[Robbo*]

Is anyone back from injury?

I wouldn't mind going with 3 at back and starting Jesse in one of the wide positions - Tony and Young look a bit clueless and tired.

 

[Class of 63]

Pogba does not deserve to be dropped. Sanchez maybe, though he did much better as a no.10 after the switch so maybe he can play there? Can't see McTominay making the starting line up again and not sure Carrick is ready. Are Herrera and Fellaini definitely out? Shame Blind has no match fitness as otherwise I think he could do a good job alongside Matic with Pogba or Sanchez further forward. I would not start Rashford. Is Martial available?

Don't know what the problem is with Pogba, he was hardly pulling up trees before Alexis joined, but his form has totally gone down the pan since he arrived, and though i'm not big on stats it's staggering that Alexis gave the ball away more than 30 times on Monday night, as he did on his debut, that's just not good enough, star man or not, and it's not as though we'd be replacing them with untried youngsters.

Don't know how reliable PhysioRoom is, but they've got no return dates for Herrera, Blind, Jones, Martial and Zlatan, Rojo(10th March) and Fellaini(31st March)

 

[Class of 63]

Still our best outfield players, Carrick and Matic against that press! That backline isn't happening.

Any chance we can remember we're Manchester United, and forget about how the other team will play, certainly at home ?

 

[Class of 63]

Are you for real? That's a shocking team. Thank god you're not the manager.

No, i'm just the figment of someone's imagination

Thanks for the vote of confidence, i'll be here waiting when the Bus parker is hounded out.

 

[Catt]

This will be horrible. Just horrible. Mark my words....

Wow. Care to give a score prediction?

 

[Eli Zee]

Pogba was shocking in my opinion. Drop them both. Imagine having the luxury of playing like that and know your playing next game in a big derby...

Imagine not having to worry about being dropped from your team because you’re still making money and eventually another team that actually focuses on fluid attacking play can sign you and pay you just as much or more

 

[Catt]

People might not remember but Klopp was pretty conservative in this fixture at Old Trafford last year.

we weren't great but we still dominated the play

reckon this will be a similar game and the first goal will be all important - overall I'd be surprised if Liverpool were very attacking and I'd be amazed if we were

Klopp went ultra defensive last season.

 

[Canagel]

No, i'm just the figment of someone's imagination

Thanks for the vote of confidence, i'll be here waiting when the Bus parker is hounded out.

Nah seriously man you couldn't have picked a worser team if you tried. Carrick in for his first PL start against Liverpool of all teams? A midfield of Carrick, Matic and Mata? That would be the slowest midfield ever. Suicide against Liverpool's high intensity midfielders. Rojo has been out for a while and even if ready I wouldn't throw him in straight away. Lingard on the wing is very poor. Much better centrally. Bailly isn't a RB. He could do a job there but it's an experiment. You don't want to be experimenting in games like this. I can understand dropping players who aren't playing well but only if you have adequate replacements otherwise what's the point?

 

[Class of 63]

Bailly after so long out, in a position he's barely, if at all played for us. Carrick who has played about 2 games all season.
Rojo in from the cold.
Shaw who has barely had a sniff for a month

Do you want to see a Moyes result against them or something!

The back four ain't ideal, but Valencia looks as though he might be done for the season, and it's either switch Young to right-back, or Lindelof, or Bailly(most of his games for Espanyol and Villarreal were there) up against the brute strength of Mané, and I know who i'd prefer, plus if we go one nil up we can switch seamlessly to 3 at the back and put Lingard in at right wing-back

Rojo has been back in training for a few weeks so shouldn't be far short off match fitness, and Shaw needs a chance to run off his puppy fat, and chasing Mané and Salah for 90 minutes will do him the world of good.

Yeah i'm desperate for us to get shown our arse, der

 

[Morpheus 7]

Any chance we can remember we're Manchester United, and forget about how the other team will play, certainly at home ?

I'm confident of getting a good result against them. They have only beat us twice in 10 years at Old Trafford in the league. Anychance you can remember who has been playing all season more like.One of the biggest games and you want to experiment with loads who aren't matchfit. You want to put Bailly at right back, Rojo who hasn't been ready to play in months. I agree Shaw should play, even Bailly but at Cb. I'm not only concerned with the other team but with the transition from defense to attack for United. The slowest midfield of all time selected by you in Carrick, Matic and Mata. I'm confident in Jose and United. I want our best players on the pitch, Pogba and Alexis could be huge in this game despite recent form.

 

[reddevil702]

Imagine not having to worry about being dropped from your team because you’re still making money and eventually another team that actually focuses on fluid attacking play can sign you and pay you just as much or more

How many teams can realistically buy either one and still pay them their wages? PSG is really the only one that comes to mind. So neither is going anywhere and they should be dropped if performances don't improve, no one should be immune. Pogba especially has no excuses after he was played in a mid 3 with two other defensive mids.

