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| Liverpool v Manchester United: Premier League – live! | Liverpool v Manchester United: Premier League – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.44pm GMT14:44 | |
| 56 min: The ever-graceful Phil Jones takes a clump out of Jordan Henderson on the right and earns himself a booking. Liverpool want more than that, but it was the act of an inept oaf rather than a malicious foul, so it’s probably the right decision. “Gerrard thought he was Jonjo Shelvey,” says Brian Kitt. | |
| 2.43pm GMT14:43 | |
| 55 min: Actually, Angel Di Maria’s red card against Arsenal the other week was also high on comedy value. Speaking of which, Di Maria is on for the limping Ashley Young. | |
| 2.42pm GMT14:42 | |
| 54 min: The red card has given the match a strange atmosphere. If anything, United seem to have been stunned by it and Liverpool have been pressing for a couple of minutes. Coutinho tries to replicate his heroics against Manchester City but whistles one just over from 25 yards. De Gea probably had it covered. | |
| 2.41pm GMT14:41 | |
| 53 min: No offence to Liverpool supporters, but I’m struggling to think of a funnier red card. Thirty seconds! What an attempt to lead by example. | |
| 2.39pm GMT14:39 | |
| 51 min: Ashley Young was limping a minute or two - I’m not sure why, given the Gerrard madness - but he seems to have recovered. “I think the only way it could have been worse for Gerrard is if he scored a couple of own goals for United,” says Mark Judd. | |
| 2.37pm GMT14:37 | |
| 50 min: On the plus side, at least Gerrard didn’t slip when he did the stamp. That really would have added insult to injury. “To paraphrase a famous song from the Manchester United fans from the 1983 FA Cup Final Replay - ‘Stevie Gerrard, Stevie Gerrard, what a difference you have made!’,” parps Adam Hirst. | |
| 2.36pm GMT14:36 | |
| 48 min: On balance, you’d have to say that this probably isn’t how Steven Gerrard imagined his final match against Manchester United would pan out. That has to be one of the stupidest red cards of all time. He was on the pitch for all of 30 seconds! | |
| 2.35pm GMT14:35 | |
| 47 min: Herrera is booked for his initial challenge. | |
| 2.35pm GMT14:35 | |
| STEVEN GERRARD IS SENT OFF! | |
| 46 min: This is incredible! What a cameo! Has Gerrard been sniffing raw steak for the past 15 minutes? His first act is to whip up the crowd with a full-blooded challenge on Juan Mata. He’s up for this! But then Herrera steams in to try and win the ball. Gerrard isn’t happy and stamps on the Spaniard’s leg in retaliation! What was he thinking of? The red mist has descended and soon Martin Atkinson is flashing a red card in his face. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Liverpool are a goal and a man - a captain, no less - down. | |
| Updated at 2.44pm GMT | |
| 2.33pm GMT14:33 | |
| And with Gerrard on, we are off again! Liverpool begin the second half and the plan is that they will spend it attacking the Kop. Gerrard is involved immediately and... | |
| Updated at 2.39pm GMT | |
| 2.32pm GMT14:32 | |
| Liverpool are making the change. Steven Gerrard is on and Adam Lallana is off. A narrative beckons. | |
| 2.24pm GMT14:24 | |
| “Lots of people predictably clamouring for Steven Gerrard...” says Thomas Shepherd. “But surely Lucas offers more balance, bite and control in the middle - get him on for Joe Allen, who looks a bit lost.” | |
| There’s an argument to bring off Sturridge or Lallana and move Sterling forward and Henderson to the right. Sterling also looks lost as a right wing-back. | |
| 2.21pm GMT14:21 | |
| “Mata’s goal looks a more straightforward version of one of the best team goals I’ve seen, Spain’s opener against Italy in that rout in the Euro final,” says Philip Podolsky. “The boy Herrera channelled Iniesta to perfection.” | |
| 2.17pm GMT14:17 | |
| Half-time: Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United | |
| No, they can’t. The half ends with Michael Carrick letting fly from 25 yards, warming Mignolet’s palms. A fitting end, really, because United have been the superior side by a considerable distance and deservedly lead thanks to Juan Mata’s goal. If it stays like this, they’ll be five points ahead of Liverpool with eight games to play. Brendan Rodgers has a job on his hands at half-time. See you in 15 minutes. | |
| Updated at 2.18pm GMT | |
| 2.16pm GMT14:16 | |
| 45 min: There will be two minutes of added time. Can Liverpool muster anything useful during them? | |
| 2.13pm GMT14:13 | |
