoot from everywhere.
“I liked the game. The centre-halves were great. The way we played was really flexible, and having two midfielders in defence helps with football moments. We had to be good to get a point; I thought we were good enough to get all three but we didn’t because we didn’t score.
“[How do you end the goal drought?] It’s not like we sit at home [worrying about it]. It’s football. These things happen. You cannot explain why sometimes this happens. There are moments when you score from all angles, like at Crystal Palace, and then the other moments.
“It’s about creating. Create, create, create, and we will score, 100 per cent. Everybody knows it. It’s just a bit annoying in between these moments - not scoring and starting to score again - that you have to talk about it constantly. So, how’s that? We keep going.”
Here’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
“We didn’t play well enough. We didn’t impose ourselves on the game, especially first half. We grew into the game and towards the end you felt it was there for us to win. We created two massive chances and there were two brilliant saves by the keeper.
“We can play better than this, we know that. We can be more composed, we can have the ball more . We had to defend too often and we gave the ball away too easily. Some moments we missed: when Marcus makes his runs in behind, maybe don’t pass it every time he runs, and sometimes we missed the opportunity when he should have been given the ball.
“I thought Paul was absolutely brilliant today. We knew he had to do a job defensively and help us with Robertson, and I thought he was excellent. He should have got the goal his performance deserved.
“I’ve got to be honest and say I’m a bit disappointed at the moment. You’re playing against a fantastic team and they had more of the possession. With the injuries they’ve had, you think you might be able to go here and get a result. We didn’t. A point might be okay if we win the next one. [Should you have been braver?] It depends whether you mean the team selection or on the ball. I think we could have been better on the ball. But I’d probably start with the same team again, if that’s what you’re asking.
“I know we can play better but we’ve come here away from here with a point, which shows how far we’ve come in a year or even six months. It’s a positive, you take your point, but you want to win every game. We go again and we know we can do better than this, which is the big positive.”
And the winner of today’s match is...
Here’s Jordan Henderson
“We’re a bit disappointed we haven’t taken the three points. We did enough to win the game, especially first half - a lot of the ball, creating chances, just couldn’t find the back of the net really. They had one or two chances, to be fair to them, but overall I felt we were the better team.
“We’re not getting any luck in the box at the minute. That can happen in football - you have to keep going, keep working hard, and hope it’ll change quickly. We knew they were dangerous on the counter-attack, their record away from home speaks for itself. But I thought our counter-pressing was good and we limited them to one or two moments. A clean sheet is a positive for us. It’s interesting to play there - it’s difficult at times but the manager has asked me to a do a job and I’ll do my best.
“We weren’t happy about [the referee blowing early for half-time]. Strange. Very strange. I dunno. But still, there was plenty of time after that for us to score a goal. We just lacked that quality in the last bit. Our performance level hasn’t been up to the standard in the past few weeks, as we know, but it’s a strange season for everyone. We’ll not stop now. The performance was very good today and that’s all you can do, leave everything on the pitch. We did that today so we can’t be too down.”
“You said, ‘This won’t end 0-0. You have my word,’” says Polly Hodgson. “I was ready to give up on this game but you promised... I don’t want to blame you but...”
Look, I’m no Quasimodo.
Here’s Harry Maguire
“I thought they started the game better than us, and then in the second half we were braver on the ball and created the best two chances. On another day we win the game. It was cagey but it was two good teams matching up. We found it difficult to get a rhythm in the first half - we knew they would press high but the intensity ... we didn’t get the rhythm with the ball. We spoke about it at half-time because we were disappointed with our performance. In the second half it was a lot better and we had two great chances.
“There’s a lot of talk about their first-choice centre-halves but they’ve had a great defensive record since they got all those injuries. I’ve played with Jordan numerous times and he can play there. Some people will say [it’s a better point for us than them] but we wanted to win. You could see our intent in the second half. I haven’t been in the dressing-room but I’m sure we’ll feel a little disappointed in there. But it’s a point, it’s a tough place to come and we’ve got to move on.
