Liverpool v Manchester United | Scott Murray

• Press refresh or hit auto-update for the latest action • Email scott.murray@guardian.co.uk with your thoughts • Keep up with all today’s games here Wayne Rooney on the bench for Manchester United, with Phil Jones in midfield: De Gea, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Young, Jones, Fletcher, Park, Giggs, Welbeck. Subs: Lindegaard, Anderson, Rooney, Hernandez, Carrick, Nani, Valencia. Steven Gerrard starts his first match for Liverpool since this corresponding fixture last season: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Kuyt, Lucas, Adam, Downing, Gerrard, Suarez. Subs: Doni, Agger, Carroll, Henderson, Spearing, Bellamy, Robinson. While we’re waiting, you’ll do well to read this piece on Steven Gerrard by the magnificent Barney Ronay: Steven Gerrard is a period piece out of kilter with modern mores. And what a headline. Only in the Guardian, eh. Now, despite United starting the season strongly, and Liverpool stuttering a wee bit, the home side will fancy their chances today. They’ve won their last three home league games against United, their best run since a streak of nine in a row between 1970/71 and 1979/80. The last time the teams met, Dirk Kuyt scored a hat-trick in this fixture last season, a game in which Luis Suarez was sensational. But United are due one against Liverpool at Anfield, where they’ve not won since December 2007, Carlos Tevez scoring the winner. And here’s a different way to analyse the recent form in this fixture: John O’Shea scored a last-minute winner the season before that, so suddenly United’s record at the home of their bitter rivals is two wins from five matches, which doesn’t look bad at all. In the meantime: United are at Anfield today, match starting at 12.45pm. Kick off in the big Liverpool v Norwich City clash: 5.30pm, Saturday 22 October. You can’t really argue with him – the fixtures between the two teams are always huge – but that’s not going to stop the gloriously stubborn Kenny Dalglish trying. “If that is what he thinks then fine. That is up to Fergie. For me, I’ve always said the most important game is the next one. It’s Manchester United this time and next week it will be Norwich City.” “I have always considered Manchester United versus Liverpool to be the game of the season in English football,” says Sir Alex Ferguson. “We are talking about the two most successful clubs in England historically, and a rivalry that goes back to how industry changed when they opened the Manchester Ship Canal.” Premier League 2011-12 Liverpool Manchester United Scott Murray guardian.co.uk

Posted by on October 15, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.