| 43 min: Mata, Valencia and Herrera attempt some mischief down the United right. The move ends with Mata drifting offside. | |
| 2.11pm GMT14:11 | |
| 41 min: The flurry subsides. The game slows down. Just what United wanted. | |
| 2.09pm GMT14:09 | 2.09pm GMT14:09 |
| 38 min: De Gea has to be quick off his line again to stop Lallana reaching a pass through the middle from Henderson. Henderson overcooked that one, though. There was a lot of space for him to hit. | 38 min: De Gea has to be quick off his line again to stop Lallana reaching a pass through the middle from Henderson. Henderson overcooked that one, though. There was a lot of space for him to hit. |
| Updated at 2.23pm GMT | |
| 2.08pm GMT14:08 | 2.08pm GMT14:08 |
| 37 min: For the first time in the entire match, Liverpool have increased the intensity. That Lallana chance may just have sparked them into life. | 37 min: For the first time in the entire match, Liverpool have increased the intensity. That Lallana chance may just have sparked them into life. |
| 2.06pm GMT14:06 | 2.06pm GMT14:06 |
| 35 min: I was in the middle of writing that Liverpool have barely strung two passes together and then Adam Lallana almost goes and scores the equaliser. They broke down the right and Henderson curled a splendid pass to the left of the area to Sturridge, who cushioned the ball back to Lallana, arriving late on the edge of the area. He took it first-time with his left foot and aimed for the bottom-right corner. De Gea stood and watched as Lallana’s shot flew inches wide. Will that wake Liverpool up? | 35 min: I was in the middle of writing that Liverpool have barely strung two passes together and then Adam Lallana almost goes and scores the equaliser. They broke down the right and Henderson curled a splendid pass to the left of the area to Sturridge, who cushioned the ball back to Lallana, arriving late on the edge of the area. He took it first-time with his left foot and aimed for the bottom-right corner. De Gea stood and watched as Lallana’s shot flew inches wide. Will that wake Liverpool up? |
| Updated at 2.19pm GMT | |
| 2.04pm GMT14:04 | 2.04pm GMT14:04 |
| 34 min: United have had 62% possession. Samuele Allardici will be impressed. | 34 min: United have had 62% possession. Samuele Allardici will be impressed. |
| 2.03pm GMT14:03 | 2.03pm GMT14:03 |
| 33 min: Franz Smalling sweeps a pass from right to left for Young. What a player! What a distributor of the football! Did you ever doubt him? Young traps the pass on his chest and tries to release Mata, but Skrtel is in on hand to mop up. | 33 min: Franz Smalling sweeps a pass from right to left for Young. What a player! What a distributor of the football! Did you ever doubt him? Young traps the pass on his chest and tries to release Mata, but Skrtel is in on hand to mop up. |
| 2.01pm GMT14:01 | 2.01pm GMT14:01 |
| 30 min: Coutinho, anonymous so far, dribbles into trouble in his own half. The ball comes to Rooney, who has a go from 30 yards, but Skrtel is in the way. Did you know that Rooney hasn’t scored at Anfield for more than 10 years? | 30 min: Coutinho, anonymous so far, dribbles into trouble in his own half. The ball comes to Rooney, who has a go from 30 yards, but Skrtel is in the way. Did you know that Rooney hasn’t scored at Anfield for more than 10 years? |
| Updated at 2.12pm GMT | |
| 1.58pm GMT13:58 | 1.58pm GMT13:58 |
| 28 min: Anfield is very quiet. United are in the process of silencing Anfield. | 28 min: Anfield is very quiet. United are in the process of silencing Anfield. |
| 1.57pm GMT13:57 | 1.57pm GMT13:57 |
| 26 min: United drop their focus, just for a moment, and lose the ball. Liverpool look to counter immediately, Sterling firing a pass through to Sturridge, but De Gea’s quick out of his area to clear. United attack again and Herrera wins a corner on the left. Young knocks it to the near post and Carrick flicks an effort harmlessly over the bar. | 26 min: United drop their focus, just for a moment, and lose the ball. Liverpool look to counter immediately, Sterling firing a pass through to Sturridge, but De Gea’s quick out of his area to clear. United attack again and Herrera wins a corner on the left. Young knocks it to the near post and Carrick flicks an effort harmlessly over the bar. |
| Updated at 2.27pm GMT | |
| 1.55pm GMT13:55 | 1.55pm GMT13:55 |
| 25 min: Liverpool have not been in United’s half for a while. This is far more one-sided than anyone could have predicted. | 25 min: Liverpool have not been in United’s half for a while. This is far more one-sided than anyone could have predicted. |
| 1.54pm GMT13:54 | 1.54pm GMT13:54 |
