PRE-MATCH ANALYSIS: Liverpool v Manchester United

Dec 15 2007

LIVERPOOL will be determined to put the Reading result behind them. And what better way to do so than beating their old rivals.

Defence

UNITED had a tough act to follow in Peter Schmeichel, but in Edwin van der Sar they have found a worthy successor.

An experienced keeper who does not make too many mistakes, he is a good communicator with his back four. Defenders like a confident keeper and van der Sar is one of the best in the Premier League.

In front of him Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic form a very effective partnership.

Vidic is the more aggressive and tends to put the first tackle in while Ferdinand has the pace to sweep things up and then look to get things moving from the back.

But, like all centre backs, he does not like coming out of his comfort zone and if the question facing Liverpool is how to stop Ronaldo, then United will be concerned about how to stop Fernando Torres.

His pace and movement will be crucial in helping dislodge Vidic and Ferdinand and getting them to drift into areas where they don’t want to be.

Yossi Benayoun would also pose a threat. At West Ham he played more of a central role, but the width he brings to Liverpool means he can get between the centre-back and full-backs if Torres can give them the runaround.

If Liverpool resort to pumping the ball forward, Vidic will happily deal with them all afternoon, but a short, sharp passing game with players running into the channels can unsettle the visitors.

Midfield

UNITED miss Paul Scholes – who wouldn’t – and while Owen Hargreaves is a better player than he often gets credit for, this an area Liverpool can dominate.

If Rafael Benitez’s side can stifle United’s undoubted attacking threat, control more of the possession and play the game at their own pace – not United’s – they can build on the great result in Marseilles.

Michael Carrick is a decent passer of the ball, but is not the most mobile and can be hussled.

United like to work the ball wide, but Liverpool will also find the likes of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez dropping back into midfield to pick the ball up.

Attack

LIVERPOOL’S hopes of victory hinge on how they deal with United’s free-roaming attacking threat.

They won’t want to get too deep and allow the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez or Ryan Giggs to turn and run at them, which they love to do.

But likewise if they get too tight they won’t want to be caught by the ball over the top, something Pepe Reina would have to be alert to in goal.

It is doubtful Liverpool will go for man-to-man marking, and Benitez’s preferred zonal system is as good as way as any of tracking United’s players as they switch flanks, as long as the defenders make sure they pass over responsibility clearly.

Dangerman

CRISTIANO RONALDO – absolute quality. When he first arrived in the Premier League he was prone to showboating or trying 35 step-overs, but he is maturing as a player and every time he has the ball he makes something happen.

He scores all sorts of goals and his aerial ability is often over-looked. His work-rate when he hasn’t got the ball, like that of Torres, is excellent, but once on the ball his first thought is always to take the defender out of the game by beating his man.

Overall verdict

IF LIVERPOOL can impose their own tempo on the game and give Steven Gerrard the licence to burst forward from midfield, then Benitez’s side can send out a clear message that they will have a say in the title this year.

Ronny Goodlass was talking to RICHARD WILLIAMSON