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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Man Utd v Liverpool | Man Utd v Liverpool |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Match report to follow later. | |
| News conference: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez | News conference: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez |
| BIG-MATCH FACTS | BIG-MATCH FACTS |
| MANCHESTER UNITED against Liverpool is a game in which the home club have the upper hand. Sir Alex Ferguson's side may have been knocked off the top by Chelsea before this Sunday fixture gets underway, but the title chasers have won twice as many Premiership matches as Liverpool (six to three) and lead them by eight points - the pair having both played eight matches. Defeat for the visitors would leave them trailing by 11 points and would severely dent their hopes of catching up. | MANCHESTER UNITED against Liverpool is a game in which the home club have the upper hand. Sir Alex Ferguson's side may have been knocked off the top by Chelsea before this Sunday fixture gets underway, but the title chasers have won twice as many Premiership matches as Liverpool (six to three) and lead them by eight points - the pair having both played eight matches. Defeat for the visitors would leave them trailing by 11 points and would severely dent their hopes of catching up. |
| This match will mark Paul Scholes' 500th career appearance in a Manchester United shirt, and Wayne Rooney's 100th for the Old Trafford club. | This match will mark Paul Scholes' 500th career appearance in a Manchester United shirt, and Wayne Rooney's 100th for the Old Trafford club. |
| United have won twice as many Premiership matches as they have lost against Liverpool (won 14, lost seven). Only one goal was scored in the two League meetings last season. That was Rio Ferdinand's last minute header, which snatched all three points in an uninspiring corresponding fixture, and sparked Gary Neville's disgraceful celebration in front of the Liverpool fans. | United have won twice as many Premiership matches as they have lost against Liverpool (won 14, lost seven). Only one goal was scored in the two League meetings last season. That was Rio Ferdinand's last minute header, which snatched all three points in an uninspiring corresponding fixture, and sparked Gary Neville's disgraceful celebration in front of the Liverpool fans. |
| LIVERPOOL are an enigma this season. They've dropped only two points at home, but are still to win away. The opening day 1-1 draw at Sheffield United is their only point and only goal from four games on the road this season. As that goal was a penalty from Robbie Fowler, Rafael Benitez' side are still to score from open play in a League game away from Anfield. | LIVERPOOL are an enigma this season. They've dropped only two points at home, but are still to win away. The opening day 1-1 draw at Sheffield United is their only point and only goal from four games on the road this season. As that goal was a penalty from Robbie Fowler, Rafael Benitez' side are still to score from open play in a League game away from Anfield. |
| Between them Liverpool and Manchester United have won 33 League titles. But the last of the Reds' record 18 was in 1989-90, since when the Red Devils have been crowned Premiership champions eight times, and are desperate this season to pick up their ninth and first in four attempts. Both sides enjoyed success in the Champions League midweek, but Liverpool, arguably, would have been given a greater confidence boost from a 0-1 victory over Bordeaux in France, than United would have gained from a 3-0 victory over Copenhagen at Old Trafford. | Between them Liverpool and Manchester United have won 33 League titles. But the last of the Reds' record 18 was in 1989-90, since when the Red Devils have been crowned Premiership champions eight times, and are desperate this season to pick up their ninth and first in four attempts. Both sides enjoyed success in the Champions League midweek, but Liverpool, arguably, would have been given a greater confidence boost from a 0-1 victory over Bordeaux in France, than United would have gained from a 3-0 victory over Copenhagen at Old Trafford. |
| The Merseysiders are looking for a 50th League victory over United, and are hoping to complete back-to-back wins against them, having knocked the Red Devils out of the FA Cup on 18 February. Peter Crouch scored the only goal in that fifth round victory. | The Merseysiders are looking for a 50th League victory over United, and are hoping to complete back-to-back wins against them, having knocked the Red Devils out of the FA Cup on 18 February. Peter Crouch scored the only goal in that fifth round victory. |
| REFEREE | REFEREE |
| Graham Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire) Premiership referees' table Graham Poll's 2006-07 Premiership card count | Graham Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire) Premiership referees' table Graham Poll's 2006-07 Premiership card count |
| SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM | SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM |
| MANCHESTER UNITED Club stats Fixtures Going into the weekend: 1st 19 points(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures) | MANCHESTER UNITED Club stats Fixtures Going into the weekend: 1st 19 points(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures) |
| 1. Won the last four in all competitions. | 1. Won the last four in all competitions. |
| 2. Won 17 of 22 Premiership matches, including six of eight this season. | 2. Won 17 of 22 Premiership matches, including six of eight this season. |
| 3. Failed to score in just one top flight game this season (the 0-1 home loss to Arsenal on 17 September). | 3. Failed to score in just one top flight game this season (the 0-1 home loss to Arsenal on 17 September). |
| 4. One draw short of 1,000 in the club's League history. | 4. One draw short of 1,000 in the club's League history. |
| 5. Boast the best goal difference in the Premiership of +12. | 5. Boast the best goal difference in the Premiership of +12. |
