Biggest Liverpool vs United game in years?

Biggest Liverpool vs United game in years?

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Biggest Liverpool vs United game in years?
While United vs Liverpool has long been established as the biggest domestic league game in England for decades, is Monday’s fixture the biggest we have seen in recent memory?

Let me put this into context, both teams are coming off some of their worst seasons respectively. United are no longer the force of old, while Liverpool haven’t been a force for some time. Liverpool have momentum while United are stuttering.

Both teams invested heavily in their managers and have brought in two of the best in the world and of course being Liverpool and United the two managers are polar opposites, one is a charismatic loveable German who doesn’t like to waste money on huge transfer fees and loves to play swashbuckling attacking football, the other an arrogant self-centred Portuguese tactician, who has spent 100s of millions on signing and like to play safe and win at all costs. Football ethos or personalities aside they are both proven world class managers.

Both teams are beckoning in a new era under their new managers and this will be the first time they lock horns, Klopp has the better track record head to head but untied always seems to have what it takes to overturn Liverpool in the league, no matter how poorly they play.

So is this the starting point of a long and fierce rivalry? Will a victory for either team set the tone for the new few years? IF the Liverpool attack over run United and put them to the sword 4-0 will one victory mentally give Liverpool the edge for years to come? Or will United aerial prowess exploit Liverpool weak underbelly in the set-pieces.

Or am I just over excited?
Dallen (Monday is too far away) Luimneach

Will we see some attacking football from Mourinho?
Monday could see Jose in another dilemma. I wrote in just before the Utd vs City game and pondered how Jose would set up and whether the fact he was under pressure to produce a more attacking style at Utd and not do his usual bus parking set up. On that particular day he seemed to set up fairly defensively (say a mini bus, if you will). It wasn’t until the game was nearly out of reach that he tried attacking and nearly got something from the game.

I think after the way results have gone for Utd, he’s facing the same predicament. Does he attack Liverpool and face an onslaught of pressing and completely open the game up or does he sit back and potentially face the same situation he was at against City? Playing away from home might even suit his negative tactics better. Hitting Liverpool on the counter could be fruitful but I’m sure Klopp will ready for that.

Sitting back away from home won’t cause too many concerns from Utd fans about the style of play IF they get a result but just look at what happens when you attack – 7 points from Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea away from home. I guess I’m just wondering when we’re going to see the attacking football Jose promised when he took the job.

Will Monday be that day?
Jimmy (Never wished Monday to come so soon on a Friday) Spain

A great Mail on Huddersfield
I’d been planning to write this mail for a week or two, and I had I done so before today it would’ve been subtly different; simply because it’s been covered – albeit briefly – by 365 this very morning. Which is nice. I’m referring of course to “Big Weekend” quite justifiably – in my view – picking Huddersfield vs Sheffield Wednesday as the FL game to watch this weekend, and in doing so providing a little coverage of the Championship League Leaders.

League Leaders. Feels weird saying it, even now. Norwich replaced us for a couple of days, but other than that we’ve been sitting-pretty up there for most of the season. It’s the first time since the end of last century (!). Back then we were still there at Christmas (under Steve Bruce, funnily enough) but ended up messing it up so badly that we didn’t even make the play-offs – which preceded some, well, let’s just say dark times. That’s only one of the reasons very, very few of us really believe it’ll last, or even that we’ll be in the top six come the end of the season – but if you can’t enjoy something like this, then what’s the point?

Storey’s quite right in saying that some people saw something brewing at the club during the latter part of last season (since Wagner took over, essentially), which is why us Huddersfield supporters were pretty (unusually?) optimistic at the start of the season – though few of us expected quite so good a start! On the other hand, those people whose “analysis” of the league is limited to a glance at last season’s table and at the last few results will have expected quite the opposite of this blistering start. That’s fine, unless of course you’re (highly) paid to cover the division – I’m looking at you, Holloway and Iwelumo.

Cynics, certain pundits, rival fans and curmudgeons will no doubt be looking to explain it all away by making one or more of a number of arguments or assumptions:

* League tables mean nothing at this stage. Well sure, although it’s worth pointing out to those unfamiliar with the Championship’s schedule that we’ve played eleven games – that’s a quarter of the season, more-or-less, which isn’t insignificant. Even so, virtually no-one is saying we’ll stay there anyway.

