Acid test for Moyes in Merseyside

Its one of the greatest derby's in the world of football, the biggest fixture in English football, some call it the English "Classico".

Manchester United manager David Moyes doesn't have a good record at Anfield 11 games now without taking three points off the home side. Its gets worse he has yet to win in the 37 away trips to Arsenal (0-3-9), Manchester United (0-3-8), Chelsea (0-6-6). Fortunately for Moyes this will be the strongest side yet he takes to Merseyside.

It's a match Moyes has to win and maybe the head to head vs the two managers gives some encouragement as his win record in the four meetings vs Brendan Rodgers he has yet to lose with two draws against Liverpool and two wins against Swansea (i.e. as Everton boss).

Four is the number with these two sides as a United win come this Super Sunday would make it four wins in a row. Liverpool can boast scoring first in the last four league fixtures and Steven Gerrard has scored four times in the last 6 meetings. Its not just a chance to pick up Moyes first real marquee win but a way to some what silence the critics his United team have.

Notable absentees besides the obvious come defensively for the home side. Martin Skrtel might be risked even though he is returning from injury and isn't fully fit. Kolo Toure is sure to miss out after being substituted in midweek. Sebastián Coates, is out for the season not to mention Joe Allen and Aly Cissokho also a doubt.

Notable absentees for Manchester United is Rafael, Nani, Hernandez as well as Phil Jones is doubtful after getting a slight back injury against Chelsea. Moyes conundrum lays in his selection, does he go with the three strikers RVP, Rooney and Welbeck or leave one out to accommodate Kagawa or Young or both. Its a good problem to have!

Prediction

I expect no love will be lost in every tackle made nor would any side want to give an inch on the pitch, so you can expect fireworks from kick off. Liverpool at home can be intimidating especially "The Kop" but United will be a tough nut to crack. He is affectionately known as "The Chosen One" and just like Moyes would I fancy United win here.

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (@jcba)

Comments

The Premier League changes its logo.

The most lucrative football league in the world, The English Premier League (EPL), yesterday unveiled its new official logo, which will be used from the 2016-17 season onwards. The division's lion icon has been the face of England's top flight since its launch in 1992 but has undergone a makeover to give it a fresh, modern look. It means, EPL is ending its 12-year association with Barclays bank and will from now on be known simply as ‘the Premier League’. The new logo – has a crowned lion’s head gazing to the right, accompanied by either the words ‘Premier League’ or ‘PL’ -- will replace the current logo of a lion with its left paw on a football. All 20 clubs in the top flight have also agreed a new centralised sponsorship strategy, meaning the league will no longer have a named sponsor. “From next season we will move away from title sponsorship and the competition will be known as the Premier League, a decision which provided the opportunity to consider how we wanted ...

Arsene Wenger v Jose Mourinho: The history of their rivalry in quotes

A must read by Adams Bate of Skysports news, The war of words between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger goes on and on. While the Manchester United boss has generally had the upper hand on the pitch over the years, both managers have had stern words for each other in the press room. Here we recall their rivalry in quotes, dating back to Mourinho's first season in English football... "I don't see especially that Chelsea play more English players than we do. Who have they produced, homegrown? Just one, John Terry." - Wenger in 2005 when quizzed on Arsenal's all-foreign line-up. At the beginning of the following season in August 2005, Wenger also expressed concerns over Chelsea's tactics: "I know we live in a world where we have only winners and losers, but once a sport encourages teams who refuse to take the initiative, the sport is in danger." Mourinho was unimpressed. "Wenger has a real problem with us and I think he is what you ca...

Liverpool's Klopp host Jose's United

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp : "Apart from the table, it's a very important game. I know about the history, I like the special stories. The whole world will watch this game, it's a big honour to be part of it. "At the end, it's up to us to perform to our best. You cannot and should not ignore the special circumstance of a game like this. You have to be ready. "They have big quality and we have to respect this, as we do. But this is Anfield. We have to show this. We have had a few nice atmospheres but I'm open for the best atmosphere. We need everybody in a Liverpool shirt in this game." Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on concerns over disrespectful chanting at the game: "In football we have some football tragedies, if you can say that, which is a big match that you lost, the mistake that some player did, this kind of thing, and you can make fun of it in a positive way. "But the human tragedy i...

Search This Blog