“I think you can see from our performance here, compared to last year [that we have improved as a team]. It was a tight, edgy game last year but we weren’t brave on the ball, we were a bit timid and we didn’t play on the front foot. In the second half today we had the intensity to try to win the game. It shows how far we’ve come. We’re not getting carried away - there’s still a lot of improving to do.”
“Well,” says Paul Trainor, “I suppose that’s one way of avoiding flak for goal celebrations!”
Updated
Hmm, I’m not sure what to make of that. Although Liverpool dominated possession, Alisson had to make two big saves in the last 15 minutes. Thiago looked a class apart, even in such exalted company, but the front three - Mo Salah in particular - looked tired.
United may reflect on this as both a good result and a missed opportunity, though I’d say that was down to a lack of precision and concentration in attack rather than a lack of intent. And both teams did defend really well - particularly Henderson, Fabinho (who was majestic), Maguire, Fred and Shaw.
Updated
Full time: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd
Peep peep! Manchester United stay top of the table after an intriguing, respectful and largely uneventful draw.
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90+4 min Rashford is booked for a foul on Jones.
90+2 min Alexander-Arnold’s corner is headed away by Pogba, who then tries to lead a break and is well tackled by Milner.
90+1 min Origi’s cross is put behind for a corner by Maguire. Dot dot dot.
Updated
90 min There will be three minutes of added time.
90 min United are probing in Liverpool’s half. Pogba has now moved into the No10 position.
89 min: United substitution A very unhappy Bruno Fernades is replaced by Mason Greenwood.
89 min: Liverpool substitution Gini Wijnaldum is replaced by James Milner.
88 min It hasn’t been a classic but it’s bloody tense, I’ll tell you that for nowt.
87 min Mason Greenwood is about to come on for United, as is James Milner for Liverpool.
85 min: Liverpool substitution Divock Origi replaces Firmino. He goes left, Mane up front.
84 min Alisson makes another fine save from Rashford, though the flag then went up.
83 min: Big save from Alisson! Wan-Bissaka runs aggressively at Robertson and hits a deflected cross towards the near post, where the unmarked Pogba takes it beautifully in his stride and blasts it towards goal from eight yards. Alisson stays big, wears it in the chest, and manages to shovel it behind for a corner. On reflection it was a poor finish from Pogba, straight at Alisson, even if it was hit with thumping force.
Updated
82 min This is Liverpool’s best spell of the second half. Alexander-Arnold hammers a cross that is cleared brilliantly by Lindelof. United break two on two with Rashford on the ball. He tries to run Fabinho, who tracks him all the way and makes a brilliant interception. Cavani is fuming that Rashford didn’t play him in, rightly so I think, but it was outstanding defending.
81 min Salah pokes a dangerous cross that is missed by the stretching Firmino at the near post and hoofed away by Wan-Bissaka at the far.
80 min Thiago slashes a half-volley well wide from 20 yards. It was a good move: Alexander-Arnold across the field to Robertson, who played it to Wijnaldum. He teed up Thiago, whose spectacular attempt was off target.
78 min: Good save from de Gea! Thiago walks away from Fred, not for the first time today, and smacks a rising drive from distance that is pushed away dramatically by the flying de Gea. Replays show it was a comfortable save, much closer to him than it first looked.
Updated
76 min: Liverpool substitution Curtis Jones replaces Xherdan Shaqiri, who played well on his return to the side. He was full of bright ideas, even if they didn’t always come off.
Updated
75 min: Big save from Alisson! That was the cleanest move of the match. Maguire played a fine pass through to Rashford, who waited on the edge of the area and then played in the overlapping Shaw. He cut the ball back carefully towards Fernandes, who opened his body to steer a low shot towards goal. Alisson reacted smartly to kick it away with his left foot.
