Premiership
Old Trafford
Sunday, 23 March; KO: 13:30 BST


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Premiership Table:


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As Sir Alex famously once said, it's squeeky bum time.
Matches don't come much bigger than this, and with Chelsea entertaining Arsenal also on Sunday,
it could be a decisive weekend in the title race.


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FORM GUIDE





Quote:

18 Mar v Bolton (h) WON 2-0 (Prem) 15 Mar v Derby (a) WON 1-0 (Prem) 08 Mar v Portsmouth (h) LOST 0-1 (FA Cup) 04 Mar v Lyon (h) WON 1-0 (CL) 01 Mar v Fulham (a) WON 3-0 (Prem) 23 Feb v Newcastle (a) WON 5-1 (Prem)

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Quote:

15 Mar v Reading (h) WON 2-1 (Prem) 11 Mar v Internazionale (a) WON 1-0 (CL) 08 Mar v Newcastle (h) WON 3-0 (Prem) 05 Mar v West Ham (h) WON 4-0 (Prem) 02 Mar v Bolton (a) WON 3-1 (Prem) 23 Feb v Middlesbrough (h) WON 3-2 (Prem)

Easter is traditionally the time of the season when titles are won and lost, and on Sunday, the ‘Big Four’ in the Premier League
all meet in what is sure to be a day that sorts the men from the boys in this year’s championship race.

The day kicks off early in the afternoon when the two most successful clubs in English football history meet at


Old Trafford

in a game that is always keenly contested.

Only a few miles separate Liverpool and United geographically, but this season the Red Devils are once again enjoying superiority
over their major rivals in the League.

Yet, it is Liverpool though who are the form side, having won seven consecutive games since there embarrassing exit from the FA Cup
at the hands of Barnsley.

The Reds have found some form since manager Rafa Benitez settled on his first choice line-up, where the excellent
Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso sit in front of the back four, allowing Steven Gerrard the freedom to support
in-form Fernando Torres in attack.

Benitez has come in for some unfair criticism this season, with much of the media expecting his side
to become champions despite spending considerably less than United in the summer.

This game is a chance for Liverpool to finally get one over there local rivals, having never beaten United since Benitez became manager in 2004.



Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is set to miss out again with a back injury but keeper Edwin Van der Sar could return after a back injury.

Gerard Pique may continue in place of Ferdinand while striker Louis Saha is expected to shake off a knock.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has no new injury worries so he could field the same side that beat Reading.

However, he could opt to use the experienced John Arne Riise in midfield ahead of Ryan Babel.




(from):


Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster
Hargreaves, Pique, Brown, Vidic, Evra, Ferdinand, O'Shea
Ronaldo, Fletcher, Anderson, Nani, Giggs, Park, Carrick, Scholes,
Saha, Tevez, Rooney




(from):


Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio, Riise, Babel, Benayoun, Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Pennant, Itandje, Voronin, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres,




Quote:

Originally Posted by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: "The Liverpool game brings out a certain anticipation in players. It's a game all the players want to play in. "You can't avoid the intensity of it - the tension, the atmosphere. "If we play to our form we will have a good chance against anyone. We hope we can continue our form and get the result we want."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez: "There is no special plan for dealing with Cristiano Ronaldo. "United also have Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the rest. If you concentrated on just Ronaldo you would lose control of the others. "It is not about stopping Ronaldo. United must think, no doubt, about stopping Fernando Torres. Ronaldo is in form, but Torres is also in form."

Stage Set For



Torres

&


Ronaldo


The game is also a chance for United to extend there lead at the top of the league, and despite not finding their best form in recent weeks,
they will be confident of continuing their excellent recent record against Liverpool.

United have been solid rather than spectacular in recent games, and with Ronaldo in their team
as long as they keep it tight at the back they will always get goals.

United won the earlier fixture this season at Anfield through a goal from Carlos Tevez, but Alex Ferguson’s
were quite lucky to take all three points that day despite managing to keep Fernando Torres quiet.