| 24 min: There’s Lallana! That’s a relief. | 24 min: There’s Lallana! That’s a relief. |
| 1.54pm GMT13:54 | 1.54pm GMT13:54 |
| 23 min: Play resumes. I think that Lallana is okay, unless I missed him being taken off. | 23 min: Play resumes. I think that Lallana is okay, unless I missed him being taken off. |
| 1.53pm GMT13:53 | 1.53pm GMT13:53 |
| 22 min: Phil Jones is hobbling around, winded after crashing into Adam Lallana in the centre circle. He’s a bit of a klutz, that lad, and Lallana is in need of urgent attention. The stretcher could be required and Steven Gerrard is warming up. “This feels like a Ferguson era performance from United so far,” says Allan Castle. “A rare bird.” | 22 min: Phil Jones is hobbling around, winded after crashing into Adam Lallana in the centre circle. He’s a bit of a klutz, that lad, and Lallana is in need of urgent attention. The stretcher could be required and Steven Gerrard is warming up. “This feels like a Ferguson era performance from United so far,” says Allan Castle. “A rare bird.” |
| Updated at 2.20pm GMT | |
| 1.49pm GMT13:49 | 1.49pm GMT13:49 |
| 19 min: Liverpool are being pressed furiously when they have the ball and they don’t like it. They have been thoroughly unsettled by this United start. Joe Allen tugs back Ander Herrera 40 yards from goal and picks up a booking. | 19 min: Liverpool are being pressed furiously when they have the ball and they don’t like it. They have been thoroughly unsettled by this United start. Joe Allen tugs back Ander Herrera 40 yards from goal and picks up a booking. |
| Updated at 2.11pm GMT | |
| 1.47pm GMT13:47 | 1.47pm GMT13:47 |
| 17 min: Henderson clips an instant pass over the top to Sturridge. He’s way out on the left of the area, but that doesn’t stop him from trying an ambitious volley that flies past the near post. Sturridge can never be accused of lacking confidence. | 17 min: Henderson clips an instant pass over the top to Sturridge. He’s way out on the left of the area, but that doesn’t stop him from trying an ambitious volley that flies past the near post. Sturridge can never be accused of lacking confidence. |
| 1.46pm GMT13:46 | 1.46pm GMT13:46 |
| 16 min: You will see more spectacular goals, but that was one of the best team goals that will be scored this season. It was a special pass from Ander Herrera, a player who hasn’t always had the trust of Louis van Gaal this season. | 16 min: You will see more spectacular goals, but that was one of the best team goals that will be scored this season. It was a special pass from Ander Herrera, a player who hasn’t always had the trust of Louis van Gaal this season. |
| 1.45pm GMT13:45 | 1.45pm GMT13:45 |
| GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United (Mata, 14 min) | GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United (Mata, 14 min) |
| This had been coming and it is a truly wonderful goal. Fellaini rolls a pass to Ander Herrera, who has time and space in the middle of the Liverpool half to get the ball out of his feet, look up and carve the Liverpool defence open with a brilliant pass inside Moreno and through to Juan Mata, who’s just being played onside by Martin Skrtel. He takes the pass in his stride, draws Mignolet forward and then whips a low finish across the Liverpool keeper and into the far corner with his right foot. United deserve that. Liverpool haven’t been in this at all. | This had been coming and it is a truly wonderful goal. Fellaini rolls a pass to Ander Herrera, who has time and space in the middle of the Liverpool half to get the ball out of his feet, look up and carve the Liverpool defence open with a brilliant pass inside Moreno and through to Juan Mata, who’s just being played onside by Martin Skrtel. He takes the pass in his stride, draws Mignolet forward and then whips a low finish across the Liverpool keeper and into the far corner with his right foot. United deserve that. Liverpool haven’t been in this at all. |
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| Updated at 2.02pm GMT | Updated at 2.02pm GMT |
| 1.43pm GMT13:43 | 1.43pm GMT13:43 |
| 12 min: The visitors are the better side. Ander Herrera looks to pick out the run of Wayne Rooney, but the flag is immediately up for offside, the Manchester United skipper failing to time his peel away from Skrtel properly. | 12 min: The visitors are the better side. Ander Herrera looks to pick out the run of Wayne Rooney, but the flag is immediately up for offside, the Manchester United skipper failing to time his peel away from Skrtel properly. |
| Updated at 1.51pm GMT | Updated at 1.51pm GMT |
| 1.41pm GMT13:41 | 1.41pm GMT13:41 |
