Clash of the Titans
Written by James Kempton (follow him on twitter @ukbettingpro)
The most famous rivalry in English football returns to our screens this Sunday morning when Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford, kick off 830am EST. The rivalry extgoes way back and this is the 187th meeting of the two sides. The power base has shifted back and forth over time with the reds of Manchester currently leading with 73 wins, 62 victories to Liverpool and 51 draws.
United go into the game in a very confident mood as they lead the table. Liverpool fans will approach the contest with renewed optimism as the recent upturn in their results gives them hope of obtaining a result in this fixture. United have an impressive seven point lead at the top of the table over city neighbours Manchester City. With City travelling to Arsenal later on in the day any further advantage gained by United may almost hand them the title this Sunday if they can add to their 7 pt advantage. Liverpool has been the butt of many a joke so far this season with their inconsistent performances. Despite poor defeats against both Aston Villa and Stoke in December they are still 8th in the EPL table. They remain well within striking distance of a European spot for next season, maybe even a coveted Champions League position. Brendan Rodgers appears to be moving things in the correct direction at Anfield but to progress to the next level his side must learn how to beat teams in the top half of the standings. All eight of their EPL wins this season have come against sides in the bottom half of the league. In fact only 5 of their 31 total points come against the top half of the draw.
Throughout the season both sides have consistently looked susceptible to conceding goals. I see this weekend being no different with potent attacking threats each way. United have a well known striking force of Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney leading the attack. However, with Rooney ruled out of this fixture his place looks set to be taken by either Javier Hernandez or Danny Welbeck. No matter who gets the nod, they’ll be eager to impress in order to nail down that first choice replacement position behind Rooney and RVP. Liverpool has lesser names up front but their forward line led by Luis Suarez is well supplied. The accurate passing of Steven Gerrard and Joe Allen is ably assisted by the youthful pace and creativity of Raheem Sterling. If selected by coach Rodgers I see Sterling as a particular threat to the United back line. His direct forceful runs will strike fear into the somewhat one paced United rearguard. Following a recent spell out of the headlines Suarez is once again public enemy number one. His goal last weekend (assisted by a sneakily used hand) against Mansfield, a side playing five leagues lower than the EPL, once again put him in the eye of a media frenzy. Post match publication of a somewhat dubious photograph appeared to show the Uruguyan snubbing a small childs request for his autograph. They do say that no publicity is bad publicity but Suarez’s career is testing that suggestion to the limit!
The last five meetings at Old Trafford have all seen at least three goals and in eight of the last nine games both teams have managed to find the back of the oppositions net. Liverpool’s scored on each of their last four visits to Old Trafford and must be confident of doing the same again this weekend. Last season United did the double over Liverpool with both games ending 2-1 in their favour. This season has seen plenty of goals in the EPL games the sides have contested. United’s ten home games have yielded a total of 41 goals whilst Liverpool’s ten road games have seen 33 goals hit the back of the net. United have scored in all ten of their home fixtures, scoring at least twice in nine of those ten games. However, United’s usually mean home backline has been troubled sufficiently enough to concede in 7 of those 10 games. The visitors have scored on the road in 8 of their 10 trips, scoring at least twice on four occasions.
The goal line is set at 3 with United being priced anywhere between -105 and -125 across a variety of books. United clearly have a huge incentive in this fixture and the stats this season suggest it is a massive ask for Liverpool to get a result at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’. With both sides looking frail at the back this should be an open and exciting game. People wanting to support United in the betting market should be drawn to the good value on the home win. Bettors keen to side with Liverpool obtaining a result may find a bet on the over 3 goals line at a shade over even money may be the play to look at.