Rio Ferdinand is a doubt for United, and Ferguson will be hoping that the England centre back will be fit because he has the pace to cope with Torres.

If Ferdinand is missing, Torres will fancy his chances of adding to his fantastic run of form - the Spanish forward has hit nine goals
in his last six appearances, and has become the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler
to score more than 20 goals in a season.

Torres is closing in of Ronaldo at the top of the scorer’s charts, and whichever of these in form players produces on the day could ensure
the three points for his side.

Elsewhere, however, both sides are brimming with quality - the midfield battle between Mascherano, Gerrard and Alonso on one side and
Anderson, Hargreaves and Scholes on the other will be fascinating.

Both sides will be quite content with a share of the spoils, so long as the later kick-off between Chelsea and Arsenal ends all square, however a win for United and they will be closing in on their 10th Premier League crown.

If Liverpool can take maximum points and Chelsea fail to beat Arsenal, The Reds could start to target a 3rd place finish, but for now they will be happy to see off the thread of Mersey rivals Everton and finish in the top four.

The stage has been set, and the biggest day in the Premier League this season should begin with a riveting and passionate tussle
between these two heavyweights of the English game.



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BIG-MATCH FACTS



Arch enemies Manchester United and Liverpool clash at the Theatre of Dreams, with the Red Devils
seeking a fifth league victory on the bounce and the Merseysiders, a sixth.

United have 11 more points than Liverpool, and have forged a three-point cushion between themselves at the summit,
and Arsenal courtesy of Wednesday's 2-0 home win over Bolton.
With eight to play, they're now in pole position to win a 10th Premier League title.

It's crunch time for Liverpool, with the Merseyside derby home to Everton, following hot on the heels of this.
Both clubs vying for that fourth Champions League qualifying berth.
Then Liverpool face Arsenal in three successive matches in the league and the Champions League quarter-finals.

Liverpool are looking for their 50th league victory over Manchester United in the 150th clash between the two;
all but the first four were in the top-flight.



CLUB FORM:

Club stats
Fixtures

1. The loss to Portsmouth in the FA Cup was their first defeat in eight (all competitions).

2. Won eight of the last 10, including the last four against Newcastle (a), Fulham (a), Derby (a) and Bolton (h).

3. Secured 22 victories, dropped 20 points, scored 61 goals, at one every 44 minutes on average, and conceded 15, at one every 180 minutes
(three hours), or every two games on average; the best in all four categories.

4. Registered the joint fewest draws, alongside Reading; four each.

5. Exceeded last season's total of clean sheets by two to 18; only Chelsea have also managed 17 this term.

6. Opened the scoring in an unmatched 24 games (won 21, and lost just one of them);
and allowed the opposition to score first in five matches - that's fewer occasions than any other club.

7. Second to Liverpool in the "Last Six Current Form" table with 16 points.
Liverpool have 16.

8. Scored 15 goals in the last 10 minutes, 10 of which were in the last five minutes, seven of those being in stoppage time;
no club can beat those, although Arsenal and Reading can match their stoppage time return.

9. Lost two of 31 home league games.

10. This is the second of three successive home fixtures.
Aston Villa visit Old Trafford next, before the Champions League quarter-final away leg to AS Roma, and a league trip to Middlesbrough.

Club stats
Fixtures

1. Won all seven games since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley on 16 February - their only defeat in 10 (all competitions).

2. Unbeaten in seven; won six and drew one since defeat at West Ham on 30 January - their only loss in 14.

3. Lost three times; only Arsenal have been beaten less frequently (just once).

4. Drawn 11 - only Fulham match that.

5. Conceded 21 goals; only Manchester United (15) have shipped fewer.

Also, allowed the opposition to score first in seven games; only Manchester United can better that (five times).

6. One of two clubs not have picked up a red card from matches in this league this season;
Bolton is the other.

Also, shown 37 cards; only Everton have a better disciplinary record with 33 cards (30 yellow, three red).