| 6. Have the strongest attack in the Premier League of 17 goals, averaging one every 42 minutes of Premiership football played this season. | 6. Have the strongest attack in the Premier League of 17 goals, averaging one every 42 minutes of Premiership football played this season. |
| 7. Hold a 100% record when opening the scoring in League games this season (won five of five). | 7. Hold a 100% record when opening the scoring in League games this season (won five of five). |
| 8. Hold a 100% record when a Premiership clean sheet has been kept (won three of three). 9. Three away fixtures follow this, against Crewe in the Carling Cup, Bolton in the Premiership and FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, before returning to Old Trafford for the visit of Portsmouth. | 8. Hold a 100% record when a Premiership clean sheet has been kept (won three of three). 9. Three away fixtures follow this, against Crewe in the Carling Cup, Bolton in the Premiership and FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, before returning to Old Trafford for the visit of Portsmouth. |
| LIVERPOOL Club stats Fixtures Going into the weekend: 11th 11 points(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures) | LIVERPOOL Club stats Fixtures Going into the weekend: 11th 11 points(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures) |
| 1. The last three Premiership games have resulted in a win, a defeat and a draw in that order. | 1. The last three Premiership games have resulted in a win, a defeat and a draw in that order. |
| 2. Not won away from home in the Premiership in over five months since the 1-3 victory at Portsmouth on the last day of last season on 7 May. | 2. Not won away from home in the Premiership in over five months since the 1-3 victory at Portsmouth on the last day of last season on 7 May. |
| 3. Lost to Everton, Chelsea and Bolton without scoring a single goal in the last three away League games. | 3. Lost to Everton, Chelsea and Bolton without scoring a single goal in the last three away League games. |
| 4. Failed to score in three of their last six Premiership games. | 4. Failed to score in three of their last six Premiership games. |
| 5. Completed 290 minutes (four hours 50 minutes) of League football on the road without scoring. | 5. Completed 290 minutes (four hours 50 minutes) of League football on the road without scoring. |
| 6. Conceded the opening goal in six of their eight League games. | 6. Conceded the opening goal in six of their eight League games. |
| 7. Hold a 100% record when scoring the opening goal (won two of two, against Newcastle 2-0 and Tottenham 3-0). | 7. Hold a 100% record when scoring the opening goal (won two of two, against Newcastle 2-0 and Tottenham 3-0). |
| 8. Hold a 100% record when a Premiership clean sheet has been kept (won two of two). | 8. Hold a 100% record when a Premiership clean sheet has been kept (won two of two). |
| KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES | KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES |
| MANCHESTER UNITED Squad profiles | MANCHESTER UNITED Squad profiles |
| Paul SCHOLES will become the ninth player in Manchester United history to complete 500 appearances for the club if he plays. He'll also be the third player in the current squad to do so, after Ryan GIGGS and Gary NEVILLE. | Paul SCHOLES will become the ninth player in Manchester United history to complete 500 appearances for the club if he plays. He'll also be the third player in the current squad to do so, after Ryan GIGGS and Gary NEVILLE. |
| If they play, Kieran RICHARDSON and Nemanja VIDIC will be playing on their 22nd and 25th birthdays respectively. | If they play, Kieran RICHARDSON and Nemanja VIDIC will be playing on their 22nd and 25th birthdays respectively. |
| If he starts, Wes BROWN will be making his 200th start for Manchester United. | If he starts, Wes BROWN will be making his 200th start for Manchester United. |
| Louis SAHA is United's leading scorer with six goals. | Louis SAHA is United's leading scorer with six goals. |
| Rio FERDINAND is the only player to have been on the field for every minute of United's Premiership matches this season. | Rio FERDINAND is the only player to have been on the field for every minute of United's Premiership matches this season. |
| LIVERPOOL Squad profiles | LIVERPOOL Squad profiles |
| If he plays, Steven GERRARD will make his 350th appearance for Liverpool. | If he plays, Steven GERRARD will make his 350th appearance for Liverpool. |
| If he starts, John Arne RIISE will be making his 150th Premiership start for the Merseysiders. | If he starts, John Arne RIISE will be making his 150th Premiership start for the Merseysiders. |
| Craig BELLAMY is a hat-trick shy of 50 Premier League goals (Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn and Liverpool). | Craig BELLAMY is a hat-trick shy of 50 Premier League goals (Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn and Liverpool). |
| Jose Manuel REINA is the only remaining player to have figured in every minute of the Reds' Premiership matches. | Jose Manuel REINA is the only remaining player to have figured in every minute of the Reds' Premiership matches. |
| LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME | LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME |
| Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool22 January 2006 - Ref: Mike RileyMan United scorer: Ferdinand 90 | Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool22 January 2006 - Ref: Mike RileyMan United scorer: Ferdinand 90 |
| HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS | HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS |
| Home and awayLeague: Man United 54 wins, Liverpool 49, Draws 43Prem: Man United 14 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 7 | Home and awayLeague: Man United 54 wins, Liverpool 49, Draws 43Prem: Man United 14 wins, Liverpool 7, Draws 7 |
| at Man United onlyLeague: Man United 34 wins, Liverpool 14, Draws 25Prem: Man United 7 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 4 | at Man United onlyLeague: Man United 34 wins, Liverpool 14, Draws 25Prem: Man United 7 wins, Liverpool 3, Draws 4 |