IT’S been over a year now since I wrote an article stating my belief that Liverpool’s squad was as strong as Manchester United’s, based solely ‘man-for-man’, of course. As a team unit, they were still quite a way apart last season but I believe that we had players of equal – or better – quality, they just weren’t coming together as well.
But, then again, Ferguson’s great ability has always been getting team performances out of 11 average players.
A few weeks back, during the Liverpool v Man Utd game, I noticed a lot of comments from their fans along the lines ‘how are we being outplayed by a poor team?’, etc. and it got me thinking again: are Manchester United really so much better than us? I mean, sure, they still have that uncanny ability to pull wins out of…well, seemingly nothing but that’s all to do with Ferguson’s pact with the Devil.
When you get down to the finer details, you’ll see a group of very average players, ably assisted by one or two great. I’ve discussed this many times since the season started, with friends and family, and we all agree: Man Utd will struggle to keep up this year, perhaps even having to settle for a place in the Europa next season!
Already, they are 4 points behind a very consistently strong-looking Chelsea side, and I believe that City, Arsenal and Spurs are all much stronger this year and if they slip behind before Christmas, I can’t see them catching up. Sure, they’re in second now, but have they actually faced anybody decent besides ourselves and Tottenham yet? No, and they lost to Everton and Southampton also ran them pretty close.
So when I look over their squad and see players like Smalling, Jones, De Gea, Kagawa, Nani, Anderson and Young (all expensive and yet to convince) and stalwarts that are clearly past it like Scholes, Ferdinand and Giggs, I smile to think of the much smaller fees we paid for much higher quality players such as Skrtel, Agger, Reina, Allen, Sterling, Lucas and Shelvey, and the experienced veterans that we can still call upon such as Carragher and Gerrard.
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As always, there is still the same element of respect and fear surrounding the club and that is something which, over the past 25 years, Ferguson has cultivated to perfection. Clubs still relinquish points and wins to Man Utd purely out of fear; they believe the game is lost before they even turn up and this psychological element probably gives them as many points per season as the somewhat dodgy refereeing decisions we all complain about with regularity provides them with. We saw this against Howard Webb and Manchester United on Sunday evening, but many teams will overcome the 12-men of Manchester Utd this season, of that I’m sure.
The result against Tottenham last week showed me something I saw – even against 10 men – when they were at Anfield a few weeks ago: huge vulnerabilities all over the park. We just didn’t have the capabilities to take advantage of them, but I believe many others (ourselves included) will, as the season progresses.
It may sound a bit rich to say this, particularly given our current league position (and our inability to win at home!), but I really don’t see anything about Man Utd, at present, that we should be concerned about. They’re above us in the league, of course, but it’s very early days and 9 points can be made up easily at this point.
As always, this is just conjecture and only my opinion, but at present there are only two things I am envious of Utd for: Van Persie and their current league position. In terms of our squads, ours is the better equipped – for both this season, but particularly future ones – and once we hit form, we should chase them down pretty quickly.
I’m almost certain that some will disagree, and everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but if we can pick up a solid, 15-20 goal-per-season striker in January and continue going from strength-to-strength prior to that, we are superbly equipped to have a better season, and maybe even aid Ferguson into early retirement in the process.
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Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
The bitterness and jealousy in this article is unbelievable
Of course Man United are better than Liverpool, they have their own footballing philosophy, their own modernised stadium, and their own Football Association!
Not too mention their own refs.
You should stop watching football cos the whole world is always unfair to your team. Go watch footage of your 18th title. That is the nearest you can get to the trophy Since it is all scripted.
thats what i like about scousers thay always guarantee the laugh lol
I must say this article is embarrassing to liverpool football club itself. If your club shares this delusion, you’ll remain in mid table for decades to come, if a kid wrote this article, I’ll be amused but if its a grown up man… Its pretty comedy stuff, try and show some consistency than Fulham first. Cheers
as a liverpool fan , an article like this embarrasses me , it makes us look like blinkered idiotics with no knowledge of football
you are having a laugh!!
Typically disillusioned scouser …………… This time next year rodders we’ll be champions!
I have watched Liverpool v Man Utd since the seventies and I used to hear comments like this from United fans back when Liverpool won the league pretty much every year. The league tables do not lie. This is not the best Man Utd side… but it is the weakest Liverpool side I have seen since Souness was in charge. I’d put my money on Utd finishing at least twenty points clear of Liverpool again this season. I do think Rodgers will build a side given time but Liverpool need more than just a new striker.
It’s actually scary how delusional you scousers are. Seriously, yous are just a mid table team. Oh ye what about Carroll 35 mil, Henderson 20 mil, Stuart downing lol 25 mil. We also produce home grown talents like giggs scholes cleverley Beckham Welbeck. Go write your carp somewhere else.
Genius. One of the funniest articles I have ever read. If it was meant as a spoof, you sir are a comedy genius. If it was serious, you need therapy.
Hahaha. That’s cheered me right up. Most delusional post in the history of the Internet!
The table doesn’t lie. ManU is a lot better than Liverpool. As is City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Everton, etc, etc, etc…
I’m a liverpool fan but i don’t think we’re up to man u in term’s of quality.YNWA
Gotta be a wind up….not even a good one
Totally agree..Been my thought for years..Fergie is United,&its not only that teams fear them like they use 2 fear LFC in the past but also the refs fear him as well because they know the FA won’t touch him (maybe after 10 or so misdemeanours)..Players wise we better but team wise including refs,FA, media they probably edge us..IMHO
ManU were exactly one influenced Ref better than LFC a couple of weeks ago. All of the Manc supoorters know it as evidenced by all of their posts here. How their tune would be different if the nitwit in the yellow shirt had not handed them the additional two points.
another sad fool full of excuses . win with dignity but lets not cry when we lose .show some dignity and dont reduce ourselves to the level of utd fans
shame on you
stop embarrassing us liverpool fans with excuses . even if we won that game , we are still nowhere near that scum
why hasn’t this guy talked abt the 35 & 20m liverpool spent on hopeless players like caroll & downing. hahahahahaaaaaa
HAHAHAHAHAH WHAT A LAUGH, seriously dude WTF
oh!!! I had even forgotten Jordan henderson & chalie adam. This guy sh’d know that as a matter of fact, ben amos united’s third choice goalkeeper is better than pepe reina. Liverpool has no recognised left back , a right back who can’t defend, a crazy midfielder who c’d hav achieved more as a wrestler in jonjo shelvey, & a swansea city material coach!!! Its gone out ov the big four & joined the big 14.