Friday 15 January 2016

United aim to extend run of wins over the old enemy

United are enjoying an unprecedented period of dominance over fierce rivals Liverpool.

While Louis van Gaal's side have been criticised for their style this season, we go into Sunday's fixture at Anfield aiming to extend a remarkable run of results against the men from Merseyside.

Brendan Rodgers led his title-challenging side (shudder) to home and away victories over United in 2013-14 (what happened next, though...) but they are Liverpool's only two victories in the fixture in the last eight clashes.

But our dominance goes back further: Liverpool have just six wins over us since April 2004- eighteen of the past 27 meetings have been won by United, including September's memorable
3-1 win at Old Trafford- our third in a row against the Anfield outfit with LVG still unbeaten against them in his time in charge of United. 


It's fair to say that we have "knocked Liverpool off their perch" with a 66-55 overall record since the very first meeting back in 1895, which of course include the last three fixtures between the sides.

United doubled Liverpool last season with a 3-0 thumping (lovely!) at Old Trafford and then a 2-1 win (even better!) in March thanks to Juan Mata's brace as Steven Gerrard was sent off 38 seconds after coming on (lol!) 

The highest-scoring game between the teams came on March 25 1908 when a Bill McPherson hat-trick and two apiece for Joe Hewitt and Bobby Robinson secured a 7-4 win for Liverpool at Anfield. 

Of course, none of this will really mean much come Sunday in the latest installment of the English game's most storied rivalry, but surely it has to be worth a psychological shot in the arm for us.

This fixtures does, arguably, lack the magnitude and significance it once did, with sides in something of a transition and no longer in direct competition for the top honours.

That doesn't mean it isn't important though- it's the biggest match in English football between the two most successful sides- and, for the fans at least, it's the one we want our team to win more than any other.

A win would give our inconsistent season a massive morale boost and inject vital belief and momentum into the squad. 

Sunday's clash is the toughest to predict in years: two unpredictable and inconsistent sides whom both capable of delight, and these days, despair, in equal measure led by two charismatic and personable bosses on the touchline.

It's a game that neither can afford to lose- Van Gaal more so- but whilst there won't be tear gas typical of clashes past, there will almost certainly be fireworks.  






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