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Friday, October 14, 2011

Preview: Liverpool v Manchester United

liverpool v man united Talismanic captain Steven Gerrard is set to start for Liverpool for the first time since 6 March after his slow recovery from a niggling groin problem.

That means they have a fully-fit squad, with Glen Johnson, Martin Kelly, Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio all available.

United captain Nemanja Vidic may return from the calf strain he suffered on the opening day of the season.

Young England duo Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley could also be fit after groin and foot injuries respectively.

A time to celebrate anniversaries - and gnash the teeth over old rivalries - as the two most successful sides in English league history collide at a white-hot atmospheric Anfield.

It's a year since John W Henry bought Liverpool and ended the Hicks-Gillett nightmare. The club is already a fair way down the road to redemption, and they'll be roaring for revenge after seeing their record number of titles surpassed by United - who now have 19.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is unbeaten in his last five league games against United at Anfield, ever since Sir Alex's first match in charge against Liverpool there on Boxing Day 1986. And Premier League champions United have lost their last three in front of the Kop.

They've also wobbled in too many big away games of late, losing six of their last seven league visits to "big four" rivals. But they're still unbeaten in 12 games and they've only conceded two away league goals. This is the toughest test for both clubs so far.

The scene is set for Stevie Gerrard to start his first league game since he was injured against United in March and, possibly, to score his 50th Premier League goal at Anfield.

Wouldn't it also be typical of Wayne Rooney to make the right sort of headlines with his first Anfield goal in seven visits - and his 10th for the club so far this campaign?

But what of potential sub-plots? Will Andy Carroll's power in the air settle it? Will Nemanja Vidic return to add experience to United's defence - or will he suffer a fourth sending off against Liverpool? Big questions! Big game! Big rivals! Bring it on!

Head-to-head

  • United have lost their last three Premier League visits to Anfield, not winning since a 1-0 victory in December 2007 when Carlos Tevez scored. This is the club's longest run of defeats at Liverpool under Sir Alex Ferguson - and the longest since losing seven from 1972-79.
  • But United have the edge over Liverpool in terms of overall league victories, by 71 wins to 61. The two clubs first met in 1895 - in the old division two - when the Merseyside club romped to a 7-1 win.
  • There have been four red cards in the last four Premier League meetings at Anfield - three for Manchester United, one for Liverpool.
  • Draws are rare in this league fixture's recent history. The last one came 12 matches back, a 0-0 encounter at Anfield in September 2005.

Liverpool

  • Liverpool have won six of nine matches in all competitions so far this season, drawing once and scoring 15 goals so far.
  • They have had more possession than their opponents in six of their seven league matches this season, the exception being the 4-0 loss at Tottenham when they were reduced to nine men.
  • Steven Gerrard has scored four Premier League goals in this fixture - the most of any current Liverpool player. He is two short of Robbie Fowler's six-goal record.
  • Dirk Kuyt scored only the second-ever Premier League hat-trick by a player against Manchester United in Liverpool's 3-1 victory in March.

Manchester United

  • Premier League leaders and reigning champions Manchester United are unbeaten in 11 league and cup games so far this season - scoring 34 goals in the process.
  • And United are up to their old tricks again - the period of league matches in which they are most prolific is the last five minutes. So far, they have scored on five occasions during this time period.
  • United's Liverpool-born former Everton striker Wayne Rooney has failed to score in his last six league visits to Anfield. His only goal in all nine league visits was in United's 1-0 victory in January 2005.
  • England international Rooney is the Premier League's top scorer this season, with nine goals.

Vote now! Can Liverpool beat Manchester United at Anfield?

Source: BBC Sport

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