EPL : Manchester United v Liverpool - Mar 23
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Boss hopes for Edwin bonus
Edwin van der Sar could bring his vast experience to bear on Sunday's big match against Liverpool after being rated as "hopeful" by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Dutch goalkeeper has missed United's last two games at Derby and at home to Bolton, enabling Ben Foster and Tomas Kuszczak to make rare appearances in the first team. Although both shot-stoppers performed well to keep clean sheets in Edwin's absence, the United boss would love to welcome back his number one for such an important fixture.
Speaking at a press conference before Friday's training session, Sir Alex said: "We’re waiting to see how Edwin van der Sar trains this morning.
"He and Rio Ferdinand both have to train really to give me the confidence to play them. I’m doubtful for Ferdinand, I’m hopeful for van der Sar. One out of two would be a bonus, given their experience."
Van der Sar has yet to concede a league goal against Liverpool while playing for United. He's faced the Merseysiders six times since his summer 2005 transfer to Old Trafford and has only been beaten once, by Peter Crouch's FA Cup winner at Anfield.
United's only other injury concern is over Louis Saha, who started the midweek win over Bolton before being replaced on 70 minutes by Wayne Rooney.
"Louis Saha got a knock on Wednesday," said Sir Alex. "We’ll have to see what he’s like this morning. I think he was okay yesterday (Thursday) but the injury flared up a bit after training. Other than that, everyone’s fit."http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=543154
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Originally posted by soccerbest:
Oh yeah gerrard never dive.
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i doubt vds is the man for the job... i got gut feeling that ben would do better tho...
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Rafa and his scousers just cannot shut the hell up... They're acting like 2nd team in the league fighting for this title.
It's pathetic and funny.
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Originally posted by jonchao72:
i doubt vds is the man for the job... i got gut feeling that ben would do better tho...
ben bo the nerves yet..although kus screwed up at the fa cup meeting with pompey...but his nerves are much stronger and better...besides its a top game...little risky though...lets jus hope ferdinand can make it -
Originally posted by soccerbest:
Oh yeah gerrard never dive.
Heeheehee... -
Benitez: We will see off United
Rafa Benitez cast aside his usual caution yesterday and boldly warned Manchester United: 'We are going to beat you.' The Liverpool manager normally fights shy of predictions but was adamant the force is with his improved team as they prepare to kick off a momentous double-header in the race for the Barclays Premier League title.
Benitez believes Liverpool now have enough firepower to hold sway and said: 'We have come really close before, but we are better equipped now to go on and beat them. We have players who can change a game like Gerrard, Torres and Ryan Babel, players who can score goals.
'We always had a plan going to Old Trafford. We tried to do certain things but in the end we did not have enough power. We have now. They have match-winners in Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, but we have two or three who can do the same.'
Steven Gerrard's potent partnership with Fernando Torres may pose the biggest threat to United's three-point lead at the top, but Benitez feels one-time Old Trafford target Javier Mascherano's midfield dynamism could prove just as important.
The Argentine, recently signed for £19million, will be on a mission to stop Cristiano Ronaldo and Benitez compared him to Roy Keane. He said: 'Javier is a strong character and leader and is the same kind of player as Keane. He is a key man for us who gives us balance, and his fantastic work-rate gives the likes of Torres and Gerrard the freedom to go forward.'
The Liverpool boss also tipped his side to reach 100 goals for the season. He added: 'We have already scored 99, so we will watch a few videos of them and go there with a lot of confidence. We have the belief to go to Old Trafford and win.'
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jus becos he got torres ,gerrad,and mascherano makes him think he can win..dont forget...we got anderson and the other playmakers as well..mascherano can never be compared to keano...
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Confident: Anderson is not afraid to stand up to Gerrard
Steven Gerrard is unlikely to have heard of a young Brazilian named Anderson before this season, but the Liverpool captain will tomorrow come face to face once more with a player who Sir Alex Ferguson believes was crucial to Manchester United's win at Anfield last December.
