Alan Hansen’s Premier League Preview: Liverpool v Manchester United

Rafa Benitez enters his 200th Premier League match in charge of Liverpool facing a mini-crisis after 4 successive defeats in all competitions for the first time in 22 years. Next up is a visit from the champions Manchester United with a possible 10-point gap looming between the teams if Sir Alex Ferguson’s side win. However, despite a lack of confidence and injury doubts to key players, I think Liverpool may well shock the rest of the Premier League with a performance few would expect.

The Reds have not become a bad side overnight although it’s fair to stay the team is not playing well. Key members of the side have not performing to the high levels expected of them but it’s unthinkable to anyone at Anfield that the team will suffer a 5th consecutive defeat. In fact, if Liverpool were to lose then this would be the first time under Rafa that the Reds had lost three league games on the bounce. My old club have also failed to score in their last two league matches, if they were to do so again, it would be for the first time since March 2005. It all makes miserable reading for anyone associated with the club.

There are serious injury doubts over key players in both camps with Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher all struggling. However, with so much riding on this match even this early in the season, I expect to see most of them on the pitch. I do feel Liverpool have relied too heavily on both Gerrard and Torres in recent seasons but with a lack of depth in the Reds squad, there has been little choice. If both are available then Liverpool will be a totally different proposition for United but before writing off the Reds chances without them, it’s worth remembering that neither started last season’s 2-1 home league win.

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That remains United’s only defeat in their last 7 trips to Anfield (5 wins) but after being beaten home and away by Liverpool last season, Sir Alex will be more than aware his side are in for a tough game whether the home side has been in form or not. Manchester United may be top but they are not firing on all cylinders themselves having struggled to pick up a win and a draw at home to Bolton and Sunderland respectively. Sir Alex’s team may have been picking up the points but they have been far from convincing in terms of the performances we have come to expect from them over the years. However, they remain unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions (10 wins) so won’t be short on confidence.A draw looks a relatively likely result with Liverpool sure to be pumped up for this encounter but the stats suggest this is unlikely. After all, Manchester United have gone 14 away league games without a draw and Liverpool haven’t drawn any of their last 21 league games home and away.

Tags: Alan Hansen, Liverpool, Manchester United, Premier 10, Premier League

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