Liverpool and Manchester United, the two most successful English clubs in history, go head-to-head this weekend in a match that takes on even greater significance than normal, with both looking to kick-start their season after relatively slow starts.
Liverpool, with new manager Roy Hodgson still finding his feet, have won one, drawn two and lost one of their first four games, while United have won two and drawn two of their opening four encounters.
With champions Chelsea sitting pretty with a maximum 12 points so far, neither side can afford to get too far off the pace, even if United have won the Premier League title several times in recent years even when they have begun slowly.
With home advantage, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would normally go into Sunday’s match expecting to take all three points but though they do stand third in the table, they have yet to catch fire this season and are coming off a disappointing goalless draw at home to Rangers in the Champions League.
Ferguson employed a below-strength side against Rangers but with Wayne Rooney struggling to shake off problems in his private life and a horrific injury to Antonio Valencia, who has broken his leg, United are not quite firing on all cylinders.
Any match with Liverpool is a massive match for United but manager Ferguson admitted that it has an even greater significance this time.
“Sunday is a big game,” the Scot said. “The disappointment of Saturday’s (3-3) draw with Everton has to resonate with the players. They can’t let that happen again.”
United could welcome back Rio Ferdinand to the centre of their defence, but with Valencia out for the rest of the season, they may have to call on veteran Ryan Giggs to start the game.
The Welshman has been a stalwart of the United side for many years now and he, at least, is not overly concerned with how the side have started the new season.
“I just don’t feel we’ve had the breaks,” Giggs said. “Against Rangers it was just a case of not having that quality in the final third that we usually have.” With Chelsea taking on new boys Blackpool this weekend, Giggs knows that too many more slip-ups could be costly.
“We’re wary of that,” he said. “We know we’re not too far behind them (but) there are two ways of looking at it.
“We went to Everton and Fulham and got two points more than we did last year. It’s just that the manner of the results was disappointing because we should have won both games.” Liverpool will have had two days less to prepare after their Europa League commitments on Thursday night but striker Fernando Torres is looking forward to taking on a United side who have struggled to contain him in recent meetings.
The Spaniard, still searching for full fitness after injury, was criticised in some quarters for a poor performance in Liverpool’s 0-0 draw at Birmingham last weekend but said he can’t wait to play United again, with memories of their 4-1 win at Old Trafford 18 months ago still fresh in his mind.
“I scored the equalizer and to this day I think that has to be one of my favourite days wearing the Liverpool shirt,” Torres said.
“Liverpool fans are great. When you play well they are behind you and when you are not playing the best they are still behind you.
“Beating United means everything to them.”
Arsenal, two points behind Chelsea and on a high after scoring six goals in the Champions League in midweek, travel to Sunderland, while bottom side West Ham go to Stoke City.
Gerard Houllier takes charge of Aston Villa for the first time when they host Bolton Wanderers, while Manchester City are away to Wigan Athletic.
Blackburn entertain Fulham, Everton and Newcastle clash at Goodison, Tottenham Hotspur face Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion face Birmingham City.
