NEIL Atkinson, Steve Graves and Paul Cope chat about Liverpool’s chances at Old Trafford this weekend with United We Stand’s Steve Armstrong.
Music this week from Forthaven and Silent Cities
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Many thanks to Paul Cope for stealing my Andy Heaton line without any acknowledgement, it’s a compliment I suppose. Give it another 2 weeks and then use the other one I posted after that podcast….no one will ever know Paul ;-)
Back to important matters, I’ve said all week I’ll happily take a 1 nil win at their place but I would love it, LOVE IT if we gave them the Spurs/Arsenal/Everton treatment…..
I’m going for 5 nil (with a Suarez hatrick for good measure) and another morale boosting clean sheet for our defence.
The best for me would be nicely clinical 2-0. A draw will do in the wider context. Then we have Cardiff away (should win), Sunderland at home (should win) and Spurs at home (must win). 10 points from the next 12 and the Champions League is a touch away…
Rather than try to blitz them in first 15, I think this game is perfect for Rodgers’ “death by football”. Carrick and Fellani aren’t going to be able to chase the ball around all game, so if we take control and don’t let them near the ball the spaces will start to open up as the game goes on. That said, the beauty of it is that I can see this game going many different ways that will lead to us picking up 3 points. Rodgers holds all the trumps and can play them out in different ways depending on what they try to do. The only thing I am worried about today is Rooney and to a lesser extent RVP with the crowd at their back being up to make a statement,. If we keep them out of the game and play it on our terms we will shred their defense to pieces even if they try a Hodgeson and play in their own 18-yard box.
In this context, I thought the Sakho shout is an interesting one. I hadn’t really considered bringing him straight in and my head is telling me it wouldn’t be a smart move to bring in an underdone player to such a big game. But when Paul and Steve mentioned it, it struck me as the lineup I would like to see. Having tried to rationalise this feeling, I think it comes down to psychology. Sakho takes no prisoners and backs himself against anyone, and would be right up to go to Old Trafford and add Rooney and Van Persie to his list of scalps. On the other hand Agger will bring the baggage of many previous trips and will be scared to breathe on Van Persie for fear of giving away a penalty (they seem to receive far fewer soft penalties under Moyes). I have always been a fan of Agger but the way he let Van Persie peel off him for the goal in the cup game this season gave me nightmares afterwards.
Of the many possible victories, a beautiful, professional, we-mean-business 2-0 for me (glad you changed your prediction to a win Neil, couldn’t have you giving up on the league now that we are so close!). C’mon boys!