PBP: EPL - Manchester United FC vs Liverpool FC - Feb 24, 2018 [R]

This is the type of game where form goes out the window, but it's good that we're going into this game with a very nice win against a significant opponent under our belt. Can only help morale and confidence wise.
The absences of both Lingard and Martial, should they hold as expected (despite some reports out there), will be harder to cope with. We still can though.

 

Is Van Dijk injured or was he serving a suspension yesterday?

 

Suspension. Unfortunately.

 

Michael Oliver will be the head official for this one. Let's hope he will not be card happy unless he absolutely has to. Games vs Pool are always serious business, but I feel this one will have a little more intensity than usual.
United will want to play spoilers for the race to the title and will be desperate for the win after the result at Anfield earlier this season. Pool's own motivations are clear as well.
Oliver needs to let both teams play, as much as he can without being overbearing, especially early on.

 

I want Crush our enemy, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentation of the fans!

 

And tarred and feathered!

An immense victory if we pull it off, which I really believe us within reach.

 

FFS ! He is never injured. Cmon United! dont loose dont bloody loose.

 

Those bums needed two deflections to win 3-1. We can do this. If Martial and Lingard are fit then we go with our first 11, if not then we go with what we put out against Chelsea.

 

Very unlikely, but this is the team I would like to see for Sunday (team if Lingard and Martial are missing as expected):
-----------Dave
AY Bailly Lindelöf Shaw
-----------Matic
----Herrera----Pogba
-------------AP
-----Rashford--Sanchez

At CB, I picked Bailly because he's more mobile and quicker to react than Smalling is, which is key vs that Pool frontline. Wouldn't be that mad if Smalls got the nod though. Still would have AP in the hole behind the 2 front men for reasons elaborated on prior to the Chelsea game. Mata put in the effort Monday, but the quality was not there unfortunately and it's hard to imagine AP couldn't do more there. We got away with Mata against Chelsea, Pool are a completely different matter with their quickness and mobility all over the place.
The only other question for me is upfront: Sanchez has done very little as we know to earn a start, but Lukaku himself has hardly been better. Another toss up there and really it's hope at this point that Sanchez's mobility and workrate will finally come to the fore to compliment Rashford up top.

 

Gotta go with Smalling, if fit, against Liverpool. Assuming Lingard and Martial are both out, this:

De Gea
Young Smalling Lindelof Shaw
Herrera Matic Pogba
Lukaku Rashford Sanchez

Ashur's recommendation of going with AP at 10 is interesting and I wouldn't be violently opposed to it and it could even be genius, but it's asking too much of Andreas to stand tall against a very decent Liverpool side.

What Andreas needs is a run of 3-4 matches against manageable opponents to let the pace and power of PL opponents sink into his DNA. Too intense of an opponent such as Liverpool would not be advisable but then again this isn't really a must-win match for us, is it?

 

I'd probably risk one but not both. I'd definitely want to win this game if I knew I could get the full-time gig out of it (and ******** up my bitter rivals in the process), but I'd also know it's not a must-win compared to the Arsenal match.

 

I think it's posture from Ole to keep Klopp on his toes. I can't see how Lingard'd be fit at least - usually hamstrings are 3 weeks minimum.

 

Mind games from Ole. At best Martial makes the bench.

 

Hopefully both of you are wrong but practically not possible.

 

No doubt the players will already be charged up for tomorrow's game. Nonetheless, it will be nice to have a manager equally revved up for it as well. Van Gaal, for all his faults, was the only one post SAF, who really put an emphasis on us winning those big rendez vous. Our record vs Pool in his time at the club is clear and ample proof of that.
Absolutely no mistake what this game means to Ole.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...unnar-solskjaer-on-man-utds-liverpool-rivalry

 

AP would get destroyed by pool.

 

The provisional squad does include Lingard, but not Martial:
David de Gea, Sergio Romero, Lee Grant, Diogo Dalot, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Fred, Scott McTominay, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Andreas Pereira, Juan Mata, Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku
Second squad in a row that Jones is missing as well. There is no Matic either by the looks of it. This, as is usually the case, is going by who journos see entering the Lowry prior to home games. So we'll see.

I want this game to reflect without a shadow of a doubt that Dave is the best keeper in the Prem. Something that United fans know, but because of stats many neutral ones are seeing Alisson in that light at the moment. Hopefully when it's all said and done, this issue will be answered in the most decisive way after tomorrow's match.

Interesting to note also that this was the game, which sealed Mourinho's fate as United manager. Conversely, this is the game that could go a long way in handing Ole the job (should we get the desired positive result).

 

Fingers crossed we get the McTominay from last season (vs Chelsea for instance) and not the player we've seen this season for the most part.

 

Is Matic suspended or is Ole scared he will cost us again?

Has to be injured. Not even on the bench?

 

He has a muscle injury....smfh

 

Now it the time McT! Be brave, young man, be strong and have faith!