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Are United Really That Much Better Than Us?

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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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I'm a 32 year old Liverpool fan, living in the heart of the City Centre. I've supported the club since the day I was born and have been writing articles for L4L for over 3 years, writing close over 350 articles in that time. My favorite player of the past generation is Sami Hyypia.

I am the current editor for L4L, with my day job being in R&D for the NHS.

82 comments

  • paul says:

    So really by your reckoning Liverpool with having the better squad should in reality win this league title at a canter, after all, they have got the better squad, according to you.

    Also what else you’re saying is that in the space of a few short months, Kenny dalglish has managed to turn Liverpool from a relegation threatened club, into a club that in reality if they was in the champions league would in affect get at least to the final, because now (in your eyes) Liverpool are better than United, at team that got to the final last year, in fact a team that has been in the last 3 out of 4 champions league finals…..

    Listen mate, you want to get yourself down to rehab, leave the smack alone because its effecting your obvious one and only brain cell…….

    • Luis Swearers says:

      3 out of 4 finals all that money and time at the top and still not up to 5 yet.Sit down and suck a bag of d**ks f**ko.You can’t buy refs in Europe.

      • Untouchable19 says:

        Bitter much louise? All that money? Here was me thinking we were suppose to be skint? Calm down calm down.

  • AZ says:

    I think it’s unfair to do it by comparisons as comparing players like Kuyt and Nani is difficult. It also means if 1 side has an extra squad player you have not included them:

    Reina-10 Doni-6.5 (17)
    De Gea-7.5 Kusckzak-6 Lindegaard-6.5 (20)
    Liverpool have better quality but Utd better cover

    Johnson-8 Kelly-7.5 Flanagan-6 (21.5)
    Rafael-7 Smalling-7
    Liverpool have better quality and cover at RB

    Carragher-7.5 Agger-8 Skrtel-7.5 Coates-7 Wilson-6 (36)
    Ferdinand-8 Vidic-9 Jones-7.5 Evans-7
    Utd have better quality and cover

    Enrique-7.5 Robinson-6.5 (14)
    Evra-8.5 Fabio-6.5
    Utd have better quality and cover.

    Gerrard-8.5 Adam-7.5 Lucas-8 Spearing-6.5 Meireles-7.5 (38)
    Cleverly-6.5 Fletcher-8 Carrick-7 Anderson-7.5 Giggs-7
    Liverpool have a better quality and deep central midfield

    Henderson-7 Downing-8 Kuyt-7.5 Maxi-7
    Nani-8 Young-8 Valencia-7.5 Park-7.5
    Utd have more quality on the flanks

    Carroll-7.5 Suarez-9 N’gog-6.5
    Rooney-9 Hernandez-8 Welbeck-7 Macheda-7 Berbatov-7.5
    Liverpool have marginally better quality in attack, but far more options.
    Downing-8 Kuyt-8 Henderson-7 Maxi-7 (30)

    Carroll-7 Suarez-9 N’gog-6.5 (22.5)

    Overall, Utd are better than us going forward, and less reliant on key players. I’d say the clubs are about evens at the back. Liverpool dominate midfield.

    • Night life says:

      One key factor you all forgot to mention is that thorn in your side namely SAF! I would recommend that every team has one but you can’t! he’s ours, Champions!

  • pdf11 says:

    As a United fan:

    Reina 8 – De Gea 6
    Kelly 6 – Rafael 7
    Carragher 6 – Ferdinand 7
    Agger 7 – Vidic 8
    Enrique 7 Evra 7
    Lucas 7 – Fletcher 7
    Gerard 8 – Anderson 7
    Kuyt 7 – Nani 8
    Downing 7 – Young 8
    Suarez 9 – Rooney 9
    Carroll 7 – Hernandez 8

    Don’t think there is much between the first elevens but it’s a squad game these days and united definitely have the edge for me. think you are very generous with your ratings for both teams.

    • wingard says:

      These stats are imaginary whereas United 12 premier league titles Liverpool zero is a fact and it does not look like changing to me.

  • AZ says:

    *united have better quality in attack* my mistake ^^^

  • Mike says:

    As a neutral i think Liverpool have a very good team this year, but over all the greatness of Man Utd wins out every time.

