United We Stand! by Matt Le Tissier
It doesn't matter where these two are in the table, this is always a blood and thunder affair.
Even with hardly any Mancunians or Scousers in the side, this is one rivalry that seems to have stood the test of time. It will not be for the faint-hearted, that's for sure.
The Anfield crowd will be right up for this one, they always are. And they should be after such a good performance in Marseille on Tuesday.
That will have given the players a huge lift. Now they have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League, you would hope Liverpool can start concentrating on the football.
I know he's got a meeting with the American owners this weekend, but that win in France will have lifted some of the pressure off Rafa Benitez. I don't think for a minute he would have been sacked, but had he lost in Marseille and against United then the heat would really have been on.
He was put in his place as well by George Gillett - and I don't blame the American. Rafa wanted more money to spend, but let's be honest here, has he not had enough already? It was right that the manager was told to get on with matters on the pitch - especially with such big games coming up.
Over-cautious
But it's amazing what a difference one result can make and you would think Liverpool will come flying out of the traps on Sunday, confidence sky-high.
Mind you, they always should. Maybe it comes from the manager, I don't know, but they have been a little over-cautious at home for me at times this season.
As a result Anfield isn't really the fortress is should be. They've drawn four and won three of their seven home league games when, with that support, they should be blowing most teams away.
Manchester United are not most teams of course, but it would be great for all of us watching at home if Liverpool did come out, go for the jugular and really ask questions of Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
That said, they seem to have all the answers right now. It is all looking very, very good for United and of all four teams involved in Grand Slam Sunday, you have to say they look to be in the best shape.
They might not be top going into the game, but they have such strength-in-depth in their squad, such quality, that they can even send out half a first team in a tough place like Rome and still get a point.
The one area where they are much better off than Liverpool, Arsenal and even Chelsea is midfield. In midweek they rested players and still called in Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick, both internationals.
Paul Scholes is still injured of course and it will be interesting to see if Owen Hargreaves makes this because he and Anderson seem to be the favoured central pairing.
Exceeded expectations
I've got to say the young lad from Brazil has really impressed me - and I do think he has probably come on quicker and settled better than even Sir Alex would've hoped. We all talk about Cesc Fabregas and rightly so, but Anderson is only 19 himself. You expect Fergie to sign good players and great prospects, but this lad had exceeded all my expectations so far.
As has the man who is so vital to Liverpool: Fernando Torres. He's been superb and another that has been a pleasant surprise. I knew he was a willing worker and a big, strong lad, but I didn't expect such finesse on the ball, such good feet and such clinical finishing.
It seems he and Dirk Kuyt, with Steven Gerrard breaking off them, is the way Rafa wants to go and after Marseille it is hard to argue. From a personal point of view, I would prefer to see Peter Crouch in there alongside Torres, but it worked well in midweek and although I am still not convinced it is the long-term solution, Kuyt and Torres will keep the United backline occupied.
Whether they will have as much success as their opposite numbers, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, I am not sure. I have to admit I wasn't sure they would dovetail so well, but the pair of them seem to have clicked. Of course, they are both very good players, which helps, but they have forged an understanding.
They both like to drop deep, but it has been drummed into them that when one does, the other has to get in the box at the sharp end of things. Maybe Rooney looks a little frustrated that he is not scoring that many right now, but it will come.
Rarely do you see a side create as many chances as United do. They still seem to miss a fair few as well - maybe because they know another will be along in a minute, they relax. We couldn't afford to do that in my days at Southampton, because it might have been another three matches before you even got a sniff of goal!
That in itself speaks volumes for how well United are going. They are solid at the back again, packed with talent in midfield and creating and taking enough chances to win games comfortably. If missing a few is the worst of their worries, then you know they are in good shape for the biggest game of their season so far.
Le Tiss predicts
AWAY WIN - Neither will mind a point from this and a defeat is not really going to be the end of the world, but when these two meet, it's all about pride. I can only see this being the usual Liverpool-United stuff, which means basically a good old scrap! I hope Liverpool take the game to them - although I'm not convinced the manager will let them - but by the same token, we know how United can hurt you on the break. And it is that extra bit of quality in attack that will decide this. It will be close, but I can see United's firepower edging this, 2-1.
Matt's main man
CARLOS TEVEZ - Fabulous footballers should be clever enough to work things out for themselves and that is clearly what Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez have done. They work very well together, as similar as they may be, but right now Tevez seems to be the one involved in everything. He is always busy, he is scoring goals and if that Liverpool central defence has one weakness it is when nippy little forwards buzz about them, play on their shoulders and then drop off. Tevez can do the lot.
Source:
http://www.skysports.com/experts/expert_story/0,19793,12085_2967906,00.html
