[Oscie]

Got a feeling Rooney might start tomorrow with Mkhitaryan being the pace. Rashford and Martial on the bench in case we're chasing the game in the final 20 but if we're not a starting 11 capable of shutting up shop if need be by dropping Rooney deep and Carrick deeper.

 

[Wooly Red]

Ugh, not liking this. Good chance of losing. I hope I'm proven wrong.

 

[Pexbo]

Got a feeling Rooney might start tomorrow with Mkhitaryan being the pace. Rashford and Martial on the bench in case we're chasing the game in the final 20 but if we're not a starting 11 capable of shutting up shop if need be by dropping Rooney deep and Carrick deeper.

For what benefit do you think we'd start Rooney?

 

[Ferguson]

Against a pressing team like Liverpool, you have to be able to counterattack with pace. Without a pacy left back, there needs to be some pace from somewhere.

There is no way Rooney or Mata will start. The only question is whether he plays Lingard to do some defensive work or chooses Martial from the start.

 

[Lennon7]

Just realised I'm going to miss the whole of this game due to work. Deeply gutted

 

[superdry]

If we win and win we'll, not necessarily high score, but outplay them,
apart from getting pissed, I'm going to start fancying us for top two come the end of the season.

 

[devil in me]

Against a pressing team like Liverpool, you have to be able to counterattack with pace. Without a pacy left back, there needs to be some pace from somewhere.

There is no way Rooney or Mata will start. The only question is whether he plays Lingard to do some defensive work or chooses Martial from the start.

I would've thought Martial is nailed on, tbh. Jose knows that he is the better player.
Absolutely buzzing for this game. I was dreading the game at Anfield but the tables have turned a little bit. Bring it on.

 

[SwansonsTache]

How fast is Clyne? We've seen Martial struggle a bit against pacy FB's earlier, namely Walker.

Then again Walker is one of the fastest though, I don't think Clyne is anywhere near him in pace?

 

[Camy89]

How fast is Clyne? We've seen Martial struggle a bit against pacy FB's earlier, namely Walker.

Then again Walker is one of the fastest though, I don't think Clyne is anywhere near him in pace?

Clyne was one of the players Martial skinned last year at OT, then he came up against Skrtel, skinned him and we know the rest.

'Oooooohhh YESSSSS! Welcome to Manchester United Anthony Martiaaalll!'

I'm not concerned about Clyne's pace.

 

[0161_UNITED]

If there's one thing you want coming into this, it's good form, we have it, for the first time in a long time.

Fair point, but historically for these Man United v Liverpool fixtures form tends go out the window. It's a proper derby and there have been plenty of surprises over the years. Certainly no harm in us being in better form, mind.

 

[Clas Sified]

Ugh, not liking this. Good chance of losing. I hope I'm proven wrong.

There's always a chance of losing, especially when playing a rival. However we're going into this one with a fully fit team and on good form. Pool on the other hand are in sketchy form with a few key players just coming back from injury. We have every reason to be optimistic going into this, not be negative with that kind of defeatist attitude.

 

[top1whoisman]

 

[TheSwedeFromSweden]

I would change Matip and Lovren for Rojo and Jones. Henderson for Pogba (obviously). And Mata for Mané.

 

[Wooly Red]

There's always a chance of losing, especially when playing a rival. However we're going into this one with a fully fit team and on good form. Pool on the other hand are in sketchy form with a few key players just coming back from injury. We have every reason to be optimistic going into this, not be negative with that kind of defeatist attitude.

<------- Might want to read this bit on the left here. :P

 

[The Brown Bull]

Fair point, but historically for these Man United v Liverpool fixtures form tends go out the window. It's a proper derby and there have been plenty of surprises over the years. Certainly no harm in us being in better form, mind.

This notion that form goes 'out the window' in derby games like this is a myth similar to the football myth that luck evens itself out over the course of a season.
The fact that United (the form team) have 29 premiership wins to Liverpool's 13 suggests to me that the form team wins more often than not.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Sorry thats 27 wins from 49 for us in the prem.

 

[Cassady]

Perhaps you're better off going camping...

I think so.

 

[Oneunited26]

I would change Matip and Lovren for Rojo and Jones. Henderson for Pogba (obviously). And Mata for Mané.

And I would put valencia and herrera in there also

 

[Trizy]

Sadly it will boil down to us finishing our chances on the day. I can't see them scoring more than 1 goal against us and I know fine well we'll create many chances like we have done all season.

Lets just hope our big players bring their shooting boots.

 

[MV12]

glad to see I'm not the only sicko .. counting down the hours..
I think we're going to win 2-0, with Zlatgod and Pogmonsta to score..
De beast will be a spectator, OT will be BUUUzzzzing and Jose will be orchestrating a symphony of magestic football from the sideline.. Klopp will shrink into his beard and hide behind his glasses..

DDG
Valencia Jones Rojo Blind
Herrera Carrick Pogba
Mikhy Ibra Martial

 

[superdry]

<------- Might want to read this bit on the left here. :P

Ha ha....yeah he should pay more attention, you can be as defeatist as you want mate.

