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The big games are coming thick and fast in the Premier League right now. Fresh from their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday night, Manchester United head to Anfield on Sunday in a bid to get their title winning campaign back on track.
They still sit top of the Premier League, but if Arsenal manage victory over Sunderland at the Emirates on Saturday, the Gunners will only trail the league leaders by a single point.
A second defeat in a row could really upset the momentum of Manchester United as we enter the business end of the season. Liverpool would love nothing more than to dent their rivals title hopes.
United will have to cope without the extremely influential Nemanja Vidic after his red-card at Stamford Bridge too, so there is no doubt about it being a touch challenge for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.
Rio Ferdinand could return alongside the young Chris Smalling at centre back, but he is short of match fitness and it is a difficult game to be introduced back into playing. The Liverpool front-line will certainly look to test his fitness early on.
As for Kenny Dalglish’s team, they have been inconsistent of late and come off the back of a disappointing 3-1 defeat to West Ham, but they should lift themselves for such a big game.
Taking on Manchester United at Anfield is always a significant occasion in Liverpool’s season, but the fact they have club legend Dalglish in charge makes it all the more special. The Scotsman will know what this game means to the fans.
It has been a trait of Ferguson’s United teams that they don’t lose two games on the bounce though, so they will still go into the game as favourites. He will stress to his players that they are still in control of their own fate.
Liverpool will just look to perform as they did in the victory over Chelsea a few weeks ago. They were excellent that day and a similar performance on Sunday will at least test United.
Overall, regardless of how Arsenal fair on Saturday, this is a massive game in this year’s Premier League title race.
Not only would victory hand United more points in their quest for 1st position, but it would restore their slightly dented morale after the reverse at Stamford Bridge.
Victory for Liverpool and it is very much game on.