Updated
74 min “If Liverpool were to score late on,” says Gary Neville on the subject of United’s tactics, “you’d be really regretful that you didn’t go for it.”
72 min Salah’s snapshot from 20 yards hits Shaw and deflects Firmino. He can’t control it and it runs through to de Gea. It was a really difficult ball to kill, though if anyone can...
71 min A sloppy header from Alexander-Arnold goes behind for a corner. Fernandes swings it deep and Pogba, running away from goal, heads straight at Alisson. It wasn’t a chance; he did well to head it into a dangerous area but there was nobody there.
70 min There have been some excellent performances, most of them defensive - Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago (not so much defensively), Maguire, McTominay, Fred (without the ball), Shaw.
Updated
69 min Pogba plays another poor long pass, straight to Alexander-Arnold, and just stands still as Liverpool break. Fred wins the ball back, but that didn’t look great.
68 min Henderson holds off Pogba to win the ball back. Nothing spectacular, but he’s been doing things like that all day. We expect it of Fabinho now but Henderson has been terrific at centre half.
Updated
67 min ... and he smacks it into the wall.
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66 min The free-kick is 30 yards out, slightly to the left of centre. Rashford is going to take it...
65 min Alisson comes out of his area to beat Fernandes to a through ball. It runs loose to Cavani, who tries to work the space for a shot and is deliberately fouled by Fabinho. He’s booked.
Updated
65 min A 25-yard shot from Fernandes kicks up awkwardly in front of Alisson, whose hands are as safe as ever. That’s United’s first shot on target.
64 min Fred dummies Thiago superbly in midfield to launch a counter-attack, but Fernandes’ pass towards Rashford on the left is intercepted well by Fabinho.
63 min McTominay heads the second corner away as well.
63 min The resulting corner is headed behind for another by McTominay, who has been quietly excellent with and without the ball.
62 min Firmino’s cross-shot ricochets towards Salah, whose shot takes a deflection off Maguire and spins wide. That all stemmed from a very loose pass out of defence by Shaw.
61 min: United substitution Edinson Cavani replaces Anthony Martial, who was sporadically threatening on the left. I guess Rashford will move out there now.
Updated
60 min Alexander-Arnold swishes a beautiful crossfield pass out to Robertson on the left. He puts in a brilliant deep cross that bounces up invitingly towards Firmino. Maguire comes across and the ball deflects off both he and Firmino for a goalkick. My first thought was that Maguire kicked the ball onto Firmino, but replays suggest that might not have been the case. For a split-second he looked certain to score.
Updated
58 min Saying which, Cavani has apparently been called back by the United bench.
57 min Both teams have decent options from the bench, particularly United. They will want to get Edinson Cavani on at some stage, though I’m not sure that will happen if it stays 0-0. It’s hard to see where he fits in the current system.
55 min Alexander-Arnold’s low shot from the edge of the area is easily saved by de Gea.
Updated
54 min Fernandes’s corner is poor and Liverpool break. Robertson curls a fine long pass towards Salah, who heads it into the space beyond the last man Shaw. There isn’t quite enough space for him to work with, however, and it just runs through to de Gea. Maguire was a bit lucky not to get a yellow card for an attempted tactical foul on Mane early in that move.
Updated
53 min: Excellent block from Fabinho! Wan-Bissaka sprays a crossfield pass to Martial on the edge of the area. He slides it down the side to Fernandes, whose first-time shot on the turn is superbly blocked by the sliding Fabinho.
52 min McTominay plays a good pass into Rashford, who plays an even better one to leave Fernandes one v one against Alexander-Arnold on the edge of the area. He tries to twist away from Alexander-Arnold, who does well to get his body between the man and the ball.
50 min Mane gets the wrong side of Wan-Bissaka and cuts the ball back towards the near post, where McTominay makes an important interception. Wan-Bissaka made a risky tackle, attempting to get a telescopic leg around Mane. I think he missed; either way Mane didn’t go down, so it’s moot.
