There’s been a lot of talk since the start of the season about how much of a genius Alex Ferguson is and how he’s putting together a team to rival Barcelona this season. Then, they go an maul Arsenal on Sunday, which was a result for many people’s promo codes. There’s no doubt in my mind that the entire media and press are going to be utterly, completely and totally insufferable in their praise for them come the next few days. Personally, I think that’s utter nonsense; as far as I’m concerned, he is in no better a position than he was last year. All he’s done is add a winger to the two he’s already got, a keeper that will take at least a full season to completely bloom and another young centre back that won’t play every week.
They had a good result against Tottenham last weekend as well, winning 3-nil. Only, so did City Sunday just gone, putting 5 past Spurs at their own ground. That – coupled with currently being rock bottom – would kind of suggest that they’re actually there for the taking at the moment. And United’s win against Arsenal on Sunday was as much to do with Arsene Wenger’s growing insanity as anything. Anybody who saw the game could see that Ferguson appeared to be trying to stop his team from scoring toward the end and even Gary Neville took little pleasure in the nature of the scoreline. This wasn’t a masterclass by United, this was the brutal murdering of a club already hamstrung by years of mismanagement; our own new first-team made a much stronger Arsenal look poor last weekend and were they to have played us at Anfield, we’d have probably knocked a few more past them as well.
Some might argue that United have just added to the depth of their squad but I would argue that if anything, we’ve had the far more successful summer and will also benefit more in the long-term. Ferguson has added Ashley Young and Phil Jones when, in reality, he didn’t really need them. What he needed was a couple of quality, central mid-fielders and a good holding player. The only one of their signings they actually needed was De Gea and he’s looked far from a potentially great player up to now. On the other hand, we’ve brought in Doni, arguably good enough to be a first choice at most Premier League clubs; Charlie Adam – a player United could probably have done with themselves; Stewart Downing, Jose Enrique and Jordan Henderson. Coupled with Suarez and Carroll in January (who are still seemingly new signings, as we’ve barely seen them together yet) and are looking to bring in one of the most promising young players to come out of Uruguay since Suarez himself, and for less than half the price of Phil Jones, he could turn out to be twice the player.
To back up my belief, I’m going to have a quick look over each side’s starting 11’s and the likely benches that both sides would choose if at full-strength.
GK – Reina v De Gea: I think I’ll have about 99% of fans of any club on my side in this argument, but Reina is hands-down the better keeper and De Gea is unlikely to ever reach his level (but will no doubt become first-choice for Spain, given the ‘special’ club he’s playing at). So this one is easy: Reina – 10 v De Gea – 7
RB – Kelly v Rafael: This is a slightly tougher one, as we’ve seen so little of either player, with Kelly having played 17 games for the Reds and Rafael around 40. On first impressions of both players though, they’re both incredibly promising. Kelly is a very tall and surprisingly quick full back with a growing penchant for getting forward, as he demonstrated last week against Arsenal, and Rafael likewise. The only downside to Rafael’s game is that he’s always walking a bit of a disciplinary tightrope, having already received 2 red cards in less than a half-century of games. As both show a lot of potential: Kelly – 7 v Rafael – 7
CB – Agger & Carragher v Ferdinand & Vidic: This is a difficult one for both sides as it’s highly likely that both CB pairings will change regularly over the season due to fatigue, injury, etc as both contain players that are – to put it kindly – ‘getting on’. But these are more-than-likely going to be the first choice pairings. Both Carragher and Ferdinand are coming to the end of distinguished careers and both are still highly thought of. The fact that they both walk in to two of the top sides in Europe, when fit, says a lot about both players. While Agger and Vidic are two of the best CB’s around and are likely to be for some time to come. Both sides regularly top the table when it comes to ‘goals against’ and that is largely down to having such experienced talented men at the back. While Vidic is widely regarded as one of the best in Europe though, it is also a widely held belief that Ferdinand isn’t the same player he once was and hasn’t been for some time: Agger – 8 & Carragher – 8 v Ferdinand – 7 & Vidic – 9
LB – Enrique v Evra: Both quality full backs and both with plenty of experience in the Premier League. The only thing that goes in Evra’s favour here is that he is much more proven. He’s played at the top level for years and is regarded throughout as one of the best left-backs in Europe, while Jose Enrique is one of the best in the League but only potentially in Europe: Enrique 8 v Evra – 10
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DONT FORGET LFC DONT REF CALED WEB ON OUR SIDE
MANCS NEVER LOSS WHEN HE IS AT OLD TRAFFORD FACT
Guessing you didn’t watch the game yesterday then? Arsenal getting awarded a soft penalty, Arshavin somehow staying on the pitch?
Inexplicably yes, next question…
MANCS HAVE 12 ON PITCH WITH WEB
ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, oh seriously, ahahahashahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah…oh dear…hehehehehehehehehehe. Thanks, funniest article of the day. Awesome. See how it stacks up at the end of the season…
I still can remember how Liverpool demolished Manure 3:1 last season!!!
Utd beat Liverpool 3-1 in 1988 ha ha great result but Liverpool won the league. So as you see not much to brag about winning a game against the bitter rivals when every year they add another League trophy. The only hope Liverpool have this year is that City stop Utd gaining their 20th title. Deep down every sane football fan knows this too.
I like kuyt, but nani is playng better. And Ngog is 7? Are u crazy, man? U rate Hernandez as 7. Ngog is a big 3. Doni is 4, Aurelio 6. The others i agree with u.
