MANCHESTER UNITED vs LIVERPOOL

Scouser_Dave · 16-03-2008, 11:21 PM

MANCHESTER UNITED V LIVERPOOL
Sunday 23 March 2008 13:30

Rafael Benitez takes his Liverpool side to Old Trafford still looking for his first win against the Red Devils since taking charge in the summer of 2004.

The Reds boss may well have seen his team beat Alex Ferguson's men on the way to FA Cup glory in 2006 but in the league there have been a string of disappointments.

In seven matches we have lost six and drawn one, scoring just one goal in the process.

It's hardly inspiring stuff, but with Liverpool in magnificent form of late, the prospect of our 50th win against United in what will be the 150th league meeting between the sides, looks ever more possible.

The Travelling Kop will no doubt be out in force hopeful of securing our first win on enemy soil since Danny Murphy's penalty gave us a 1-0 victory back in April 2004.

One thing's for sure, with United locked in a tussle for the title and Everton breathing down our necks for fourth - neither side can afford to lose.

zzwampen · 16-03-2008, 11:27 PM

united i think...but you never know with liverpool...

Galatasaray · 16-03-2008, 11:28 PM

yea im guessing United, hope Liverpool wins though

Scouser_Dave · 16-03-2008, 11:28 PM

Carragher backs Torres to rip Liverpool's rivals apart

By JOHN EDWARDS - Last updated at 20:49pm on 16th March 2008

The big guns may be lying in wait, but Jamie Carragher is convinced Liverpool are finally equipped to meet fire with fire.

An Old Trafford showdown with title pacesetters Manchester United and a momentous derby against fourth-place rivals Everton provide the build-up to a three-part epic against Arsenal next month.
Liverpool travel to the Emirates in the Barclays Premier League, in between going head-to-head in the Champions League. Scroll down for more
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_02/torresPROP1403_468x394.jpg Heads up: Torres meets Gerrard's cross

That will decide who goes into a possible semi-final against Chelsea — and that, in turn, could be followed by a Moscow date with arch-enemies United in May.
The hurdles just keep getting higher but there was an unmistakeable spring in Carragher's step as he headed out of Anfield and reflected on the way Fernando Torres saw off Reading's resilience and became the first Liverpool player to score 20 League goals since Robbie Fowler 11 years ago.
The £21million record buy can scarcely be described as a secret weapon, yet Liverpool's biggest rivals have had little first-hand experience of trying to contain the Anfield club's best signing in recent memory.
An absentee against Chelsea and Everton, he hobbled off before half-time in the 1-1 Anfield draw with Arsenal.
Though he played in the 1-0 home defeat by United, Carragher insists it was not the real Torres that day and he senses a few acclaimed defences may be left wondering what hit them in the weeks ahead.
Carragher said: "We didn't make the most of him against United and he hasn't really played against the others.
"I'm sure they all watch Match of the Day and see the damage he causes every week. They'll be well aware of him but, of course, it's different when you're actually out there in the middle.
"He'll be up against top defenders but just as they'll relish showing what they can do, so will he.
"He's on fire at the moment and has to be the stand-out striker in Europe. He seems to have the lot. His goal today probably wasn't the sort you'd expect from a pacy striker but I was right behind him and it was some header.
"It has been a long time since Robbie got 20 in the League and for Fernando to be the first to do it since then shows how special he is.
"If you're going to win trophies you have to win the big games against big teams and that's what we face now. United, Everton and three against Arsenal is an absolutely massive sequence and the sort of challenge you play the game for. If we win most of them it can still be a fantastic season. If not, it will be doom and gloom again.
"That's what we're up against but I'm relishing it."
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez may have ditched his contentious rotating of Torres but he still faced searching questions about his selection policy.
What happens, for instance, if Torres picks up an injury — as he almost did against Reading after twice needing a few moments to recover from bruising challenges — and a gap has to be filled by Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch or Andriy Voronin?
Crouch and Voronin have been isolated figures on the fringes, while Kuyt continues to graft tirelessly on the right without looking the finisher he was supposed to be when he signed from Feyenoord.
Benitez significantly crossed his fingers at the mere mention of Torres's fitness but did his best to talk up the others, saying: "I think we have enough quality and if Kuyt plays as a striker he can get goals. It's the same with Ryan Babel."
Czech Republic midfielder Marek Matejovsky stunned Anfield with a fifth-minute rocket into the top corner that was answered almost as spectacularly by a 25-yard Javier Mascherano special 14 minutes later.
Inevitably, Torres had the final say with a header from Steven Gerrard's 48th-minute free-kick, though Reading were adamant they should have had an injury time penalty for hand ball.
It rounded off assistant manager Kevin Dillon's mounting exasperation with referee Andre Marriner as he said: "He absolutely crumbled in front of our eyes and the linesman was pathetic as well. I heard a slap as the ball hit Gerrard's hand and it was a definite penalty.
"We had one of the best refs in Europe, Alan Wiley, on the bench and I think he was a bit flabbergasted by some of Marriner's decisions." Reading boss Steve Coppell, who may fine Shane Long for ripping off his shirt after being substituted, smiled wryly at his side's unsuccessful appeal and said: "It was at the Kop end in the last minute. Not going to halalalalala it?"