 

[edgar allan]

Any chance we can remember we're Manchester United, and forget about how the other team will play, certainly at home ?

Been so long now I can barely remember those wonderful days.

 

[ti vu]

Any chance we can remember we're Manchester United, and forget about how the other team will play, certainly at home ?

I remember last year Carrick got pressed off the game by L'pool even though he was in top form.

 

[Darkhorsez]

Been so long now I can barely remember those wonderful days.

TBF ... we’ve been pretty decent at home. Even against Shitty - I felt that we could and should have turned them over.

 

[Solver]

Any chance we can remember we're Manchester United, and forget about how the other team will play, certainly at home ?

that's the spirit. I don't get all this fear of the dippers. This club nearly always gets the better of them; besides, even if they win what do they get besides the 3 points? they haven't won nuffink in younks!

 

[whatwha]

I doubt we'll lose at Old Trafford, we almost never do. Nor do I see us playing well enough to win without major luck. That leaves: Draw.

 

[Jonno]

Bullshit.
Been very critical of him for a month now, but I guarantee there's no one who'll be unhappy with a win...no one.

No not bullshit, you misinterpreted what I meant. I’m sure all will be happy to win but then proceed to pick apart Mourinhos performance, tactics and team selection

 

[Class of 63]

Nah seriously man you couldn't have picked a worser team if you tried. Carrick in for his first PL start against Liverpool of all teams? A midfield of Carrick, Matic and Mata? That would be the slowest midfield ever. Suicide against Liverpool's high intensity midfielders. Rojo has been out for a while and even if ready I wouldn't throw him in straight away. Lingard on the wing is very poor. Much better centrally. Bailly isn't a RB. He could do a job there but it's an experiment. You don't want to be experimenting in games like this. I can understand dropping players who aren't playing well but only if you have adequate replacements otherwise what's the point?

Throw Fellaini in at left wing-back, and Romero as a no.8 perhaps

Horses for courses methinks, it's not ideal, but if we revert back to 4-2-3-1, and we played our best football this season with that system, who would you prefer alongside Matic, Carrick an ultimate professional disciplined to the core, or Paul walkabouts Pogba ?

Rojo is fit, if it's a straight choice between him and Lindelof(who looked shaky against Palace) to partner Smalling i'd go for experience in the fixture every time with Bailly probably needed elsewhere, and Rojo being more comfortable on the ball anyway.

Mata isn't in midfield in the system, and Lingard isn't on the wing, but in a fluid three behind Lukaku

Bailly played as many games at right-back as at centre-half in Spain, so hardly an experiment

 

[Class of 63]

I'm confident of getting a good result against them. They have only beat us twice in 10 years at Old Trafford in the league. Anychance you can remember who has been playing all season more like.One of the biggest games and you want to experiment with loads who aren't matchfit. You want to put Bailly at right back, Rojo who hasn't been ready to play in months. I agree Shaw should play, even Bailly but at Cb. I'm not only concerned with the other team but with the transition from defense to attack for United. The slowest midfield of all time selected by you in Carrick, Matic and Mata. I'm confident in Jose and United. I want our best players on the pitch, Pogba and Alexis could be huge in this game despite recent form.

I'm confident, maybe over confident we'll win whatever team Mourinho picks and whichever system he chooses, these are the games he lives for, and hopefully it will be the start of a great week for the club.

Football intelligence over pace and power every day of the week for me, you might come unstuck the odd game, but over a period of time letting the ball do the work is key

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

Klopp went ultra defensive last season.

Big part of that was because we had no real counter attacking threat. Mane was injured and Salah was at Roma. Lallana-Origi-Firmino was the front 3.

Will be a different cup of tea this time. Suspect we'll invite you onto us and then look to hit fast on the break. Mane-Firmino-Salah with Chamberlain at the tip of midfield is a sure bet.

 

[Gasolin]

Big part of that was because we had no real counter attacking threat. Mane was injured and Salah was at Roma. Lallana-Origi-Firmino was the front 3.

Will be a different cup of tea this time. Suspect we'll invite you onto us and then look to hit fast on the break. Mane-Firmino-Salah with Chamberlain at the tip of midfield is a sure bet.

There is only one problem: Jose doesn't like to play the ball neither. So he will give it to you and you will attack.

 

[tenpoless]

Quite confident because it's a home game.
If if's an away game at Anfield We'd be fecked.

 

[Liver_bird]

Big part of that was because we had no real counter attacking threat. Mane was injured and Salah was at Roma. Lallana-Origi-Firmino was the front 3.

Will be a different cup of tea this time. Suspect we'll invite you onto us and then look to hit fast on the break. Mane-Firmino-Salah with Chamberlain at the tip of midfield is a sure bet.