* Must have had an easy start – hardly. In a wonderful piece of symmetry, our opening game was identical to the last game of last season – and we’d lost that (at home) 5-1! Our second and third games were away trips, in the space of three days, to Newcastle and Aston Villa. The only points we dropped in those three games were two against Villa – not many teams will win at St James’ Park this season.

* Must have spent loads of money. Actually that’s true, we did spend a lot in the Summer….by our standards. We broke our transfer record, but it was to replace our best defender who we lost to fans of FFP, QPR; it was still less than two million. Overall we spent less than five million – it’s a lot, but bear in mind some teams spent more than ten times that. It was also the culmination of a couple of seasons selling off our best players for decent profit, trimming the squad significantly and slashing the wage budget to make way. So a “reward” for good financial management, rather than the sort of “shopping spree” certain rivals have undertaken.

So although it may well not last – Newcastle are overwhelming favourites for a reason, and for all that some pundits and the like seem to view us as irritants “keeping the seat warm” for them, we’re there on merit – and we’re having a lovely time.
Lukas

The Christmas TV schedule
So the latest games on the Christmas TV hit list have just been announced. I understand the majority of readers will not be in attendance at games given the wide reach of such an excellent website, and will be licking their lips at some of those televised games.

However spare a thought for the travelling away fan, who with the increase in the number of TV games has more hurdles to jump.

I myself attend about 5-10 West Brom away games a season, cash allowing. Like most frugal fans I try to arrange travel via trains in advance as the savings are enormous (anything up to £120 return to London). Other fans will book hotel rooms or even plane journeys I’m sure. No sooner have I and some mates booked advanced rail to Chelsea away, trying to save cash in the build up to Christmas, than the game is moved. Frustrating in the extreme (we had a trip to the Hyde Park Christmas market in mind before the last train home).

Given the huge “business model” the PL and its clubs now operate under, can we somehow help away fans out? Could deals be struck with train companies that make tickets and bookings easier to refund and exchange. A deal with premier inn or travel lodge, and virgin trains, struck by the PL would be a great start, and the costs must be miniscule compared to the income generated by TV rights. I’d also like to see a knock on effect through the live televised leagues too.
Away fans really do contribute to an atmosphere at a match and If you want away fans at the football, the support needs to be there.
Rusty (No longer looking forward to mulled wine and a big German sausage) Gray, West Bromwich Albion FC

Alternative stories
Lovely idea by Red Paul, I’ve looked at the F365 article “Wenger: I can rely on Giroud in the big games” and made some changes for you:

Wenger: I can’t rely on Giroud in the big games
Olivier Giroud will miss Saturday’s game against Swansea through injury, but has been left on the bench by Wenger even when fit. The Gunners manager seems to share the opinion of many Arsenal fans that the French goal ace isn’t up to scratch.
“Before the competition [Euro 2016], the supporters didn’t want him” said the Arsenal boss who will be looking to Sanchez for his goal threat over the coming games.

Wenger has also criticised his striker’s lack of mental strength and REVEALED EXCLUSIVELY to us:
“The criticism does knock him. He’s not made of metal.”

Despite this Wenger will hope he can iron out any problems in his front line and have the necessary steel at the back to nickel three points. Otherwise he might need his tin hat.
Kevin G

…Great suggestion by Red Paul for a Friday Mailbox game. Here are my suggestions for Football365 stories as tabloid ones;

Rashford DESTROYS Lovren ahead of battle of the Reds England Star Marcus ‘mint’ Rashford today stated that Liverpool’s defenders are nothing to be scared of as he prepares to face them in the Monday night showdown. Rashers stated that none of them are as good as Laurent Koscielny who is ‘a difficult defender to play against’ but had no such words for Lovren. Lovren will be DESPARATE for revenge come Monday.

Wenger CONFIRMS Giroud too weak for Premier League Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger today SENSATIONALLY confirmed that mis-firing striker Oliver Giroud is too sensitive for the Premier League and will never cut it at the top. In comments that will SHOCK loyal Gunners fans the aging Frenchman RANTED that ‘the supporters didn’t want him’, that ‘he’s sensitive but sensitive’ and just ‘wants to be loved’. Wenger is basically BLAMING Giroud for the fact ‘he has gone through tough times’

Klopp better than Jose- OFFICIAL The PREMIER LEAGUE confirmed that Jurgen Klopp is officially BETTER than Jose Mourinho today. The league STUNNED fans with their announcement in London. Klopp then ramped up the pressure on Mourinho ahead of Magnificent Monday as he struck a royal tone stating ‘I went into the office and said, ‘We are Manager of the Month!’