| 11 min: United have had the ball for around two minutes. Pass, pass, pass, just like Barcelona. | 11 min: United have had the ball for around two minutes. Pass, pass, pass, just like Barcelona. |
| 1.39pm GMT13:39 | 1.39pm GMT13:39 |
| 9 min: Mata flings the free-kick into the box, but it’s headed away and Liverpool counter, only for Sterling to ruin a speedy move with a slack pass straight that’s easy for Blind to cut out. | 9 min: Mata flings the free-kick into the box, but it’s headed away and Liverpool counter, only for Sterling to ruin a speedy move with a slack pass straight that’s easy for Blind to cut out. |
| 1.38pm GMT13:38 | 1.38pm GMT13:38 |
| 8 min: Moreno sloppily hands possession to Mata with a poor pass straight to the Manchester United man on the right. He compounds his error by dumping Mata over, Martin Atkinson instantly blowing for a free-kick to United. | 8 min: Moreno sloppily hands possession to Mata with a poor pass straight to the Manchester United man on the right. He compounds his error by dumping Mata over, Martin Atkinson instantly blowing for a free-kick to United. |
| Updated at 2.04pm GMT | Updated at 2.04pm GMT |
| 1.37pm GMT13:37 | 1.37pm GMT13:37 |
| 7 min: Henderson pings a long ball over the top, seeking out the run of Lallana. Jones gets there first, but pressure from Lallana forces him to slice a clearance out for a throw. | 7 min: Henderson pings a long ball over the top, seeking out the run of Lallana. Jones gets there first, but pressure from Lallana forces him to slice a clearance out for a throw. |
| 1.35pm GMT13:35 | 1.35pm GMT13:35 |
| 5 min: Blind rolls a pass down the line and out of play. The Kop jeers. | 5 min: Blind rolls a pass down the line and out of play. The Kop jeers. |
| 1.34pm GMT13:34 | 1.34pm GMT13:34 |
| 4 min: Now Liverpool soothe any lingering nerves, stroking the ball around for a minute or two, allowing themselves a feel of the thing. Then they turn up the pace. Lallana curves an excellent pass inside Blind, for Sterling, who darts into the area and pokes the ball round Jones, only for De Gea to smother the danger. | 4 min: Now Liverpool soothe any lingering nerves, stroking the ball around for a minute or two, allowing themselves a feel of the thing. Then they turn up the pace. Lallana curves an excellent pass inside Blind, for Sterling, who darts into the area and pokes the ball round Jones, only for De Gea to smother the danger. |
| Updated at 2.15pm GMT | |
| 1.33pm GMT13:33 | 1.33pm GMT13:33 |
| 2 min: A brisk start from United. Rooney darts down the left and tries to turn Skrtel, who is forced to concede a corner. Mata trots over to take it and sends an out-swinger into the area, again towards Fellaini. Mignolet comes and flaps unconvincingly, but Sterling hacks the loose ball away. United have settled well, picking up where they left off against Tottenham last Sunday. | 2 min: A brisk start from United. Rooney darts down the left and tries to turn Skrtel, who is forced to concede a corner. Mata trots over to take it and sends an out-swinger into the area, again towards Fellaini. Mignolet comes and flaps unconvincingly, but Sterling hacks the loose ball away. United have settled well, picking up where they left off against Tottenham last Sunday. |
| Updated at 1.47pm GMT | Updated at 1.47pm GMT |
| 1.31pm GMT13:31 | 1.31pm GMT13:31 |
| And we’re off! Manchester United, in white shirts and black shirts, get the ball rolling on a sunny Anfield afternoon. They’re attacking the Kop in the first half and the ball is immediately pumped forward towards the big bonce of Marouane Fellaini. He flicks a header on to Wayne Rooney, but Liverpool sweep up the danger. | And we’re off! Manchester United, in white shirts and black shirts, get the ball rolling on a sunny Anfield afternoon. They’re attacking the Kop in the first half and the ball is immediately pumped forward towards the big bonce of Marouane Fellaini. He flicks a header on to Wayne Rooney, but Liverpool sweep up the danger. |
| Updated at 1.31pm GMT | Updated at 1.31pm GMT |
| 1.26pm GMT13:26 | 1.26pm GMT13:26 |
| Here come the teams! The volume at Anfield goes up a notch or two. Or three. Or four. Who knows? Counting notches isn’t an exact science. “I think it would be a good idea if today’s referee is allowed to walk slowly down each team’s line-up of players to make absolutely sure he doesn’t confuse them and send the wrong one off,” says Richard Harris. “Players who look too similar to each other should be asked to wear some sort of obvious distinguishing feature like an Elvis face mask or a pair of fake tits.” | Here come the teams! The volume at Anfield goes up a notch or two. Or three. Or four. Who knows? Counting notches isn’t an exact science. “I think it would be a good idea if today’s referee is allowed to walk slowly down each team’s line-up of players to make absolutely sure he doesn’t confuse them and send the wrong one off,” says Richard Harris. “Players who look too similar to each other should be asked to wear some sort of obvious distinguishing feature like an Elvis face mask or a pair of fake tits.” |
