Clyne is hoping to take the game straight to United on Saturday night
Whilst Southampton can’t exactly be accused of not being a ‘big club’, particularly in light of the club’s meteoric progress since being promoted a few years ago, there’s no doubting that Liverpool are still widely regarded as one of football’s ‘biggest clubs’, and LFC’s massive grudge matches against Manchester United are still one of the most widely viewed around the world.
For new signing Nathaniel Clyne, it was for games like this that he joined the Reds. Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Clyne said: “One of the reasons I signed for Liverpool is to play in big matches like this.
“Playing at Old Trafford last season with Southampton and getting the three points was a great feeling. It was a well deserved victory.
“We played really well and you have to be on top of your game if you want to come away with three points.
“Working hard, playing on the front foot and taking the game to them is going to be key. We can’t allow them to pass the ball around as they like to or have too much free space.
“We need to be at their throats from the start, not let them settle in the game, and with the quality we have up front we can cause them problems.”
Clearly, Clyne’s experience of winning at Old Trafford will stand him in good stead and Liverpool will need each and every player to go into the game with a winning mentality on Saturday if they want to take all three points.
The Reds have won just the once at Old Trafford (in both league and cup) since the famous 4-1 victory in March 2009 and despite beating United twice under David Moyes, Brendan Rodgers’ record is not the most impressive against the bitter rivals.
But Saturday represents a potential turning point for both Liverpool, in smashing aside a mediocre recent record against sides in the top 6, and for Brendan Rodgers in showing that the season before last wasn’t a one off and to do that, Clyne is right: Liverpool must go for their throats.
