Match of the Week: 'The Greatest of English Football Club'

By Harbo on 03:22

These two sides both claim to be 'The Greatest of English Football Club' - The Match of the Week will show which club is the greatest.

Manchester United v Liverpool FC

Premier League Round 16

Old Trafford

14-12-2014 @ 12.30 GMT

How are the two sides form?

Manchester United haven't looked back since they lost the Manchester Derby early in November. The last four matches in the Premier League have added 12 points to the Red Devils account and brought them back in the position for European football next season. The can get into the fun zone with a win against Southampton tonight.

Liverpool are four points behind United and have the possibility of closing the gap with a win on Saturday. The Reds have five points for their last three matches after they drew against Sunderland last week.

Manchester United have won five of the last ten matches against Liverpool.

What are the probable line-ups?

Not less than six Manchester United players are injured or doubtful for the match against Liverpool, including Wayne Rooney, Luke Shaw and Angel Di Maria. Daniel Sturridge is back on the training ground after his injury, but is unlikely to play against United why he is sidelined along with Mario Balotelli and five other players.

De Gea

Valencia - Smalling - Rojo - Young

Carrick - Fellaini

Herrera - Mata - Januzaj

van Persie

________________________________________

Lallana - Lambert - Sterling

Henderson - Lucas - Allen

Manquillo - Skrtel - Touré - Johnson

Mignolet

Worth keeping an eye on

Manchester United - Robin van Persie: The Dutch goal getter has had a disappointing start of the season, but now it seems he is back in his best form. If he plays his best, he will be a challenge for the Liverpool defends.

Liverpool - Adam Lallana: Lallana left his impressing form in Southampton, but the expectations are still high to the England international. Lallana will have to improve and against Manchester United he should be able to challenge the defend.

What to expect from this match?

Brendan Rodgers is under pressure, and a win against United will give him some time to reestablish his side and bring them back around the top positions. However, van Gaal has got the best out of his injury struck squad and United are beginning to find the level we know they have. United are the favorites against a struggling Liverpool side.

What are the odds?

Manchester United: 19/20 (Betfred)

Draw: 45/17 (888sport)

Liverpool: 16/5 (BetVictor)

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What can Balotelli bring to Liverpool?

By Harbo on 07:04

A wonder boy, bad boy or Superstar? There are many views on Mario Balotelli, and now the Italian is on his way to Liverpool as a replacement for Luis Suarez.

According Skysports, Balotelli will arrive in Liverpool today for a medical, but the transfer is not set to go through in time for Liverpools clash with the Italians former club Manchester City. But what can the striker actually bring to Liverpool?

After Luis Suarez left for Barcelona, this summer Liverpool have been left with only two strikers; Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini. During the summer, they brought in Nickie Lambert, but despite a great last season for Southampton he is unlikely to be a regular starter. Even Adam Lallana followed with him to the Merseyside club.

Sturridge and Suarez was an amazing duo last season, but without the biting Uruguay next to him, Sturridge does not seem to keep his form. That said, the England international has scored 36 goals in 50 matches for Liverpool and is the main striker, but he needs a partner to take off some of the pressure. Nickie Lambert is a good striker, but he is not on the same level as Suarez was. When it comes to Fabio Borini, is seems as the Italien is going to move on. In other words, Balotelli is a welcome signing to the Liverpool attack.

The center forward scored 18 goals in 41 matches; nothing compared to Suarez 31 goals in 35 matches. However, the Italian striker is capable of the unforeseen and can play an important part of Liverpools battle for the Premier League title. That if Balotelli can stay out of trouble.

With Balotelli comes, a huge ego and scandals outside the pitch and that is why Liverpool have demanded a good behaviour clause in his contract, reports suggest.

Can the striker keep out of trouble, and Brendan Rodgers might be the man who can keep the ego down, Liverpool have their hands on the best Italian striker. He is not Louis Suarez, but he can bring Liverpool more power in the attack; that is for sure.

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Liverpool's Jamaican salvation

By Harbo on 08:13

He is seventeen years old, had his debut for Liverpool last month and can play his first match for England tomorrow. Raheem Sterling is on everybody’s lips these days.

Born in Kingston – raised in London and the hope of Liverpool. Raheed Sterling is the player Liverpool’s fans has been longing to see in the red shirt. The winger has the ability to make something out of nothing, and his skills have been noticed in England.

Even though, the Jamaican national team has reached out for the, perhaps, future star in Premier League he is now ready to represent England, the nation he has performed for on youth level. Twenty three matches and four goals are the statistic of his English national youth career, before taking the step into the senior’s world.

All this is great news about young Sterling, but – and there is always a but – Sterling’s reputation outside the pitch is tarnished. Rumors spread on the internet says that Raheem Sterling is the father of two children of which mothers he doesn’t date. If this is true, Sterling might not be a candidate for the Dad of the Year award in the UK. However, John Terry managed to win the price even though he spent more time in bed with his teammate’s wife’s than his own children.

A Fox produces documentary also shows the shooting star being dressed down by Brendan Rodgers, as the manager pointed Sterling out for other younger players as an example of how not be.

No matter what, the English-Jamaican winger has the potential to become a star in the Premier League. The rumor mill is already spinning around Sterling sending him to Arsenal in a trade for the Ox, as well as to Tottenham in a million deal. The fans of Liverpool might lose their new favorite before he has played a full season. However, Brendan Rodgers is fighting to keep the winger at Anfield Road.

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