| 1.23pm GMT13:23 | 1.23pm GMT13:23 |
| “Imagine saying a year ago that Manchester United would sign Di Maria and Falcao but Ashley Young and Fellaini will be trusted over them for the main games,” says Magnus Lind. “Crazy old game but you got to love it.” | “Imagine saying a year ago that Manchester United would sign Di Maria and Falcao but Ashley Young and Fellaini will be trusted over them for the main games,” says Magnus Lind. “Crazy old game but you got to love it.” |
| It makes you think, doesn’t it? | It makes you think, doesn’t it? |
| 1.13pm GMT13:13 | 1.13pm GMT13:13 |
| Pele wishes a nice game to everyone and then, grinning at the camera, reveals he would also like to see some nice goals. Good old Pele. | Pele wishes a nice game to everyone and then, grinning at the camera, reveals he would also like to see some nice goals. Good old Pele. |
| 1.12pm GMT13:12 | 1.12pm GMT13:12 |
| Have you heard? Pele is at Anfield. He’s being interviewed now and he’s managed to drop in a reference to | Have you heard? Pele is at Anfield. He’s being interviewed now and he’s managed to drop in a reference to |
| El-Hadji Diouf being the best player in the world | El-Hadji Diouf being the best player in the world |
| sandwiches. Anyone else really hungry? | sandwiches. Anyone else really hungry? |
| 12.53pm GMT12:53 | 12.53pm GMT12:53 |
| “I’ve little doubt that their good form will continue today, but is there a worry for Liverpool that sooner or later it will drop off unless they develop more ruthlessness and clinical-ness up front?” wonders David Wall. “That might seem a silly idea at the moment but if you look at their goals over the past month or so then the majority have been scored by long range shots (I checked the results and match reports for March and February to check the suspicion). | “I’ve little doubt that their good form will continue today, but is there a worry for Liverpool that sooner or later it will drop off unless they develop more ruthlessness and clinical-ness up front?” wonders David Wall. “That might seem a silly idea at the moment but if you look at their goals over the past month or so then the majority have been scored by long range shots (I checked the results and match reports for March and February to check the suspicion). |
| “While it’s true that if you have better players, more pressure, more of the ball around the opposition area, and are prepared to shoot, then you’re more likely to score from long range. Nonetheless it is more difficult, and you’re bound to have days when those shots end up in the top of the stand rather than the top corner of the goal. | “While it’s true that if you have better players, more pressure, more of the ball around the opposition area, and are prepared to shoot, then you’re more likely to score from long range. Nonetheless it is more difficult, and you’re bound to have days when those shots end up in the top of the stand rather than the top corner of the goal. |
| “Unless they start taking more of the close-range chances that they make then one of those days might coincide with an important fixture. Seeing as they’re still trying to catch those teams in the Champions’ League places (though I do think that will change by the end of today), I wonder if that might cost them in the run in.” | “Unless they start taking more of the close-range chances that they make then one of those days might coincide with an important fixture. Seeing as they’re still trying to catch those teams in the Champions’ League places (though I do think that will change by the end of today), I wonder if that might cost them in the run in.” |
| 12.50pm GMT12:50 | 12.50pm GMT12:50 |
| Tactical analysis: the teams are pretty much as expected. But will Liverpool have their usual fluency with Raheem Sterling on the right? The absence of Lazar Markovic could be a blow. | Tactical analysis: the teams are pretty much as expected. But will Liverpool have their usual fluency with Raheem Sterling on the right? The absence of Lazar Markovic could be a blow. |
| 12.39pm GMT12:39 | 12.39pm GMT12:39 |
| Ladies and gentlemen, the teams | Ladies and gentlemen, the teams |