50 min Martial’s cross on the turn is intercepted well at the near post by Henderson. Liverpool break and Mane’s improvised header almost puts Salah through on goal. Mane is starting to look lively.
49 min This won’t end 0-0. You have my word.
48 min Liverpool have made a fast start to the second half. Shaqiri’s through pass deflects nicely into the path of Salah on the right of the box. He lobs a deep cross towards Mane, whose header towards goal hit the head of Wan-Bissaka.
46 min Peep peep! Liverpool begn the second half. Salah and Mane are back on their usual wings - Mane left, Salah right.
I missed a minor controversy on the stroke of half time. One minute was added on, but the whistle was blown after 55 seconds - just before Thiago played a dangerous pass over the top towards Mane. That didn’t impress Jurgen Klopp much.
Updated
“Intriguing indeed,” says Richard Harris. “Liverpool started the brighter and must have been hoping to catch United on another of the slow starts that has been a feature of their season. For all the huff and puff Liverpool haven’t really looked like scoring whereas Fernandes very nearly did with that free kick. As is often the case we are left hoping that the second half will be a tad more exciting. Manchester City will be the big winners you feel if this ends in stalemate.”
If you were a City fan you’d want a United win, surely? For all the Fear of the Unthinkable, the big threat is still Liverpool.
“For the record,” says Andrew Wesley, “this game is a textbook example of Premier League teams being clueless about the how kit selection can ruin games for colour blind people. This isn’t a rare condition - one in 11 men are affected - and for us the teams are indistinguishable but for Utds socks. Any chance you can point it out because it’s an unwatchable mess for millions of us. See @colourblindorg for further ranting...”
I feel slightly ashamed to say this hasn’t crossed my mind until I read your email.
An email! “The longer this goes on, with Liverpool not scoring, the more disappointing it’s going to be when Fernandes scores his inevitable penalty,” says Matt Dony. “(Childish? Yes. But isn’t that what this fixture is all about?) Brave team selection from Klopp. Still plenty of time for it to pay off, but I’m nervous. Mind you, I’m always nervous. Well, I say ‘nervous’; what I mean is, ‘absolutely terrified’. Football is not good for my emotional state.”
You’re being too harsh on yourself. I remember you being a study in equanimity when Wales played in the semi-final of Euro 2016.
Half-time reading
Half time: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd
Peep peep! An uneventful but intriguing - genuinely - half comes to an end. Liverpool were much the better team in the first half hour; United were more dangerous in the last 15 minutes. There was only one shot on target, a comfortable save for David de Gea from Roberto Firmino, though Bruno Fernandes flashed a free-kick just wide. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.
45 min One minute of added time.
44 min Thiago has been less influentual in the second part of the first half. United have changed anything tactically; football just be that way I guess.
42 min Thiago’s pass is intercepted by Fred and United break. Pogba moves past the halfway line before being sandwiched by Henderson and Thiago. No yellow card, probably because Paul Tierney didn’t know who brought Pogba down first.
Updated
40 min Wan-Bissaka plays a pass down the line to Rashford, who is clearly offside. Play is allowed to continue until the move peters out, prompting a minor moan from Jamie Carragher on Sky. “Someone will get injured!” That’s United’s seventh offside of the game by the way.
39 min Pogba spins a lovely long pass towards Rashford, who is just beaten to the ball on the edge of the area by Alisson. Rashford was then flagged offside, though replays showed it was very close.
Updated
38 min United have been much better in the last 10 minutes or so. The first half may not have been exciting but it has - no euphemisms here - been really intriguing.
Updated
37 min Martial beats Shaqiri, Mane and Alexander-Arnold - the latter with a lovely nutmeg - before Fabinho steps across to make an emphatic tackle 35 yards from goal.
