Liverpool vs Manchester United Live online
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Liverpool v Manchester United Live
Liverpool Vs. Manchester United
If Liverpool did not have a North West Derby staring them in the face, there may have been more reflection on what happened last weekend. A 3-1 loss at a relegation battler (West Ham) - one that played more one-sided than the final score - would normally cast some doubt on the strength of a new project, and the Reds under Kenny Dalglish and Fenway Sports Group are still very much a new project. But because that project is in its infancy - seemingly restructured since the last time Liverpool faced Manchester United - there was a willingness to move beyond last weekend's setback and concentrate on the task at hand: Can the Reds derail Manchester United?
And by derail, we mean prevent them from winning the title, and after Manchester United lost mid-week to Chelsea, a Liverpool win on Sunday becomes even more influential in deciding the title. Not only does it keep the gap between United and Arsenal at three points (with the Red Devils having arguably the more difficult run-in), it also stacks another set of doubts on top of those United were handed mid-week. At Stamford Bridge, the Red Devils had a match for the taking - a chance to end a run of disappointing results at Chelsea that extends back to 2002. But the leaders failed to do so, again forgoing a chance to take a stranglehold on a record-setting 19th first division title. If Liverpool can give United their first losing streak of the season, they'll be compounding that set of doubts, possibly preventing United from taking sole-possession of the record.
"Who will lift the flag and carry on?"
Liverpool's ability to do so will be dictated by how readily they can replace Fernando Torres. Obviously, Liverpool has replaced the Chelsea striker. They've incorporated Luis Suárez, and Andy Carroll is due back at any time. But as it concerns matching-up with Manchester United, Torres's absence is of particular importance. In their last four meetings with United, Liverpool has scored six goals, half of which came from Torres. The Spaniard's ability to play close to and exploit United's central defenders with his combination of speed and skill provides a completely different profile to Suárez or Carroll. Or Dirk Kuyt, for that matter. With Torres gone, Dalglish is going to have to find another way to threaten United.
To this point, that other way has been Raul Meireles. Since Dalglish took over Liverpool in early January, the Portuguese midfielder has scored four goals, recently being named the Premier League's February Player of the Month. He is one of five different goal scorers for Dalglish, with Liverpool yet to be shut out in league since King Kenny's return. But of those five goal scorers, only one other has recorded more than one goal: Fernando Torres. With Meireles already tallying more league goals than he ever recorded at Porto, it seems unlikely the 27-year-old is really the second coming of, well, Steven Gerrard.
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