Rivalry Reunited
By James Kempton (follow him on twitter @ukbettingpro)
The greatest football rivalry in England explodes back onto our screens this Sunday when Liverpool hosts Manchester United at Anfield. Of course you’ll need to set your alarm clock early though as this game kicks off 830am but serves as the perfect appetizer to all your NFL action.
In recent years the home side between the traditional powers has dominated. In fact the home side has not lost in the last six meetings and only once in the last nine. At Anfield, the reds of Liverpool have been strong of late winning three of the last four, drawing the other game. The home support roars their team on and Liverpool traditionally performs better against other top flight teams than in the games they’re expected to win comfortably.
They often say in such meetings that current form book can be ripped up and thrown out of the window. Liverpool supporters will be hoping that is the case Sunday as they enter this game with terrible recent EPL statistics. Still without a win in their opening four games they have drawn just two, scoring three goals and conceding eight times in the process. Liverpool hover just above the EPL relegation zone in 17th place whilst Man United resides in 2nd place. United are 3-0-1 scoring ten goals and conceding five goals although Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have already tasted defeat on Merseyside this season. Their opening fixture was away at Liverpool’s city rivals Everton and United just could not find a way to break down the Everton back line. United were heavy favourites for that game against Everton, under even money, and when I priced this game up I made United clear favourites but apparently the books don’t agree with me.
I wrote last week about the transition that Liverpool are going through as they make the move to the Brendan Rodgers style of play. A series of new players have been brought in and the existing ones have been forced to play a more controlled passing game. Conversely United is a club comfortable in how they approach their business on a daily and weekly basis. Although United brings new players into the club they always seem to gel with the existing roster and adapt quickly to the United style. The
contrast is never greater than looking at Joe Allen and Fabio Borini taking time to settle in at Anfield whilst their counterparts Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have over 1,600 appearances for United in a virtually unchanged system.
With this change in tactics Liverpool is easy to plan for and Sir Alex will have his tactics spot on for this game. I see all avenues that Liverpool hope to exploit blocked by a well organised and disciplined away side. If the home side finds it difficult to create chances in open play I expect United to play patiently and pick them off using their fast counter attacking style of play.
Despite the strong home record of teams in this fixture there is no way I can look past the away win for this game. When I priced this fixture up I had Manchester United at around +100/+105 so the market price of +175 offers great value. United are in good form, with a new star striker in Robin Van Persie who loves to score in these types of fixtures. Take the master sorcerer Sir Alex to prevail over the young apprentice Rodgers.