Updated
35 min Rashford breaks dangerously into the area, and there’s a bit of excitement before the flag eventually goes up. Rashford was offside in the first phase.
34 min Wijnaldum, who has been excellent, plays a good pass down the left to Salah. He cuts inside and runs at Maguire, who holds him up fairly well in the area. The ball breaks to Firmino, whose left-foot snapshot from 15 yards is straight at de Gea. That’s the first shot on target, and the best chance so far.
Updated
34 min The free-kick is slightly to the left of centre. Fernandes hits a booming effort that flashes just wide of the near post. Alisson was flying desperately across his goal, which suggested it was very close; the replays confirmed it.
Updated
33 min Shaw, who has been United’s most enterprising attacker, plays a nice one-two with Fred and is fouled 23 yards from goal by Shaqiri. He’s booked. This is a chance for Fernandes...
32 min Salah and Mane have switched wings for Liverpool. United are still playing with Pogba on the right.
31 min McTominay plays a good pass into to Fernandes, who is tactically fouled by Fabinho 45 yards from goal. Shaw’s free-kick is misjudged by Alexander-Arnold and comes to Maguire, but he’s offside.
29 min Wijnaldum fouls Pogba 40 yards from goal on the right. Fernandes’s free-kick finds Shaw round the back on the left, and his cross takes a couple of ricochets before being cleared.
28 min Statwatch: Liverpool have had 73 per cent possession and eight shots to United’s none. But neither side has had a shot on target yet.
Updated
27 min Shaw makes an excellent run through the inside-left channel and angles the ball back to Fernandes. His attempted through ball is cut out but that was a bit better, particularly from Shaw.
25 min It’s all Liverpool now. Maguire’s poor pass out of defence is blocked by Firmino and deflects to Mane. His cross rolls towards Fred, but his clearance is straight at Wijnaldum. He has a shot blocked and then Shaqiri curls over from 20 yards.
Updated
23 min Slowly but surely, Liverpool have taken control of this game. They are outnumbering United in the centre of midfield and have generally managed to stop the counter-attacks at source.
Updated
22 min United break from that corner, but a lazy long pass from Pogba allows Liverpool to go on the counter-counter-attack. Alexander-Arnold drives a long pass to Mane, who plays in Firmino. His shot is well blocked by Lindelof and Salah smacks the rebound over the bar from 20 yards on the volley.
Updated
21 min Robertson surges infield and plays a short pass to Shaqiri on the edge of the D. His shot is deflected wide. Liverpool take a quick corner, which leads to another when Alexander-Arnold cross hits Fernandes and goes behind. The second corner is headed away at the near post by Lindelof.
19 min Luke Shaw has been taking ages over throw-ins since the first whistle. That might be a tactic to change the pace of the game, Suljovic-style.
18 min Fred breaks down the left and curls a dangerous pass around the Liverpool defence towards Rashford at the far post. Robertson does very well to hold Rashford off and draw a foul.
17 min Shaqiri slides a brilliant pass into the area towards Mane, who makes a textbook run from left to right. He is covered by Wan-Bissaka so turns away from goal and finds Firmino on the edge of the box. He slices well wide with his left foot. That was a poor effort, not least because Robertson was in acres of space to his left.
Updated
16 min The ball has started to go down, so there’s a brief break in play while it is changed.
14 min Firmino’s long-range shot is blocked by Maguire. The ball spins across the area to Robertson,l who slices a half-volley over the bar. The move started with a fine pass from Thiago to Firmino; as Gary Neville says on Sky, at the moment he’s running the game.
13 min United haven’t had much of the ball so far - 29 per cent - though they will be happy that Liverpool haven’t threatened to overwhelm them as they did in the first 15 minutes of this fixture last season.
12 min Thiago walks majestically away from Fred, not once but twice, only to overhit a simple pass to Alexander-Arnold. He is a glorious footballer, and has looked a class apart in the early minutes.