  • jim2010 says:

    would agree with the vast majority of the scores but (&while it pains me to say it) carragher and agger dont compare to Vidic and Ferdinand. The last two seasons say it all.
    Nor can we compare carroll and suarez favourably over Rooney and Hernandez. Carroll has hardly played and while Suarez is AMAZING he can’t shift Shrek and his mexican side kick.
    This season however I see a revival for LFC and once Carroll gets up to speed him and the south american will waste the defences of every team around them!

  • kidus says:

    you are dreaming and as usual trying to talk when you can. come may we will see your club strugiling for Europa leagu position when united take thw 20th title home. stop you biased comment about united and bark where u can and know your position it is 7th or 8th not the title

  • RedMancunia says:

    There have always been a Liverpool fan writing an article similar to this at the start of the last 20 or so seasons. We all know how each of those seasons ended.

  • red 33 says:

    WahaHaha lol hehehehehehe,Doesn’t matter who’s better as long as we pits the man @ss off,it was nice to see those manass fans reaction

  • jim2010 says:

    Utd are the best team in the land and have been for years.
    The style of football is less technical than the spanish style and when they play against the very best of the spanish style (Barca) they are found wanting. They (Barca) are simply awesome.

    The only side I would have confidence in to take them on is Rafa’s liverpool side of three seasons ago when Gerard, Torres, Mashcers & Alonso were on fire. He would have hit them hard early on scored and then stifled the Barca carousels into submission.
    Even then, it would be backs against the wall stuff for most of the second half.

  • Alan says:

    NO THEY AREN’T!!

    It’s all about confidence and belief. Utd were shown up last season at Anfield and against Barcelona that they lack world class player. But they have a system and a manager who instils such confidence in them they THINK they’re better than they actually are.

    Even the likes of Wellbeck and Cleverly think they’re top players despite playing only a few games for Utd!!

    We need to get that never-say-die winning attitude they have and we can challenge them.

    • paul says:

      Alan….

      Admittedly we are not as good as Barca, but then again at this moment in time, who is? The Liverpool result last season was just one game in an whole season, you beat us fair and square, no problems, but it doesn’t mean to say Liverpool were better than United..period.

      When Liverpool was in their prime, 70’s 80’s, United beat Liverpool quite a lot when they met up, but they wasn’t the better team, that accolade went to Liverpool, like it does to United now.

      And we are as good as we think we are, to get to all these champions league finals, we can’t be bad….

      • Alan says:

        Utd got to the recent Champions Leagie finals because they GOT EASY DRAWS. In 2009 they got Porto in the quarter and a rubbish Arsenal in the semi.

        Last season they only beat a very average Marseilles side, a Chelsea team that were in decline all season and a joke German side in the semi. Ferguson’s record overall in Europe proves he sturggles against the very best sides and tends to LOSE.

        Utd are efficient and effective, but they lack class. And there’s no club in the world like them for HYPING up good players to be supposedly great. It’s already started with Young and Cleverly.

        • Samuel Buca says:

          Uniteds lack of class??? Oh the irony. How exactly have united hyped up young and cleverley? More irony. I thought carrol was supposed to be a footballer? He couldnt control a ball if you placed it at his feet. He should stick to being She-Ra’s stunt double the useless clumsy kunt.

  • Red Den says:

    This article is comedy gold, literally should be used in stand up.

    I know a lot of real liverpool fans, who hate anything united with a passion, but not one of them are actually as thick and deluded as the fella who wrote this article, so im just going to have a quiet little giggle to myself, bookmark this page for after we play eachother, and move on.

    Ps. thank you for the laughs.

  • lol says:

    thanks for the laughs mate

  • LexxytheNigerianRed says:

    THE QUESTION YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF IS THAT WHO IS THAT PLAYER YOU HAVE THAT WILL GET INTO THE CURRENT UNITED TEAM ………… FOR NOW, I THINK YOU HAVE ONLY ONE, LUIS SUAREZ AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT HE WON’T BE TAKING ROONEY’S PLACE… OTHERS WON’T GET A SNIFF

  • Geoff says:

    Is it possible to measure this amount of jealousy? Because it might be world-record..

  • ernie says:

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OH MY GOD LOL THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING IVE READ ALL DAY

  • Daz says:

    United are magic Liverpool are tragic!

  • Alex says:

    my my my what a funny read how low can you get mr deluded liverpool fan?jeslousy really brings the worst in people as you clearly showed.THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS THOUGH:))

  • Andy says:

    Are you on glue?

  • lol says:

    wait is this serious?

Comments are closed.