joegerrard · 16-03-2008, 11:35 PM

i hope so much that we need win man united. this isnt the only club or the most difficult club in europe for liverpool. we beated arsenal, chelsea, barcelona, inter, ac milan, psv, porto, and alot of club but man united no.

if liverpool beat man this will be a day to remember. and if torres/gerrard score the winner goal that will be so nice. and will give more confident for player for the game against evertol and the mini-playoffs against arsenal.

Scouser_Dave · 16-03-2008, 11:56 PM

liverpoollad1992 · 17-03-2008, 12:02 AM

Torres to score our 100th goal this season.

Scouser_Dave · 17-03-2008, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liverpoollad1992

Torres to score our 100th goal this season.

Can you imagien slurs face when we win

.DJ · 17-03-2008, 02:38 AM

United to win

|Ares| · 17-03-2008, 02:44 AM

Come on Pool.

joelza1990 · 17-03-2008, 05:19 AM

Tough one to call. I don't want Liverpool to win, but i wouldn't mind Arsenal winning the premiership so it's the most logical team in the end, but if Man UTD wins that'll give Everton a chance as we stuffed it against Fulham.

LewisLaa · 17-03-2008, 08:49 AM

This is good, the gunners are on our side

Come on you reds, do it for yourselves, your fans and your manager.

ponka00 · 17-03-2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisLaa

This is good, the gunners are on our side

Come on you reds, do it for yourselves, your fans and your manager.

What did you expect? Liverpool is not close to challenging Arsenal or Manchester United for the title.

LewisLaa · 17-03-2008, 09:03 AM

I know.. but it's good

wonderkidspeakie · 17-03-2008, 09:08 AM

Liverpool will win 2-1 i reckon

AnfieldRoad92 · 17-03-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrawRocks

What did you expect? Liverpool is not close to challenging Arsenal or Manchester United for the title.

They're only 8 points off Arsenal. If both teams keep their current form, Liverpool will finish significantly above them. I don't expect Arsenal to continue drawing like they are, but a couple of dropped points and Liverpool may fancy 3rd or even 2nd.

LewisLaa · 17-03-2008, 09:26 AM

yeah i've been looking at the table lately

theres a very slight chance we can pull this one off o.o I think inter did it a while ago.. they were something like 18 points behind with 10 games to go

Andrés · 17-03-2008, 09:35 AM

I want Liverpool to win.

voted for United because i think they should walk it, but you never know with Liverpool in europe.

LewisLaa · 17-03-2008, 09:36 AM

Liverpool in europe??

we're always in europe

perhaps you have Man U confused with Arsenal??

Andrés · 17-03-2008, 09:38 AM

No, i said you never know with Liverpool in europe - meaning you never know what will happen, you expect them to loose and go out at the group stages but they end up winning the cup.

Scouser_Dave · 17-03-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumblerege

I want Liverpool to win.

voted for United because i think they should walk it, but you never know with Liverpool in europe.

Europe? This game is being played in the league

Andrés · 17-03-2008, 09:40 AM

Oh, sorry.

Well in that case i think Man Utd will win it easily, even though i hate them.

LewisLaa · 17-03-2008, 09:48 AM

curse you!

Although i fear you may be right.. we're at old trafford. But if we win i'd be ecstatic

Scouser_Dave · 17-03-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisLaa

curse you!

Although i fear you may be right.. we're at old trafford. But if we win i'd be ecstatic

If man city and pompey can do it........

LewisLaa · 17-03-2008, 09:51 AM

True. Very true. And in the form we're in... we have every reason to be feeling confident.