Updated
10 min Fernandes’s through pass towards Rashford is intercepted well by Henderson on the edge of the area.
9 min As expected, Liverpool are pressing high and trying to smother United. They’ve made the better start, though there hasn’t been much in it.
7 min Thiago is dropping very deep to collect the ball, almost as a third centre-half. The tactics on both sides are pretty intriguing.
Updated
6 min And now the first promising move from United. Martial plays a one-two with Shaw and slides a pass down the inside-left channel to release Rashford. His cross is kicked away at the near post.
Updated
5 min Liverpool are starting to find a bit of rhythm. Thiago steps away from Fernandes with disdain near the halfway line and floats a fine pass out to Alexander-Arnold on the right of the area. His cross is blocked by Shaw.
Updated
3 min The first good move from Liverpool. Shaqiri and Wijnaldum combine to find the overlapping Robertson, who mishits a cross into the side netting.
2 min These are the revised line-ups.
Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Henderson, Robertson; Shaqiri, Thiago, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane. Substitutes: Kelleher, R Williams, N Williams, Phillips, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino, Origi.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1) de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Pogba, Fernandes, Martial; Rashford.
Substitutes: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Tuanzebe, Mata, Matic, van de Beek, Cavani, Greenwood.
Updated
1 min Liverpool’s formation looks like 4-3-3 with Shaqiri in centre midfield.
1 min United have started with Pogba on the right, Martial left and Rashford up front.
1 min Peep peep! United, in their dark grey away kit, kick off from left to right. Liverpool are in red.
The players gather round the centre circle for a minute’s applause in memory of Gerry Marsden. He is also on the cover of the match programme.
YNWA blares around Anfield. It’s more poignant than usual; this is Liverpool’s first home game since the death of Gerry Marsden.
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“I’m not a public-relations expert,” says Peter Oh, “but given the current situation I don’t know if it was all that wise for Solskjaer to use the words positive and test in the same sentence.”
“Afternoon Rob,” says Martin McCarthy. “You were very confident a while ago that Liverpool would win the league fairly comfortably. Just wondered if that opinion still holds?”
I’m not as confident but I think they will. I’d probably say the chances are something like:
- Liverpool 60 per cent
- Man City 35
- Man Utd 4
- The rest 1
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“I too have nostalgia for the hideous 1980s games between these two at Anfield,” says Paul Griffin. “They were horrible, spiteful affairs: the likes of McMahon and Whiteside breaching the Geneva Convention on the pitch, bile and hatred pouring of the stands, an atmosphere of menace outside the ground, I can’t fathom why I miss any of this (apart from the £2.50 tickets that were easy to come by).”
It wasn’t exactly It’s a Wonderful Life at Old Trafford either.
Here’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
“Victor trained the last few days so he should be ready. Anthony’s injury was more of a cramp. We know we’re playing against a good team but we have to be positive and test ourselves against the best. There’s no way we can sit back and defend for the whole game. They’re missing a few centre-backs and that’s an area we can hopefully exploit.
“There are so many things you have to do right. You have to play a perfect game against a team that hasn’t lost in three and a half years. Believe in yourself; that’s the main thing.”
“Afternoon Rob,” says Matt Emerson. “I don’t have a dog in this fight, but this fixture will always take me back to the mid-eighties, when I was a ‘cockney’ student in Liverpool. I always stayed out of the city centre when Man Utd came to down, mainly due to concerns that, if they heard my accent, the two sets of supporters would stop fighting each other and gang up on a common enemy...”
“I like to think I’m a well balanced and pretty mild-mannered man,” says Kevin McManus. “But I’m also self- aware enough to know this goes out the window when we are playing the hated Man U. It isnt just me either. The whole of the Kop seems to fall prey to a collective fervour whenever Man U turn up. I took a girlfriend to the game once which was a huge mistake. She found the passion and the hatred all too much and couldnt get her head around it. Of course she was right - it is totally unreasonable for otherwise sensible grown men and women to act like that for a few hours. But I have to say it just kind of feels right when it is directed at Man U.”