Ha ha, you’re starting to sounds as bitter as City fans! Suarez better than Rooney, Kuyt as good as Nani, Agger and Carragher the equal of Vidic and Rio?! Yes ok boys. Now go and have a nice lie down …
Suarez helped his country to fourth in World Cup and winning Copa America and himself voted the MVP lately. Rooney…England?
Sorry I thought we were discussing how they play for their clubs? Uruguay being more successful in international competition than England will obviously mean that Suarez is better than Rooney. It also proves that Gilberto Silva is better than Cruyff.
By handballing on the goal-line and getting sent off, you mean?
Liverpool are for sure a top 5 club but for sure not in the top 3. I read the evaluations first and knew that it made little sense to read the remaining part of your article. For you to rate Kelly in the same bracket as Rafel is a testament to your blind commitment as a Liverpool fan. I get it, even if I and most other neutrals would find it laughable, if not outrageous, but then you go and rate Carragher and Agger as better than Rio, well I knew than that you had to be delusional. Carragher and Agger are third rate and will once agin be the reasons for why Liverpool won’t have any success. Seriousl mate, get a grip!!
Manure may have better players on papers but tactically they will still be beaten by Liverpool easily. Liverpool plays with two defensive holding midfielders not like Arsenal. Also, Suarez can beat any of the Manure defenders easily. Not to mention Liverpool now has good quality left fullback which is the weak link in the past. Lastly, Charlie Adam is a dead ball specialist. He scored against Manure many times.
He scored against United once.
Wow…so the bin dippers will win the league??? So silly and biased, I think your owner said it the other day, United are years ahead of Loserfools…..19 19 19
Sorry, but yes. They have a team, a well oiled machine with proper balance. & like we have KK, they have SAF; once he leaves, then we ‘ll see.
Well no, Utd are not better, but they’re certainly more successful in recent times. They’ve shown that you don’t have to be the best footballing team in the league to win it. You just need to be decently good, get some crucial decisions, fluke some deflections, and have a few extra minutes added if you’re not winning by the end of injury time.
Of course the CHAMPIONS have been fluking everything that we have won in the last 25 years under SAF, what a poor excuse for a debate this is,it just smacks of a ABU article by a typical load of bitters.
Hahahahahaha twenty haha one haha years
Manure’s record is 26 years…haha…haha…haha
You can beat it…just five more years. Personally I think you’ll do it easily!
i see that rafa and his fact file has rubbed off on the mickey mousers but i know one fact, steven gerrard should of been locked up for assault..FACT
and Plug ,sorry rio should of been banned for being a drug cheat
he did get banned…for 8 months in fact.. this is awkward..
Do you go to jail automatically these days for punching someone ? It’s not like he purposely snapped someones leg or Kung Foo kicked a fan with studded boots you complete idiot.
If they did put people in jail for using a fist, you’d be a walking funny a-hole with no boyfriend.
STEVE, have you ever thought about using grammatically correct English without CAPS LOCK turned on?! Also, repeating the whole Webb being the 12th man argument is wearing a bit thin. The author is perhaps as much of a joker as you are – to consider Liverpool as having better overall squad quality than United is laughable nay moronic! “So in my opinion, Liverpool currently have the edge over the League Champions in terms of overall squad and also starting 11?s.” This quote made me pi$$ myself, Dave Tyrer; you sir should be a stand up comedian!
You’ve got to be having a laugh here lad.
I just want to point out not all liverpool fans are this biased or delusional. Makes us seem very bitter and clueless and it sets us up for a fall at the end of the season.
The author needs to show some class and be realistic. Were better than this.
YNWA
My word, up there with the biggest pile of delusional drivel I have ever had the displeasure of reading. I hope, for your sake, this is a bit of a wind-up. The only rating I agree with is your one for Suarez…and then you go and give Rooney a 9 you complete tool.
Oh dear……this is a gem…are you for real fella? Where did liverpool finish last year? How did they do in europe? Where did united finish last year? How did united do in europe? Carra and agger better than rio?? Downing as good as young? Really?? Really?? Carrick and giggs our first choice CM?? Really?? Carrick has played 10 mins this season….neither have started this season! Kuyt as good as nani? Are u drunk?? Kelly as good as rafa?? Rafa got much more expirience and more PL titles than the gerrard and carra put together….aurelio 8?????? Hernandez and carroll the same?? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Funny guy, funny guy!!!!!
You dont like Glen Johnson then?
Fletcher and Anderson come before Carrick and Giggs.
Adam will play ahead of Kuyt with Gerrard playing on the right.
As a neutral Liverpool do edge it if you look at their starting line ups but Man U have but where Man U know how too win and will keep doing it.
BTW Enrique is much better than Evra.
Oh dear…
Ha, ha, ha! Lol!
agger is a lot better than any manc defender,carra is a better defender too torres done vidic every time lol when he was at anfield rooney does sfa when he play us sqaurez is twice the player fatboy rooney is or is it new hair rooney last year at anfield sqaurez ripped your team apart totally outclassed you even red nose alco fergie admited it trouble with mancs they dont understand class and they never will.wait till seasons over then lets see u mancs on here…
What a load of tosh, well then you should destroy anything that moves and the rest of us should put on sackcloth and ashes and move to the desert, I read all this trash year after, does the bitterness run that deep!
Hahaha what have you been smoking. Liverpool dont even come close. Reina is the ONLY player that is better.
Funny funny guy. Come back to reality 😉
Way to have faith in your new keeper douchebag.
Will you stop trying to buy ours now you scum.
To be fair, reina was a lot worse than de gea in his 1st season, and de gea has a lot more potential. Also i didnt hear anything from utd about reina, but heard lots of noise from him about us, so you might want to look a bit closer to home on that one. Cant blame him though, he deserves to win something.