View Poll Results: Who Do You Think Will Win?
Mancs	40	65.57%
Liverpool	24	39.34%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 61. You may not vote on this poll

16-03-2008, 11:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,922	MANCHESTER UNITED vs LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER UNITED V LIVERPOOL Sunday 23 March 2008 13:30 Rafael Benitez takes his Liverpool side to Old Trafford still looking for his first win against the Red Devils since taking charge in the summer of 2004. The Reds boss may well have seen his team beat Alex Ferguson's men on the way to FA Cup glory in 2006 but in the league there have been a string of disappointments. In seven matches we have lost six and drawn one, scoring just one goal in the process. It's hardly inspiring stuff, but with Liverpool in magnificent form of late, the prospect of our 50th win against United in what will be the 150th league meeting between the sides, looks ever more possible. The Travelling Kop will no doubt be out in force hopeful of securing our first win on enemy soil since Danny Murphy's penalty gave us a 1-0 victory back in April 2004. One thing's for sure, with United locked in a tussle for the title and Everton breathing down our necks for fourth - neither side can afford to lose.

16-03-2008, 11:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
zzwampen EA Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 15,649	united i think...but you never know with liverpool... __________________ What a game...

16-03-2008, 11:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Galatasaray Elite Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 6,759	yea im guessing United, hope Liverpool wins though __________________ Who do I owe, and for what? I don't think about the word 'owe'. I owe something to my Dad, yes, who put me on this planet - Thierry Henry

17-03-2008, 12:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
liverpoollad1992 Forum Guru Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England :) Age: 17 Posts: 2,010	Torres to score our 100th goal this season. __________________ Cheers for the Sig. K11K11

16-03-2008, 11:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,922	Carragher backs Torres to rip Liverpool's rivals apart By JOHN EDWARDS - Last updated at 20:49pm on 16th March 2008 The big guns may be lying in wait, but Jamie Carragher is convinced Liverpool are finally equipped to meet fire with fire. An Old Trafford showdown with title pacesetters Manchester United and a momentous derby against fourth-place rivals Everton provide the build-up to a three-part epic against Arsenal next month. Liverpool travel to the Emirates in the Barclays Premier League, in between going head-to-head in the Champions League. Scroll down for more http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_02/torresPROP1403_468x394.jpg Heads up: Torres meets Gerrard's cross That will decide who goes into a possible semi-final against Chelsea — and that, in turn, could be followed by a Moscow date with arch-enemies United in May. The hurdles just keep getting higher but there was an unmistakeable spring in Carragher's step as he headed out of Anfield and reflected on the way Fernando Torres saw off Reading's resilience and became the first Liverpool player to score 20 League goals since Robbie Fowler 11 years ago. The £21million record buy can scarcely be described as a secret weapon, yet Liverpool's biggest rivals have had little first-hand experience of trying to contain the Anfield club's best signing in recent memory. An absentee against Chelsea and Everton, he hobbled off before half-time in the 1-1 Anfield draw with Arsenal. Though he played in the 1-0 home defeat by United, Carragher insists it was not the real Torres that day and he senses a few acclaimed defences may be left wondering what hit them in the weeks ahead. Carragher said: "We didn't make the most of him against United and he hasn't really played against the others. "I'm sure they all watch Match of the Day and see the damage he causes every week. They'll be well aware of him but, of course, it's different when you're actually out there in the middle. "He'll be up against top defenders but just as they'll relish showing what they can do, so will he. "He's on fire at the moment and has to be the stand-out striker in Europe. He seems to have the lot. His goal today probably wasn't the sort you'd expect from a pacy striker but I was right behind him and it was some header. "It has been a long time since Robbie got 20 in the League and for Fernando to be the first to do it since then shows how special he is. "If you're going to win trophies you have to win the big games against big teams and that's what we face now. United, Everton and three against Arsenal is an absolutely massive sequence and the sort of challenge you play the game for. If we win most of them it can still be a fantastic season. If not, it will be doom and gloom again. "That's what we're up against but I'm relishing it." Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez may have ditched his contentious rotating of Torres but he still faced searching questions about his selection policy. What happens, for instance, if Torres picks up an injury — as he almost did against Reading after twice needing a few moments to recover from bruising challenges — and a gap has to be filled by Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch or Andriy Voronin? Crouch and Voronin have been isolated figures on the fringes, while Kuyt continues to graft tirelessly on the right without looking the finisher he was supposed to be when he signed from Feyenoord. Benitez significantly crossed his fingers at the mere mention of Torres's fitness but did his best to talk up the others, saying: "I think we have enough quality and if Kuyt plays as a striker he can get goals. It's the same with Ryan Babel." Czech Republic midfielder Marek Matejovsky stunned Anfield with a fifth-minute rocket into the top corner that was answered almost as spectacularly by a 25-yard Javier Mascherano special 14 minutes later. Inevitably, Torres had the final say with a header from Steven Gerrard's 48th-minute free-kick, though Reading were adamant they should have had an injury time penalty for hand ball. It rounded off assistant manager Kevin Dillon's mounting exasperation with referee Andre Marriner as he said: "He absolutely crumbled in front of our eyes and the linesman was pathetic as well. I heard a slap as the ball hit Gerrard's hand and it was a definite penalty. "We had one of the best refs in Europe, Alan Wiley, on the bench and I think he was a bit flabbergasted by some of Marriner's decisions." Reading boss Steve Coppell, who may fine Shane Long for ripping off his shirt after being substituted, smiled wryly at his side's unsuccessful appeal and said: "It was at the Kop end in the last minute. Not going to halalalalala it?"