One thing that’s interesting is that it wasn’t always thus. I watched the 1977 FA Cup final last week, and there was (to modern eyes) an extraordinary level of goodwill on and off the field. That all changed in the late seventies and early eighties.
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“I think United should treat this game as a free hit,” says Digvijay Yadav. “For once I’d like to see them take the game to Liverpool at Anfield. It’s only happened once in memory when Gerrard stamped on Herrera. Otherwise it’s always cagey, trying to smash and grab stuff.”
I suppose one of the regrets of the Ferguson years was that they never hammered Liverpool at Anfield. They were usually horrible games, only to be enjoyed after the event by the winners.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “Klopp’s line up clearly based on the assumption that Liverpool are going to have pretty much all of ball.”
Here’s Jurgen Klopp
“Joel [Matip] has been part of the sessions since Friday. Today is Sunday, so that’s not enough. He will train normally from tomorrow. Shaq is in really good shape and showed good performances last game and in training. He’s now getting rhythm, step by step. He was out for a long time - little things only [but they added up]. He has showed in training he is ready to go, so we’ll let him go.
“We’ve trained really well and worked on things that are very, very necessary for this game. That’s it. It’s not about the names or the shirts; it’s all about the moment. [How do you win this game?] You have to be brave. You have to be cheeky in moments; to be well organised but not hide behind organisation. You have to be brave defensively as well. Playing good football; playing between the lines; playing behind the lines. Being calm on the ball but lively as well. Lots of things - it’s football!”
Sky Sports have both teams in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Pogba on the right and Rashford on the left. That isn’t quite as odd as it sounds given Rashford’s performances against Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Team views
Henderson and Fabinho in defence means no Henderson and Fabinho in Bruno Fernandes Country
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) January 17, 2021
Would've had Cavani in but Martial can pull into that left-hand channel to take on Alexander-Arnold, as Pogba is not a natural winger, and bring Rashford over from the right. Lindelof over Bailly is contentious, to say the least. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) January 17, 2021
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In the early game, Spurs won comfortably at Sheffield United to move into the top four for a few hours.
“Hello Rob,” says Neil Carter. “Ole obviously resting Bailly and Cavani today for the tougher games ahead?”
Afternoon Gary.
“While having Hendo at the back feels as incongruous as singing Cardi B’s WAP in a Yorkshire accent,” begins Ian Copestake. “I trust in Klopp and whatever he has been drinking that has finally enabled him to see the Shaq. This can’t fail but be a snow-dusted cracker (unless it ain’t snowing).”
I think it’s the best option in the circumstances. Liverpool will want to bully United and pin them back. If they can’t do that with a defence comprising two central midfielders and the best attacking full-backs in the world, they never will.
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“Hi Rob,” says Mark Haywood. “Interesting background article on Bruno Fernandes in today’s NY Times. Remember the days when Utd v L’pool and Everton v City would be played on the same Saturday at the proper time of 3pm?”
I don’t quite remember that, as I was born in well never mind about that detail, but I’m sure it happened. I wonder when the last occurrence was, maybe in the 1970s?
The teams in full
Liverpool (possible 4-2-3-1) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago, Wijnaldum; Shaqiri, Firmino, Mane; Salah.
Substitutes: Kelleher, R Williams, N Williams, Phillips, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino, Origi.
Manchester United (possible 4-D-2) de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred; McTominay, Pogba; Fernandes; Rashford, Martial.
Substitutes: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Tuanzebe, Mata, Matic, van de Beek, Cavani, Greenwood.
Referee Paul Tierney.
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Team news
There’s no Joel Matip for Liverpool, so Jordan Henderson and Fabinho will play in the centre of defence again. Xherdan Shaqiri starts, which is an intriguing decision from Jurgen Klopp; he scored twice in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over United at Anfield two years ago. Shaqiri’s inclusion gives Liverpool the option of playing 4-2-3-1 or the usual 4-3-3.
