Ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Manchester United, each team’s UAE Supporters Clubs previews the game for Sport360, including predicting the likely XIs and picking their players to watch.
Do you agree with the assessments of the MUSCUAE and the Dubai Reds Supporters Clubs? Let us know using #360fans on Twitter or commenting on the Sport360 Football Facebook page.
ZIAD AL JAMAAN – MUSCUAE
Thank goodness for the international break. With the media storm surrounding Anthony Martial’s move to Manchester United and David De Gea’s failed move to Real Madrid, it would have been a huge distraction had this game come before the break.
Will De Gea start against Liverpool? It looks almost certain after he signed a new four-year contract on Friday. The Spaniard is unquestionably the best keeper in the Premier League and Sergio Romero’s displays have done little to inspire confidence so far. Martial, meanwhile, is unlikely to start such a big game straight away; he is young and needs time to adapt – hopefully he will get that.
Despite what has been written and said, the transfer window has been a very successful one for United and it looks as though most of the new signings will feature against Liverpool. Michael Carrick’s withdrawal from the England camp is a concern, though Bastian Schweinsteiger’s impressive displays for Germany should put him in the running to step in. Wayne Rooney returns buoyed by becoming England’s all-time leading scorer and while his performances for the Three Lions still left a little to be desired, at least he scored in both games. Hopefully he can carry through that confidence.
In what is one of United’s most important games of any season, fans couldn’t help but smile when Philippe Coutinho picked up a one-game suspension last time out; Liverpool’s most creative player this season will surely be missed for a match in which a moment of magic could win the game. United will be aiming to keep it tight and nullify Liverpool’s attack. If reports of Christian Benteke also missing the game are true, the Red Devils have every reason to feel confident.
PREDICTION: Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool
LIKELY UNITED XI: De Gea; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger; Mata, Memphis, Fellaini; Rooney
MAN UTD PLAYER TO WATCH: Memphis Depay. Looked in fine fettle for Netherlands and can hopefully rise to the occasion against Liverpool. Coming up against attack-minded right-back Nathaniel Clyne, Depay could certainly cause plenty of problems.
LIVERPOOL PLAYER TO FEAR: Simon Mignolet. Has enjoyed a solid start to the season and United should fear being thwarted by him. Likely to be left expose by a shaky defence – if the West Ham game is anything to go by – so will need to be on top form.
FAVOURITE MAN-UTD-LIVERPOOL MOMENT: Gary Neville almost ripping the badge off his chest when Rio Ferdinand scored a late winner at Old Trafford in January 2006. It was like watching a fan celebrate, and it was right in front of the Liverpool supporters!
WHERE TO WATCH: MUSC UAE’s Dubai home is Harvesters Pub at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, while in Abu Dhabi it is Coopers Bar at the Park Rotana.
TWITTER: @MUSC_UAE
FACEBOOK: MUSCUAE
DANIEL WATSON – DUBAI REDS
After the disappointment and embarrassment of the home defeat to West Ham, Brendon Rodgers and the Liverpool squad have had a couple of weeks to reflect on things. And what better game to right the wrongs of a fortnight ago. Worldwide this is still the biggest match going – it is a game that both sets of fans hates to lose.
Unfortunately, United did the double over Liverpool last season after the Reds had done the same the season before. It is difficult to say yet whether the team has improved this term, the whole team hasn’t quite clicked yet – aside from maybe 45 minutes against Arsenal. The drubbing by West Ham was a reminder of some of the bad times last season and silly mistakes like that will cost the team dear at Old Trafford – the number one priority has to be tighten up the back.
Up front, Christian Benteke has been too isolated with a lack of service; Liverpool have put the least amount of crosses in of any team in the Premier League so far. Another summer signing, Danny Ings, has had to spend the majority of his time on the bench but the team looked a lot better when he came on against West Ham. The absence of Coutinho after his red card against West Ham is a blow and Liverpool will miss his ability to create something from nothing but this could be the game where Roberto Firminio finally shows why the club splashed out big bucks on him. .
Neither Liverpool nor United have been setting things alight so far this season and there is a risk that it could be a drab affair. Hopefully, though, both teams could come out and have a real go – then we could see fireworks..
PREDICTION: Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool
LIKELY LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez; Can, Lucas, Milner; Firminio, Ibe; Benteke
LIVERPOOL PLAYER TO WATCH: Roberto Firminio. Has had a slow start but we are only four games in and there have been glimpses of what he has up his sleeve. With headline act Coutinho out he will have to deliver.
MAN UTD PLAYER TO FEAR: Wayne Rooney. A very successful international break sees him come into this one with lots of confidence and he needs a good performance after a poor start to the Premier League season.
FAVOURITE MAN-UTD-LIVERPOOL MOMENT: There have been some great games but the 4-1 victory at Old Trafford in 2009 stands out. Liverpool had slipped up in the title race and had to win. Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, plus two unlikely scorers in Fabio Aurelio and Andreas Dosenna scored to put the Reds back in with a shout.
WHERE TO WATCH: Liverpool fans should join us in Goodfellas bar, Ramee Rose hotel, Tecom. Please check www.dubaireds.com for further info about the supporters club.
TWITTER: @DubaiReds
FACEBOOK: Dubai Reds Official LFC Supporters Club