16-03-2008, 11:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
joegerrard Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: At Anfield Gender: Male Posts: 4,339	i hope so much that we need win man united. this isnt the only club or the most difficult club in europe for liverpool. we beated arsenal, chelsea, barcelona, inter, ac milan, psv, porto, and alot of club but man united no. if liverpool beat man this will be a day to remember. and if torres/gerrard score the winner goal that will be so nice. and will give more confident for player for the game against evertol and the mini-playoffs against arsenal.

16-03-2008, 11:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,922

17-03-2008, 02:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
.DJ Elite Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: GғӾ ңєдνэn Gender: Male Posts: 8,744	United to win __________________ DJ's Showcase Coming Soon...

17-03-2008, 02:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
\|Ares\| Forum Guru Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,117	Come on Pool.

17-03-2008, 05:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
joelza1990 Forum Junkie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Australia, Sporting Teams: Everton, Central Coast Mariners, Sydney Swans, Newcastle Knights Age: 19 Posts: 2,689	Tough one to call. I don't want Liverpool to win, but i wouldn't mind Arsenal winning the premiership so it's the most logical team in the end, but if Man UTD wins that'll give Everton a chance as we stuffed it against Fulham. __________________

17-03-2008, 08:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
LewisLaa Elite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 7,285	This is good, the gunners are on our side Come on you reds, do it for yourselves, your fans and your manager. __________________ The Red Half of Merseyside.

17-03-2008, 09:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
LewisLaa Elite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 7,285	I know.. but it's good __________________ The Red Half of Merseyside.

17-03-2008, 09:08 AM	#15 (permalink)
wonderkidspeakie Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 898	Liverpool will win 2-1 i reckon __________________

17-03-2008, 09:26 AM	#17 (permalink)
LewisLaa Elite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 7,285	yeah i've been looking at the table lately theres a very slight chance we can pull this one off o.o I think inter did it a while ago.. they were something like 18 points behind with 10 games to go __________________ The Red Half of Merseyside.

17-03-2008, 09:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
Andrés EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Age: 19 Posts: 10,233	I want Liverpool to win. voted for United because i think they should walk it, but you never know with Liverpool in europe. __________________ "Experience is simply the name we give to our mistakes."

17-03-2008, 09:36 AM	#19 (permalink)
LewisLaa Elite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 7,285	Liverpool in europe?? we're always in europe perhaps you have Man U confused with Arsenal?? __________________ The Red Half of Merseyside.

17-03-2008, 09:38 AM	#20 (permalink)
Andrés EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Age: 19 Posts: 10,233	No, i said you never know with Liverpool in europe - meaning you never know what will happen, you expect them to loose and go out at the group stages but they end up winning the cup. __________________ "Experience is simply the name we give to our mistakes."

17-03-2008, 09:40 AM	#22 (permalink)
Andrés EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Age: 19 Posts: 10,233	Oh, sorry. Well in that case i think Man Utd will win it easily, even though i hate them. __________________ "Experience is simply the name we give to our mistakes."

17-03-2008, 09:48 AM	#23 (permalink)
LewisLaa Elite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 7,285	curse you! Although i fear you may be right.. we're at old trafford. But if we win i'd be ecstatic __________________ The Red Half of Merseyside.

17-03-2008, 09:51 AM	#25 (permalink)
LewisLaa Elite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 7,285	True. Very true. And in the form we're in... we have every reason to be feeling confident. __________________ The Red Half of Merseyside.