Anthony Martial starts for United, which is a bonus after his hamstring strain at Burnley in the week. Victor Lindelof is preferred to Eric Bailly, a slight surprise given Bailly’s pace and recent form. It’s hard to be sure what shape United will play - it could be 4-2-3-1 with Pogba and Rashford wide, but my money is on a diamond and a front two to break in behind Liverpool’s full-backs.
Pre-match reading
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Preamble
Hello. Liverpool v Manchester United is rarely a classic game, but it’s usually a memorable one. The drama, intensity and pharmaceutical grade hatred ensure that the occasion, if not always the football, sticks around in the memory bank.
There’s always a story to tell, and down the years the subject matter has been extremely diverse: racism, Riiiiseeeeeeeeeee, darts, volleyball, Tomb Raider, cigars, vomit, saliva, faeces, Missiles of Hate, Munich chants, Heysel chants, Hillsborough chants, Berbarotica, dodgy penalties, facts, tear gas, Norman Whiteside’s rampage, Michael Owen’s rampage, Nani’s tears, Paul Scholes’ boxing skills, Eric Cantona’s collar, Neil Ruddock’s stomach, badge-grabbing, camera-kissing, 38 seconds, six fingers, P45s, a six-yard hat-trick, a hat-trick of red cards in 13 months, a hat-trick of Old Trafford matchwinners in four years and, most unlikely of all, the goalsoring prowess of Gary Pallister and Andrea Dossena.
I could go on but this is a live blog, not a live book subtitled A History in 100 Objects and Moments. Suffice to say this is still the biggest rivalry in England, even though the games generally haven’t been great and the two teams have barely challenged for the title in the same season during the Premier League era. It’s happened only four times: 1995-96, 1996-97, 2001-02 and 2008-09. And only once in that time have they met when first and second in the league: 19 April 1997, when Pallister scored twice to shatter Liverpool’s title hopes.
Leicester’s win against Southampton last night means this won’t be first v second, but it has been framed exclusively in the context of the title race. Some folk are even calling it a title decider, which would ideally be a sackable offence. But it is the biggest game of the season so far, and probably the biggest between these teams since 14 March 2009, a distant time when Dossena was the scourge of Europe’s finest. He scored the final goal in Liverpool’s extraordinary 4-1 win at Old Trafford that day, which started a memorable last lap of the title race in which United’s frontrunners just managed to pip a rampant Liverpool. (By the way, Liverpool were third going into that game, so that wasn’t first v second.)
I don’t think United are realistic contenders this season, though I’ll probably change my mind if they get three points today. A win for either side would be an instant contender for statement victory of the season. Liverpool can put United in their place by beating them, ideally heavily, and knocking them off the top of the table. (Some folk have even used the word ‘perch’, which would ideally etc.) United can stimulate some significant cat/pigeon interaction by ending Liverpool’s four-year unbeaten run at Anfield.
As if the big picture wasn’t exciting enough, there are plenty of compelling subplots. Liverpool are the best team in England; United are the league leaders. Liverpool are top of the home table with 22 points from eight games; United are top of the away table with 22 points from eight games. Indeed, United haven’t lost a league game away from home since their trip to Anfield a year ago, when Mo Salah’s late goal sealed a 2-0 win and sparked an orgiastic, spine-tingling chorus of ‘We’re Gonna Win The League’.
Still want more? Well, two of the world’s best players, Thiago Alcantara and Bruno Fernandes, are playing in this fixture for the first time; and the referee Paul Tierney will be under pressure every time a defender breathes with excessive force in the penalty area.
Let’s hope it’s a rare classic. If not, no matter. We’ll still be talking about it in the morning – and probably in 20 years’ time.
Kick off, and don’t worry, it will 4.30pm.
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