Hazard tells ALMOST SACKED Conte ‘I pick where I play, not you!’ Eden Hazard BATTERED under-fire Manager Antonio Conte by TIRADING him over his position. The Belgium troubadour’s OUTBURST comes as MickiBet365 suspended betting on Conte being sacked. The mercurial Wallonian DRIBBLED ‘I…play as a 10. Sometimes at Chelsea we don’t (even) play with system with a number 10. I…think Chelsea wants to change just for me (to play) as a 10’. Conte then SIDESTEPPED the confrontation by making no mention whatsoever at his weekly press conference.
Micki Attridge

Some weekend predictions
Chelsea v Leicester – I fancy Leicester to catch out the Chelsea Pensioner backline. Foxes to get their own back on the landed gentry. 1-2

Arsenal v Swansea – New manager bounce should see Swansea in the end zone against the original Franchise FC. I think it will be a tough afternoon at the Death Star for the goons who usually come unstuck against the Swansea boyo’s. 1-1

Bournemouth v Hull – Nobody outside these towns/cities care and neither do I. N/A – N/A

Man City v Everton – City will be Pepped up for this after their humbling at the hands of Pochettino two weeks ago. The Toffees could be in a sticky spot here – 3-0

Stoke v Sunderland – DULL. Sunderland for a narrow win as they’re crucial to Daniel Levy’s business plan. 0-1

West Brom v Spurs – Spurs will romp it. Top side. Best in the league. Pulis wanted for (football) war crimes. For the good of football, let the football team win. 0-5

Palace v West Ham – A massive London derby if you’re a cockney chimney sweep or a Croydonista. Nobody else. I want to predict both teams to lose but seeing as West Ham managed to get a football stadium for the same price as a two bedroom flat in Westminster, I want them to lose and go down. 2-1

Boro v Watford – I fancy Boro to smash Elton John’s boys. Negredo at the double. 2-0

Southampton v Burnley – This will be a fairly comfortable win for South Coast Big Club. Nobody likes em and they’re doing their best to be mildly relevant but in truth, they should be down with Pompey in League 2, or renamed ‘Liverpool Academy’

Liverpool v Man Utd – Utd will awaken in this game. Mourinho has Liverpool’s number and Jurgen Klopp is approximately 300% overrated. Their all out attack should leave the back door open for Ibra to smash in. 1-3
Ross THFC (The tipster Degsy wishes he was)

Well done EA Sports
A thumbs up to EA Sports and actually Kicking out Racism – With the new Fifa 17 game being released, and a new feature “The Journey”, which involves a storyline following a certain Alex Hunter on the road to being a professional footballer, it was actually warming to see the non-customizable lead character being black or of mixed-race.

I am white, and I do not know if a stance or display of anti-racism was intended when designing and planning the game, but I’m sure this decision may have been up for discussion at some point, and I am sure sales or revenue would not have been affected in any major way, had the lead character been white.

A decision was made with a choice in front of them, which was unlikely to be a flip of a coin, so I must take my hats off to the boys up in Canada for this small but large step towards eradicating something that really shouldn’t be around in the 2016.

The rumours of racist reviews and complaints against this feature, I read, was also grossly exaggerated. The world’s slowly becoming a better place.
Stig, MUFC

The ‘next’: A new low
Just saw an article claiming Real Madrid are swooping for the ‘next’ Martin Odegaard

What next? Liverpool launching a £29m bid for Croatian Wonderkid on the back of pre-school egg and spoon race? Chelsea Agreeing a deal with GlaxoSmithKlyne as their official IVF partner in a bid to monopolise embryos? Luis Enrique claiming Arsenal Sperm Sample has ‘Barcelona DNA’ as they publicly tap him up before launching a modest bid that is drastically short of market value?
John, Cork

Aha!
Thoroughly enjoying the extracts from Rob Beasley’s book on Jose Mourinho in Mediawatch.

I don’t know if Steve Coogan is a fan of the Football 365 mailbox but Steve – if you’re reading this – please, please please can you release an audiobook of it in the voice of Alan Partridge?

By any chance, does Rob conclude every paragraph with the phrase “needless to say, Jose had the last laugh”?
Daniel Slater, London