| Liverpool: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Sterling, Henderson, Allen, Moreno; Lallana, Sturridge, Coutinho. Subs: Jones, Johnson, Toure, Gerrard, Lambert, Lucas, Balotelli. | Liverpool: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Sterling, Henderson, Allen, Moreno; Lallana, Sturridge, Coutinho. Subs: Jones, Johnson, Toure, Gerrard, Lambert, Lucas, Balotelli. |
| Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Blind; Mata, Carrick, Ander Herrera, Young; Fellaini; Rooney. Subs: Da Silva, Rojo, Di Maria, Falcao, Januzaj, Valdes, Pereira. | Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Blind; Mata, Carrick, Ander Herrera, Young; Fellaini; Rooney. Subs: Da Silva, Rojo, Di Maria, Falcao, Januzaj, Valdes, Pereira. |
| Referee: Martin Atkinson | Referee: Martin Atkinson |
| Updated at 12.39pm GMT | Updated at 12.39pm GMT |
| 12.00pm GMT12:00 | 12.00pm GMT12:00 |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| Hello. Some people can read numbers and congratulations to them for that. They can, for instance, look at Manchester United’s recent results and tell you that have been on a great run of form, that everything is fine and dandy and that Louis van Gaal is doing an excellent job. That’s what the numbers say. United have lost only twice in the league since 2 November and they are fourth in the league, so what’s there to complain about? | Hello. Some people can read numbers and congratulations to them for that. They can, for instance, look at Manchester United’s recent results and tell you that have been on a great run of form, that everything is fine and dandy and that Louis van Gaal is doing an excellent job. That’s what the numbers say. United have lost only twice in the league since 2 November and they are fourth in the league, so what’s there to complain about? |
| It depends how you define form. On the one hand, you can argue that the result is all that matters; fair enough. Equally, though, you can go deeper and question whether the final score was a fair reflection of what actually occurred during the match, whether it indicates that a defeat may be waiting just around the corner. Flaws were evident while United were grinding out results and they were exposed against Arsenal, Southampton and Swansea. | It depends how you define form. On the one hand, you can argue that the result is all that matters; fair enough. Equally, though, you can go deeper and question whether the final score was a fair reflection of what actually occurred during the match, whether it indicates that a defeat may be waiting just around the corner. Flaws were evident while United were grinding out results and they were exposed against Arsenal, Southampton and Swansea. |
| And at the other end of the scale, sometimes there are positives to be taken from a defeat. On 14 December, Liverpool lost 3-0 at Old Trafford. A disaster? Not quite. Look a little closer. Before that day, Liverpool were a team struggling for identity, but it was an afternoon when Brendan Rodgers hit upon the 3-4-3 formation that has been such a success in the past three months. It was the start of something. They lost, but they gained a lot. Victory today would take them above United and into the top four. | And at the other end of the scale, sometimes there are positives to be taken from a defeat. On 14 December, Liverpool lost 3-0 at Old Trafford. A disaster? Not quite. Look a little closer. Before that day, Liverpool were a team struggling for identity, but it was an afternoon when Brendan Rodgers hit upon the 3-4-3 formation that has been such a success in the past three months. It was the start of something. They lost, but they gained a lot. Victory today would take them above United and into the top four. |
| The momentum would be with Liverpool. Yet United may just have clawed some of the stuff back in last Sunday’s 3-0 win over Tottenham. It was their best performance of the season and for 45 exhilarating minutes, for the first time in a long time, they looked like Manchester United again. There is optimism in both camps now, so we have the ingredients for a cracker. | The momentum would be with Liverpool. Yet United may just have clawed some of the stuff back in last Sunday’s 3-0 win over Tottenham. It was their best performance of the season and for 45 exhilarating minutes, for the first time in a long time, they looked like Manchester United again. There is optimism in both camps now, so we have the ingredients for a cracker. |
| Kick-off: 1.30pm. | Kick-off: 1.30pm. |
| Updated at 12.38pm GMT | Updated at 12.38pm GMT |