7. Registered five goalless draws.
Only Portsmouth have also been involved in as many as that.

8. Won 111 and lost 111 away from home in this league, and two shy of scoring 400 goals on their Premier League travels.

9. Won one of the last five away from home (1-3 against Bolton at the Reebok on 2 March) and not lost on the road to a North-West club the season, nor in six since a 1-0 reverse to Blackburn on Boxing Day 2006.

10. This is the first of a series of gripping fixtures.
Next Sunday, near neighbours Everton are entertained.

Three days later its to the Emirates Stadium for the first of two fixtures with Arsenal in four days,
before the Gunners come to Anfield on the following Tuesday.
There after Blackburn are hosted in another North-West league derby.

KEY PLAYER NOTES








Cristiano RONALDO

is Manchester United's top scorer with 33 goals; the highest ever in one season by a winger in the clubs' history.


RONALDO is also their leading Premier League marksman with 24 from 24 starts, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.

Wayne ROONEY needs one goal to total 50 in the Premier League for Manchester United.

If on the field from the outset:-

ROONEY will make his 150th career league start (Everton and Manchester United).

Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).

Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.









Fernando TORRES

is Liverpool's top scorer with 27 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 20.

TORRES has become only the second player to score at least 20 Premier League goals for Liverpool in a season.
Robbie Fowler scored 25 in 1994-95, and 28 in 1995-96.

Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one
of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.

REINA leads the race for the Barclays Golden Glove going into this batch of Premier League fixtures, having kept 14 clean sheets.

HEAD TO HEAD

Manchester United are looking for a fifth straight Premier League victory over Liverpool.

Liverpool have failed to score in their last six Premier League matches with United.

The only league goal accredited to them against the Red Devils under Rafa Benitez was an own goal from John O'Shea,
in the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford on 20 September 2004.

Victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side will complete a fifth Premier League double over the Merseysiders and second in as many seasons.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Man United 57 wins, Liverpool 49, Draws 43
Prem: Man United 17 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 7

at Man Utd only
League (inc PL): Man United 35 wins, Liverpool 14, Draws 25
Prem: Man United 8 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 4




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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Man Utd vs Liverpool
2 (1) - 0 (0)

22 October 2006 - Ref: Graham Poll



Manchester United scorers:


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Scholes 39





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Ferdinand 66





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THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Liverpool vs Man Utd
0 (0) - 1 (1)

16 December 2007 - Ref: Mark Halsey



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Manchester United scorers:


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Tevez 43




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REFEREE:

Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)

[ 本帖最后由 卡里克 于 2008-3-23 23:28 编辑 ]

魔幻周末:D

曼联还输的起，今晚阿森纳是被逼上绝路了

输了还是第一
没什么太大压力的比赛
C罗要雄起啊
争取第一次攻破利物浦的球门！

我军逆转第一步!

为入球场看曼联比赛 女球迷疯狂减肥102公斤2008-03-23 09:45:53　来源: 网易体育专稿　 作者：junior 　网友评论 29 条 进入论坛

• 　　一位超胖女球迷，因为到老特拉福德看她心爱的曼联比赛被球场的十字旋转门卡住，因此决心减肥。2年后，她终于减去了接近102公斤的重量，可以舒服地到现场看球……

老特拉福德看台上的丽莎和她昔日体型对比网易体育3月23日消息

我买利物浦,我顶托雷斯

盘口目前变化不算大，很稳定。

我联今晚要煲级，低调小胜足矣！

１：０小胜！厂子车子打平！

引用:

原帖由 藕是张力 于 2008-3-23 14:50 发表

现在谁能和我对抗？

立博死活上不去，从昨晚就是，你们能访问吗？

引用:

原帖由 C罗 于 2008-3-23 14:54 发表

现在谁能和我对抗？

看他根小马哥血洗你

弗格森说：“对于利物浦，我只有一点可以肯定，这个赛季，要说他们还想夺冠，那是笑话。”

RP啊

06年择偶标准：萝莉、贫乳、美腿、骨感、金色卷发！
07年择偶标准：平，但有内涵的短发女王！
08年择偶标准：小眯眼的邻家妹子！
09年择偶标准：是女人就行！