We used a diamond too.

 

[red_de_pologne]

it will be another comeback, 2-1.

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

There is only one problem: Jose doesn't like to play the ball neither. So he will give it to you and you will attack.

You're at home, I can't see you parking 11 men in your half.

We used a diamond too.

TAA's debut too if I recall correctly.

 

[kr0nix]

You're at home, I can't see you parking 11 men in your half.

Did you miss the City derby earlier this season?

 

[Shark]

it will be another comeback, 2-1.

Not sure if I’d be able for another comeback. I’ve lost enough years watching the past two matches.

 

[roonster09]

Will be interesting to see if McTominay starts after his poor performance against Palace. Hopefully we don't sit back against these, they conceded 5 against City away, 4 against Spurs away, 3 against Arsenal away. Salah threat is always worrying with his pace, so hopefully Bailly is fit to start this game.

 

[Speedy30]

Will be interesting to see if McTominay starts after his poor performance against Palace. Hopefully we don't sit back against these, they conceded 5 against City away, 4 against Spurs away, 3 against Arsenal away. Salah threat is always worrying with his pace, so hopefully Bailly is fit to start this game.

We did concede a load of goals in those games but we've tightened up massively since then. Our CB pairings during those games consisted of Lovren/Klavan and Lovren/Matip and we had Mignolet in goal.
Van Dijk has brought some much needed organisation to our back line and Karius (whilst still not top class) is improving with every match. We're a completely different prospect to what City, Spurs and Arsenal faced when we played away to them so I'm looking forward to seeing them tested properly.

 

[SwSw]

Definitely see us sitting back and parking the bus.

 

[roonster09]

We did concede a load of goals in those games but we've tightened up massively since then. Our CB pairings during those games consisted of Lovren/Klavan and Lovren/Matip and we had Mignolet in goal.
Van Dijk has brought some much needed organisation to our back line and Karius (whilst still not top class) is improving with every match. We're a completely different prospect to what City, Spurs and Arsenal faced when we played away to them so I'm looking forward to seeing them tested properly.

Maybe because you faced some very average teams since Spurs scored 2 at Anfield?

Played Southampton away (17th placed team)
West Ham and Newcastle at Home. (14th and 16th)

I agree there is improvement but not sure how much that had to do with the teams you faced.

 

[RAVred]

I feel like winning this would do wonders for us. Mourinho is getting his mojo back in terms of game management, and the team in general is on a high after two come back wins.

Winning this would be massive

 

[Speedy30]

Maybe because you faced some very average teams since Spurs scored 2 at Anfield?

Played Southampton away (17th placed team)
West Ham and Newcastle at Home. (14th and 16th)

I agree there is improvement but not sure how much that had to do with the teams you faced.

Which is why I said that I'm looking forward to seeing the back line properly tested

 

[Freak]

Form goes out of the window in these games. I want us to get a win whichever way. I don’t care if we park the bus and do a smash and grab. Just get the bloody 3 points and move on.

 

[Dumbstar]

Neutral football fans around the world will be tuning in to see one team play. This is not a game Jose needs to win. He has bigger priorities coming up in the cups and a slowly growing injury/tiredness list.

Jose might be boring but he certainly is not stupid. On this occasion I might actually not disagree with his tactics so much.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

This surprises me.

(source)

Liverpool and Vardy are obvious.

Our counter attacks are not so bad after all.

 

[roonster09]

Neutral football fans around the world will be tuning in to see one team play. This is not a game Jose needs to win. He has bigger priorities coming up in the cups and a slowly growing injury/tiredness list.

Jose might be boring but he certainly is not stupid. On this occasion I might actually not disagree with his tactics so much.

It's funny to read Liverpool fan posts.

 

[LLMU]

I hope this is not another stalemate as Mourinho's strategy in the past few meetings were to stifle them.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

Our best matching defender?

Smalling v Firmino
- should be fine with Smalling's good form, physical tussle battle.

Valencia v Mane
- should work, matching power v power, pace v pace, Tony V could put Mane out of the game.

??? v Salah
- is the tricky question.

Lindelof? no.
Bailly? promising and reassuring, but his match fitness and actual fitness is worrying.
Young? not so good defensively.
Shaw? better defensively and have the pace to match Salah, would be a big test and if he pass, could even be perma starter.
Darmian? he seriously could do the job, if he just focus on defending, match fitness is uncertain though.

Ok this is hard just go with 5 at the back and fast break hit 'em hard,

Valencia---Lindelof---Smalling---Bailly---Shaw/Darmian
​

*Lindelof to play as the extra supporting defender, while both Bailly and our LB nullify Salah.

 

[edgar allan]

TBF ... we’ve been pretty decent at home. Even against Shitty - I felt that we could and should have turned them over.

We have been good at home but I thought we were awful in the City game.