Forever Man Utd

  Ahead of the big game on Saturday we bring you a match preview as two brothers, one a United fan, one a Liverpool fan give their views on the game! 

FMU: What will your teams line up probably be?

BB: Line up probable

-------------VDS
G Nev - Vida -Rio Evra

Fletcher - Carrick Scholes Giggs

-------------- Rooney-----------------------
-----------------Berba

And my prefered line up

VDS
Wesley orange Vida Rio Evra
Nani Carrick Anderson (had Gerrard in his pocket last year) Scholes
------------------------Rooney
---------------------------Berba

18&5: I would like to see Rafa go for it, and play quite an attacking formation, and go with a 4-4-2, however, it wouldn't surprise me to see us line up with a 4-5-1.

The goalkeeper and defence pretty much picks itself. Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel and Dosenna will probably line up at the back!

In midfield, I would go with Kuyt on the right, Alonso and Mascherano in the middle and new boy Riera on the left. I think there is a good balance there, and should be solid enough to cope.

Up front, I would love to see us go with Keane and Babel. babel needs the chance to play through the middle, and he proved in the Champions League against Arsenal last season that he can be lethal when given the chance. I would NOT risk Torres. At the end of the day, it's just one game and only 3 points. If we risk him, he get injured and miss 6-8 games, which could REALLY cost us!

However, I think Rafa will play 5 in the middle with Babel tucking in, and playing wide, leaving Keane/Kuyt up front on his own.
Rafa would probably call it a 4-2-3-1, but I don't see our midfielders getting that far forward, so it will be more like a 4-5-1.

FMU: How do you see the game going? 

BB: I think it will be a typically tight game with a fast and frenetic pace early on, I think United will then settle down and keep the crowd quiet and anxious as they normally do, I have been to Anfield for United Liverpool games and more than any other club they hate us and when we start to control the game they get very nervous.

18&5: I hope it will be better than the last few times we have played. There is always so much hype surrounding these games, and so often they have failed to deliver. I do think it will be edgy (as they usually are) and the odd goal will decide the game. I can't see it being an open game with plenty of goals, put it that way!

FMU: Who is your man to watch?

Liverpool dangermen: Torres and Babel have pace to burn

BB: The man to watch of course will be Berba on his debut, no denying his quality but it will be intersting to see how he molds into the united set up.

18&5: Hopefully (if he plays up alongside Keane) it will be Babel. He has bundles of pace, and masses of ability, however, he has been stuck out on the left for the past year, and restricted to what he can do. As I said, against Arsenal, when he got a chance in the middle, he was exceptional, and scored a goal, and won a penalty to get us through!

FMU: Who would you pick out as your opponents main threat?

BB: If Torres plays then undoubtedly he will be the biggest threat, I am a huge fan of him and actually think he is the best striker in the world right now. If he doesnt play then to be honest i not sure who will be a big threat to us.

Out to impress: Berbatov will be hoping for a successful debut

18&5: Where do you start?? Thankfully, no Ronaldo, but you still have Scholes, Tevez, Rooney and of course Berbatov now. Of those players, I would say you will need to keep an eye on Berbatov. It's his debut, he is keen to impress, and it remains to be seen how he will work alongside either Tevez or Rooney (I can't see him playing all 3 together!)

Thanks to both guys, read more views and give us your own on the forum

Read 18&5's in depth thoughts on Liverpool for this and last season.

Last update : 15-09-2008 00:00

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