LFC : Building up for the United game

There will be no BPL games for this weekend due to the "International break". Talks have started amongst the Liverpool fans on who's going to win, or who will be playing, who will score the goals, etc.

It is interesting to read and to listen to all the 'opinions' that has been voiced out by the Reds faithful. In this new era, the digital-time where information is so easy to be obtain, everyone seems to be a 'pro'. I'm not saying I'm a 'pro' myself.

There is no 'wrong' and there is no 'right'. Everybody has their own opinion and thoughts. They just want to see and to hear great things about their favorite club. They'd be saying how should the team play, or who should play. This player should be playing as a striker or that player should not play at all. Everyone cares ....

Just like the 'pundits' on TV, they can be wrong and they can be right. There is no certainty in their statements or remarks. At the end of the day, it comes down to the manager, coaching staffs and the players themselves to make sure they perform and get good results. These people are the only ones that knows what is actually going on at the club.

It is also something assuring that we might have our captain back in the starting line-up for next week's crunching game against Man Utd. As of now, I am assuming that he will start. After getting some minutes against Brighton, Wolves & Everton, I'd reckon Stevie G will be ready for United. All is up to the manager and the coaching staff. We shall see the progress and things will be clearer by Thursday next week when the King usually holds a press-conference with the reporters at Melwood.

What's it going to be? A win, we will close the gap to 3 points, but a lost, that's just mean we are not 'there' yet. If I serve my memory right, we met United 3 times last season and we didn't do too bad. 2 losses and a win. Why I said 'didn't do too bad' ?? Honestly we were better than United in two games.

The first one, a hat-trick from Berba and 2 goals from Stevie G. Liverpool didn't play great that time and we would be lucky if we could snatch a draw. But Berba was too hot too handle. Our 2nd meeting with United was Kenny's 1st game in-charge after Roy was 'relieved' from his post and we lost 0-1. It was a game I personally thought where Liverpool had the better 'attitude' compared with United. A soft penalty was given and our captain was dismissed and the team had to play with 10-men. The 3rd meeting between them Liverpool really outplayed United with our Dutch master scored a hat-trick. A duplicate of Berba's earlier performances and it was a joy to watch as the United team crumbled with the genius of Luis Suarez.

United started strongly this season and they are currently the pack leader. Liverpool is not doing too bad either. 2 'blips' against Spurs and Stoke but we are still there. Players are playing and performing better week-in and week-out and the inclusion of Stevie G seems to lighten up everyone more.

If the captain starts, I presume the game will 'explode' very early. Obviously, the first 10 minutes of the game these two teams will try to cancel out each other and try to get the grip of the occasion. An early goal from either side will not guarantee the end result. Stevie has it in him to be the man to 'orchestrate' the 'play'. After so long being in the side-lines he will be as anxious as a 'school boy' but I hope with his vast experience he will keep a cool head. We don't want the team to be playing with 10-men again.

If the manager decides the 'keep' Stevie for the later stages of the game, I'd say Lucas will have a very

important role to break the United attacks. Not to say if the captain starts the Brazillian will have a different role, only the 'frequency' of the game might be slightly different with the captain on the field.

Key Figure       ~ footballpictures.net

Lucas and Gerrard will definitely play a 'key' role. Unlike previous seasons we will be scratching our heads on who will be our 'star' performer but under Kenny Dalglish, the team doesn't seem to struggle if 1 or 2 players are 'missing'.

Yes, I did say Lucas and Gerrard will be the 'key' players, but we also have Adam, Suarez, Carroll, Enrique, Downing, which all can be equally said to have the chance to destroy United. They just need to be in form on 'D-day'.

YNWA