The two games against Manchester United were true six-point games last season. The first game allowed a written-off Liverpool side to show they’re ready to challenge for the title, with the second fixture at Old Trafford giving us the belief to go on and have an amazing end to the season, leaving us just a few points off the top spot. However, the game against our bitter rivals this Sunday may be more important than ever.
We go into this game after having our worst run in 22 years, a loss at Anfield at the weekend would increase that to our worst run in over fifty years. The pressure is on our weakened squad, and they need to step up to the plate.
As always, this is a six pointer. We are for from out of the title race, the Premier League campaign is just over a quarter through and there’s plenty of time for the league to change, teams will slip up and teams will go on winning streaks, it’s as open as it’s been in any season, if not more open. For this reason a win over title-challengers like Manchester United is crucial, especially after loosing out to favourites Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a few weeks ago. beatingt Manchester United leaves us just behind them with plenty of the season to go, it will certainly crank up the pressure on the current champions.
There’s more to the North-West derby than just points on a table though, the result against Manchester United could make or break us. Confidence is key to winning a title, you have to have the belief that you can. Whilst our players know their potential confidence will be low after recent results, especially amongst those players who haven’t been playing well. A win against United will send confidence sky-high and could have a huge impact on how we perform in the games leading up to Christmas and beyond. A loss could send us further down the slippery slope and destroy and confidence among the team, which could lead to another season without a title.
So, this is why the players have to be up for the game, there has to be the passion we saw towards the end of last season on the players who have let us down this season have to step up and take the game by the scruff of the neck. We need a result and the players have to show that we’re not a two man team, we know it, they know it but let’s prove to anyone we can beat the best even without Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard. This extends further than the players and backroom staff though, the fans have to show their faith as well. If fans don’t have faith then the players won’t have the confidence, the supporters impact in the stadium is more significant than many believe. Booing our own players isn’t an option.
Enjoy the game
M. Owen
michael@empireofthekop.com