Atkinson…. Man in the Middle
From the League Cup to the FA Cup, Liverpool FC now turn their attention to the Red side from Manchester as they clash in the 4th round of the FA Cup. According to most Football Betting websites, they reckon it’s going to be a close one, but they are rooting for Manchester United edging out the Reds in this encounter.
Head-to-head
• Manchester United 71 wins Liverpool 61 Wins 51 draws
• The last time these two teams met was at Anfield earlier on in the season, which saw Liverpool drawing with Man United 1-1.
Team News
Liverpool FC: Liverpool FC will continue to miss the services of long term absentees Luis Suarez (suspension) and Lucas Leiva (injury). Jack Robinson will also be a confirm absentee given his hamstring troubles, but it was unlikely that the young Englishman would have been given a place in such a clash in the first place. Craig Bellamy is a doubt given the fact that he played last weekend as well as in mid-week. The Welshman has had a number of fitness concerns throughout the course of the season and has been known to be unable to play too many matches in a short space of time.
Man United: Manchester United have a number of fitness issues ahead of this tie. Injury concerns include Rio Ferdinand (doubtful,back), Anderson (doubtful), while Phil Jones (ankle) and Nani (foot) will definitely sit out this game. Michael Owen, Vidic and Fletcher are also likely to miss this game.
Liverpool FC Player to Watch: Steven Gerrard
The Liverpool FC captain always seems to pop up on the big occasions, namely in the Champions League final in ’05 and the FA Cup back in the ’06. The Englishman also has a history of scoring against the Red Devils in recent years, with him popping up and scoring the Red’s solitary goal against Man United at Anfield earlier on in the season.
Man United Player to Watch: Patrice Evra
Certainly one player whom isn’t excited at the prospect of playing at Anfield. The Frenchman is set to face a backlash from Liverpool fans following his part in the Luis Suarez racism saga. He hasn’t been playing up to par this season, so it will be interesting to see how Kenny Dalglish intends to target the fullback in this encounter.
Heated Encounter
It looks set to be a very tense affair between the two sides, perhaps even more so than previous meetings between the two most successful sides in English football courtesy of the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra racism saga. Security has been said to be tightened whilst Steven Gerrard and Alex Ferguson have also called for calm from the fans ahead of this one. It’s going to be close, but I reckon Liverpool FC can just nick this one.
My Prediction: Liverpool FC 2 Man United 1