 

[Siorac]

I'll take any win, a 95th minute shot deflected in from Rojo's bollocks while he's offside would do fine.

I expect Liverpool to score first, we'll create quite a few chances, equalise in the second half and it will end 1-1. That's my prediction.

 

[Litch]

Comfy 2:0 win

 

[Sandikan]

Seems fairly sure to say 8 of our 11 pick themselves.

CB is a choice of Rojo v Smalling
LB Blind v Darmian
One of the wide attacking positions could be Mata, Rooney, or Martial.

I'd probably go Smalling, Blind, Martial myself. But I doubt he will.

Might well have a good height advantage for this one, if we can put enough pressure on to win set pieces

Need to get after Milner at left back too. I still can't believe he's existing so comfortably there

 

[diarm]

I feel horrendously nervous about this. All the talk in the build up has been about United while Liverpool have been quietly going about their preparations. These huge games rarely go to script so I just can't picture it being anything else than a battle for us.

That said, I am useless at predictions and my gut is almost always wrong. 4-0 United.

 

[Klopper76]

 

[RobinLFC]

Back four picks itself if Matip is fit. Only question left whether Lallana will play on the wing, or that he'll play in midfield and Sturridge/Origi starts. I hope it's the latter.

Great news on Coutinho btw, he looked a bit rusty against Soton but he's a game changer, so it's good to have him back.

 

[whatwha]

Mata has a great record against Liverpool. Is it defensible to play Mkhi instead of him?

And who is this Matip character and why's he such a plus for them if fit to play? Not ashamed to say I'm mostly ignorant about LFC, I don't watch their matches...

 

[Sandikan]

thank goodness he won't be against Varela this time!

 

[Sandikan]

Mata has a great record against Liverpool. Is it defensible to play Mkhi instead of him?

And who is this Matip character and why's he such a plus for them if fit to play? Not ashamed to say I'm mostly ignorant about LFC, I don't watch their matches...

Mhky cannot be left out, he's potentially our most dynamic player.
It'll be the other side there's any doubt. Mata, Rooney or Martial

 

[Sandikan]

I feel horrendously nervous about this. All the talk in the build up has been about United while Liverpool have been quietly going about their preparations. These huge games rarely go to script so I just can't picture it being anything else than a battle for us.

That said, I am useless at predictions and my gut is almost always wrong. 4-0 United.

United have gently been building up a colossal head of steam. Klopp dismissed our run as not being against them, so hopefully he feels the full force shortly.

 

[AXVnee7]

Mata has a great record against Liverpool. Is it defensible to play Mkhi instead of him?

And who is this Matip character and why's he such a plus for them if fit to play? Not ashamed to say I'm mostly ignorant about LFC, I don't watch their matches...

I agree I want Mata to play, but I really want Mkhi up against Milner and Martial on the left. Shame we can't fit him in without sacrificing one of those two. Who knows though? Jose might play Mata over Martial. Either way it leaves us with a quality player to come off the bench.

 

[devil in me]

Mata does have a great record against Liverpool but you can't pick teams based on the past. We won't be playing with a number 10 tomorrow so I can't see Mata starting. It will be Miki, Martial, Zlatan I reckon.

 

[Valar Morghulis]

Come on!!!

Spoiler

 

[0161_UNITED]

This notion that form goes 'out the window' in derby games like this is a myth similar to the football myth that luck evens itself out over the course of a season.
The fact that United (the form team) have 29 premiership wins to Liverpool's 13 suggests to me that the form team wins more often than not.

Not in my experience, extremely good sides from both Liverpool and United have been knocked off by "inferior" sides. It's a derby and it's almost always a 50/50 proposition. Far, far better United sides have lost to Liverpool than this side, with all the air in their sails. I'm not pessimistic, and I certainly don't think it hurts we're the "in- form" side. But the opposite also holds, in the 80's I've seen some vastly superior Liverpool sides with everything in their favor get knocked off by United. This fixture is always special, IMO.

 

[Clas Sified]

<------- Might want to read this bit on the left here. :P

I'm an idiot. I'm on my phone so the normal things that you can see on the computer aren't visible on my phone.

My bad, carry on with that attitude for as long as possible please

 

[Oscie]

For what benefit do you think we'd start Rooney?

As I said he's someone who can offer an attacking threat but also easily drop into a defensive formation should we get ahead and want to play cautious for a period. Wouldn't really be an option if we were playing West Brom tomorrow but Liverpool at home I think there's a good chance he'll play.

 

[soapythecat]

Tough, tough game against a good Liverpool side - one of the best Liverpool sides in a long time to come to OT. Coutinho may not be sharp just yet, which is a bonus, but he is a key figure and will start. Biggest test for Ro-Jo and I hope their pace doesn't make us sit too deep.

 

[Mihai]

Just realised I'm going to miss the whole of this game due to work. Deeply gutted

Spurs just won, at least something to lift your mood.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Come on!!!

Spoiler