Man U - Liverpool

Rival Reds 'First On The Menu'
Easter is traditionally the time of the season when titles are won
and lost, and on Sunday, the ‘Big Four’ in the Premier League all meet
in what is sure to be a day that sorts the men from the boys in this
year’s championship race.
The day kicks off early in the afternoon when the two most
successful clubs in English football history meet at Old Trafford in a
game that is always keenly contested.
Only a few miles separate Liverpool and United geographically, but
this season the Red Devils are once again enjoying superiority over
their major rivals in the League.
Yet, it is Liverpool though who are the form side, having won seven
consecutive games since there embarrassing exit from the FA Cup at the
hands of Barnsley.
The Reds have found some form since manager Rafa Benitez settled on
his first choice line-up, where the excellent Javier Mascherano and
Xabi Alonso sit in front of the back four, allowing Steven Gerrard the
freedom to support in-form Fernando Torres in attack.
Benitez has come in for some unfair criticism this season, with much
of the media expecting his side to become champions despite spending
considerably less than United in the summer. This game is a chance for
Liverpool to finally get one over there local rivals, having never
beaten United since Benitez became manager in 2004.
Stage Set For Torres And Ronaldo
The game is also a chance for United to extend there lead at the top
of the league, and despite not finding their best form in recent weeks,
they will be confident of continuing their excellent recent record
against Liverpool.
United have been solid rather than spectacular in recent games, and
with Ronaldo in their team as long as they keep it tight at the back
they will always get goals. United won the earlier fixture this season
at Anfield through a goal from Carlos Tevez, but Alex Ferguson’s were
quite lucky to take all three points that day despite managing to keep
Fernando Torres quiet.
Rio Ferdinand is a doubt for United, and Ferguson will be hoping
that the England centre back will be fit because he has the pace to
cope with Torres. If Ferdinand is missing, Torres will fancy his
chances of adding to his fantastic run of form - the Spanish forward
has hit nine goals in his last six appearances, and has become the
first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler to score more than 20 goals
in a season.
Torres is closing in of Ronaldo at the top of the scorer’s charts,
and whichever of these in form players produces on the day could ensure
the three points for his side.
Elsewhere, however, both sides are brimming with quality - the
midfield battle between Mascherano, Gerrard and Alonso on one side and
Anderson, Hargreaves and Scholes on the other will be fascinating. Both
sides will be quite content with a share of the spoils, so long as the
later kick-off between Chelsea and Arsenal ends all square, however a
win for United and they will be closing in on their 10th Premier League
crown.
If Liverpool can take maximum points and Chelsea fail to beat
Arsenal, The Reds could start to target a 3rd place finish, but for now
they will be happy to see off the thread of Mersey rivals Everton and
finish in the top four. The stage has been set, and the biggest day in
the Premier League this season should begin with a riveting and
passionate tussle between these two heavyweights of the English game.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United
18 Mar v Bolton (h) WON 2-0 (Prem)
15 Mar v Derby (a) WON 1-0 (Prem)
08 Mar v Portsmouth (h) LOST 0-1 (FA Cup)
04 Mar v Lyon (h) WON 1-0 (CL)
01 Mar v Fulham (a) WON 3-0 (Prem)
23 Feb v Newcastle (a) WON 5-1 (Prem)
Liverpool
15 Mar v Reading (h) WON 2-1 (Prem)
11 Mar v Internazionale (a) WON 1-0 (CL)
08 Mar v Newcastle (h) WON 3-0 (Prem)
05 Mar v West Ham (h) WON 4-0 (Prem)
02 Mar v Bolton (a) WON 3-1 (Prem)
23 Feb v Middlesbrough (h) WON 3-2 (Prem)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United
Alex Ferguson rested many of his big guns for the midweek win
against struggling Bolton. The likes of Rooney, Ferdinand, Evra,
Scholes and Giggs should all return for what is still United’s biggest
home match of the season. Gary Neville and Michael Silvestre are close
to a return, but will not be reintroduced for such a highly charged
fixture. Edwin Van der Sar (groin), Rio Ferdinand (back) and Louis Saha
(hamstring) are all doubtful.
Last Starting XI (4-4-2 v Bolton) Kuszczak - Hargreaves, Vidic
(Brown 58), Pique, O‘Shea - Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson (Scholes 70),
Nani - Tevez, Saha (Rooney 70).
Liverpool
Rafa Benitez has finally settled on a regular side, and the former
Valencia boss is reaping the rewards with Liverpool finally finding
some consistency at just the right stage of the season. Only defenders
Daniel Agger (foot) and Steve Finnan (hamstring) are expected to miss
out, so expect Rafa to stick with the XI that beat Reading last
weekend.
Last Starting XI (4-2-3-1 v Reading): Reina - Arbeloa, Carragher,
Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio - Xabi Alonso, Mastering - Kuyt (Benayoun 80),
Gerrard (Hyypia 90), Babel (Riise 83) - Torres.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged another double in midweek against Bolton,
taking his goals tally to an astonishing 33 in all competitions this
season. An indicator of the importance of the Portuguese winger is the
fact that he is the scorer of United’s four most recent goals, and the
only United man to score in United’s last four games. United fans would
welcome another goal or two against Liverpool on Sunday.
Liverpool
Javier Mascherano has become as important to Liverpool as Gerrard,
Carragher and Torres in recent weeks with his tireless work ethic,
almost perfect timing in the tackle and astute positional sense.
‘Jefecito’ is fast becoming the Premier League’s most complete
defensive midfielder, and if he is at his best the Argentine enforcer
is capable of snuffing out the danger posed by the aforementioned
Ronaldo and his team mates.
PREDICTION
Games between these two are notoriously cagey, and this one will be
no different. A moment of brilliance from Torres or Ronaldo could
decide it, or a mistake on either side. The smart money would be on a
low scoring affair, and with United’s excellent home record and
Liverpool’s recent improvement it is hard to see either side losing.
Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool
Iain Hepburn

im predicting a 0-0 draw

any bets?

ManYoo always seem to come out on top in this fixture. Gonna say 2 - 0 or 2 - 1 to the Devils.

You're getting battered!

We need somebody to dig up the tapes of all the games that Bennett has
refereed involving ManU over the past few years and pull out all the
instances of Wayne Rooney swearing his guts out at the official just to
prove what a c*** Bennett is and that he is firmly in SAF's pocket. The
whole situation stinks to the high heavens.

1. For years, Chelsea, Arsenal, and ManU players are allowed to mob and curse at officials with impunity.

2. For two weeks leading up to this match, SAF, seeing a red-hot,
in-form Liverpool team coming up, launches a campaign for special
refereeing favours.

3. Today, Mascherano gets red-carded because Ashley Cole is a ****.

4. On top of the red card, Arbeloa gets booked for brushing a ManU
player. Once again, Ronaldo gets away with a blatant dive in the 87th
minute, trying to get Carra booked or sent off and to win an undeserved
penalty.

It all adds up to a disgrace of monumental proportions.

Looks like your prediction about the referee upset was right. The referees lack any kind of consistency, if a player shouts at the ref he might get sent off or just a little told off.

no wonder they always fuck up in europe... no influence over refs there