Ferguson was overwhelmed by the manner in which Anderson stood toe to toe with the Liverpool captain as United won 1-0 and is expected to name the 19-year-old in his team for tomorrow's clash at Old Trafford.
Anderson said: 'To me, Gerrard is a big footballer, but I went out that day determined to play with force and not to be preoccupied with him.
'Names don't matter to me. I am finding that I can raise my level and offer more when I am playing against the big stars and this is how it was when I played against Gerrard.
'He is one of the best midfielders in Europe and it is hard to stop him. It will be again. 'It was a tough battle with him when we played last time. He was hurting at the end but he was gracious and I respect him for that.'
Anderson was bought by Ferguson last summer as a player for the future but such has been his impact in his debut season that he is likely to partner Paul Scholes tomorrow and consign Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick to the bench.
The former FC Porto player has made 20 League starts this season, three more than the disappointing Hargreaves.
Ferguson said: 'Anderson can handle anything. He's got a terrific belief in himself. Like a lot of Brazilian players, he was just born to play.'
He added: 'I believe we have a better squad than Liverpool. In defence and midfield we are superior and perhaps the only place they can match us is in attack.'
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hope to see hargreaves and anderson in the middle... they can protect the def better. this is going to be one tough game.
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I got a feeling Carrick will start.
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will nani get to play?
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we need ronaldo form in the bolton game, i wan see the reaction on reina face when he score such a free kick again LOL
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Originally posted by lolxzxz:
we need ronaldo form in the bolton game, i wan see the reaction on reina face when he score such a free kick again LOL
but, do you realise that ron doesnt excel in big matches? its carrick, anderson, fletcher that control this kind of matches.
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Huat ar! I got the job i interviewed for 2 weeks ago! MAN U SURE WILL WIN! HUAT!
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but i think, the score will be low. like, 1-0 or something.
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i really hope carrick will start....he's been missing for the past few games...to the extent that he wasn't even included in the england squad?!
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I think Ronaldo will be mark so tightly that he won't have much time on the ball... If United are to score from open play, it will either come from Tevez or Rooney... Ronny won't score unless he gets a free-kick or penalty...
Van der Sar
Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra,
Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs,
Rooney, Tevez
Subs: Kuszczak, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, Nani
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Originally posted by Sienx:
jus becos he got torres ,gerrad,and mascherano makes him think he can win..dont forget...we got anderson and the other playmakers as well..mascherano can never be compared to keano...
hehe but we no more keano liao :(
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Originally posted by iSkiMask:
but, do you realise that ron doesnt excel in big matches? its carrick, anderson, fletcher that control this kind of matches.
yeah but at least ronny can penetrate the defence easier den fletcher..perhaps i think carrick.anderson or carrick,fletcer would be in midfield.. -
I feel Fletcher is a real strange player... He don't seem to possess great skill and he can't make great passes but what he has lots is stamina... He just keeps running and running at opponents and mess up their game... There was once a time when I saw Fletcher's name on the first 11 I would go Oh no... But these days... its when i see Paul Scholes name in the first 11 then i would say Oh no...
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Originally posted by zocoss:
I feel Fletcher is a real strange player... He don't seem to possess great skill and he can't make great passes but what he has lots is stamina... He just keeps running and running at opponents and mess up their game... There was once a time when I saw Fletcher's name on the first 11 I would go Oh no... But these days... its when i see Paul Scholes name in the first 11 then i would say Oh no...
lol true. i find Fletcher similar as Carrick. But the one with lots of stamina is Park isnt it? That oxygen tank. For me to go Oh no, is seeing Saha in starting eleven.
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scarli scholes, saha and giggs all on starting 11, then we GG
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Originally posted by jonchao72:
scarli scholes, saha and giggs all on starting 11, then we GG
very unlikely for saha to make it even to the bench...i'd rather have park there who could be farmore effective than saha..
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Originally posted by 4getmenot:
very unlikely for saha to make it even to the bench...i'd rather have park there who could be farmore effective than saha..
hmmm... maybe we shud haf nani/park instead of giggs...