Liverpool vs Manchester United

16/12- The first match of a super Sunday features the Reds and the Red Devils as Liverpool are set to host Man U. Playing under the Spanish coach Benitez, Liverpool are the only side other than league leaders Arsenal to have lost only one match and this shows why they are placed at fourth on the points table and the most encouraging fact is that they have played a match less that the other teams. Liverpool come into this match after a shocking away loss to Reading while Man U are trying to pursue the league leadership and are hoping to reach their aim by the end of 90 minutes at Anfield.

 

Manchester United on the other hand have won their last two games and are looking in great touch. With young and athletic players like Ronaldo and Rooney helping each other in the front, Sir Fergusson has not much to worry about however they have not been able to score even half the number of goals they have managed to score at home this season. A win here for Man U and a tie in the Arsenal- Chelsea tie or a victory for Chelsea would mean that Man U gain the leadership first time this season.

 

Liverpool bank on their ever reliable skipper Gerrard to deliver when in crisis and would be expecting a similar role from him again. Torres is the other important scoring option for Liverpool and has shown a good temperament and grit this season netting 6 goals in the premiership. After what happened to them last week the Reds will be even hungrier for points and closing in on the league leaders. Man U will have to fight out a severe battle in case they are thinking of getting over this one and score maximum out of this tie.

 

Prediction: 1-0 Liverpool win

 

Champions league: Group A: MARSELLA vs. LIVERPOOL

If you were a club needing to win your last group stage match against Marseille to qualify for the next round of the Champions League, you wouldn’t want to lose your first domestic league game of the season. Oh bugger. Liverpool might have had a lot of confidence in beating the French outfit a couple of weeks ago when they bounced back into contention in group A by beating leaders Porto, but now after losing to modest club Reading by three goals to one at the weekend they may have lost some of it. The Merseyside club is now in fourth place in the Premier and three points behind third placed Chelsea, although they do have a game in hand. Off the pitch problems between Spanish coach Rafa Benitez and the American owners is also something which needs to be sorted out and quickly, too. Luckily for Liverpool, they don’t have to worry about injury problems and I can see this match being the scene where Fernando Torres becomes a man. His arrival in the summer provoked some to question whether he was worth the twenty four million pounds Liverpool paid Athletico Madrid for him, but since then he has shown what a great striker he is and also the potential he has for becoming one of the best in the world. He has adapted to life in the English Premier very well indeed and his eleven goals so far this season will easily be doubled by the end of it. He has scored some very important goals for the club in his short time with the club, most notably the opening goal against Chelsea in the league which was his first in an official game. I wouldn’t be too surprised if he scores the winner here in this game too.

Marseille must be wondering what they have done so wrong to be in such a position now in group A. A couple of games ago they were leading the group and after beating Liverpool at Anfield were sure of classification. But since then they have drawn against Porto and a surprise defeat to Turkish side Besiktas has meant they go in to their last group match needing to get at least a point to go through. Liverpool can also carry on if they draw on Tuesday night, but only if Besiktas do them the favor of beating the Portuguese champions.

In times like these you really have to go for Liverpool. Rafa Benitez’s job is said to be hanging by a thread and defeat will almost certainly end his Liverpool career. The players are behind him and will go all out to save their manager’s job. I’m going for a short Liverpool victory here, and watch out for the above mentioned Torres and heart of Liverpool Steven Gerrard to get on the score sheet, but they might have to come back from behind in classic Liverpool style.

Prediction: Away win (1-2)

Champions league: Liverpool vs. Porto

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez’s job is hanging by a thread and Porto could well be the ones who cut the strings. Amazing as it would seem, the Liverpool coach –who brought Liverpool their first Champions League title in decades- pretty much looks set to be fired by the American owners. The question is will it be sooner rather than later? If Liverpool don’t win this game it will almost definitely be sooner. The American owners have been angered by Benitez near constant complaining about not having the players he needs to win the Premier league title. Of course, his bosses don’t see it that way and feel he should be concentrated on coaching the players he has. While it is obvious to see both points of view, I don’t see Liverpool capable of taking on either Arsenal or Manchester United for the domestic trophy, which leaves the Champions League as the only other competition worth going after. Judging by Liverpool’s European form of late though, this isn’t going to happen this season. They have made a dreadful start to this year’s campaign, losing two and drawing another. They went some way towards their goal (and giving fans an enjoyable night) by beating Besiktas in an historic eight nil thrashing in their last European outing, but they still have work to do, and might not even qualify if they win both their remaining two games. There is talk of a crisis at Liverpool, but I don’t see it. They are still unbeaten in the league, had a great win at the weekend against Newcastle, and when they have a full strength squad could do some important things. But they just have to get past Porto.

The Portuguese side are having something of a holiday at the moment. Runaway leaders of the Portuguese league, they too haven’t lost a game this season and are also top of group A in the Champions League. What makes them really dangerous for Liverpool is that they haven’t qualified yet.

I don’t think Porto will be good enough to beat Liverpool at Anfield, but a draw is quite within their capabilities. This of course, would result in Liverpool’s exit from the competition and you have to then wonder what will be the fate of Benitez.

Prediction: Draw (2-2)

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