Saturday, 15 October 2016

Match preview: Liverpool v United

United manager Jose Mourinho admitted he is excited by the prospect of Liverpool vs United and he compared the fixture to the Clasico, the Milan derby and Porto v Benfica. 

The boss took part in those three fixtures during his time managing in Europe and is now preparing to lock horns with our fiercest and oldest rivals with the eyes of the football world fixed firmly on Merseyside.

"I always like to go to Anfield, I have won big matches there and lost big matches there also, so I cannot say that I am always successful there because that is not true.
"Everyone enjoys the atmosphere and the characteristics of the matches, going there as Manchester United manager means something more.
"It is an important match, a big match that can compare to Real v Barca, AC v Inter and Benfica v Porto in Portugal, it is a big historical rivalry that everyone at both clubs is looking forward to it and I understand the dimensions.
"This is a big contest which means a lot but the season is not about this Anfield match and the Old Trafford match in January because the season is about many points to win, points to lose and targets to achieve" said Mourinho. 

Monday's showdown between English football's two must successful and storied sides is the 197th meeting of the Reds of Manchester and Merseyside and United make the 35 mile trip looking a fifth successive league victory over the old enemy. 

Mourinho will have a full squad to pick from with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw available again while Liverpool will check on the fitness of Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum, Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne but the fit-again Emre Can looks set to feature. 

The Anfield side have made an impressive start to their campaign and currently occupy fourth spot- two places and three points above us with five wins from their opening seven matches.

Having taken the scalps of Arsenal, Chelsea and champions Leicester, Jurgen Klopp's in-form outfit are the highest scorers in the league with the three-pronged attack of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane impressing with ten goals between them. 

This game's Monday night slot means we have to wait a big longer than usual to see the team in action but it's going to be worth it with one of the season's blockbuster fixtures and biggest occasions

Bring it on!

Form guide: Liverpool D W W W W W United L L W W W D 
Match odds: Liverpool 6/5 Draw 5/2 United 13/5
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester) 





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