A look ahead to tomorrow’s big Man United v Liverpool clash
MANCHESTER UNITED and Liverpool renew their storied rivalry in the marquee match of the Premier League weekend.
The two most successful clubs in English league history meet at Old Trafford tomorrow as the battle for a top-four finish continues.
With Manchester City running away to the title, the focus at the top of table is on the four-team fight for the final three Champions League spots.
United are second on 62 points followed by Liverpool (60), Tottenham (58) and defending champions Chelsea (53).
“It’s a very big game for us, for the club, for the fans,” Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius told Sky Sports.
“With the situation being this tight together on the table also, we can’t really ask for more. There’s not many (Champions League) places and second would be ideal obviously.”
United came from behind to win 3-2 at Crystal Palace on Monday to go back into second after Liverpool leap-frogged them at the weekend.
“When you have a match against Liverpool coming up, a big derby, it is important to go into that with a win,” Nemanja Matic said after scoring a stoppage-time winner.
“We have to do more if we want to win as Liverpool is a team with great quality.”
Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Porto on Tuesday in the Champions League but still went through to the quarter-finals 5-0 on aggregate.
Reaching the last eight will give them confidence heading to Manchester, according to Sadio Mane. “It will not be easy but I’ve always said we can beat any team in the world,” the winger said.
Meanwhile Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino has said they are confident they can beat any team they draw in the Champions League quarter-finals, including their top Premier League rivals.
The draw for the last eight is scheduled to take place on March 16.
Geographical restrictions are removed for the quarter-final draw, with Liverpool and Manchester City already through. Manchester United and Chelsea have the second leg of their last-16 ties next week.
“Yes, we’d like a draw against an English club. Why not?,” Firmino told British media. “We have shown in the past few seasons we can beat all the English clubs. Our record is good against them.
“We are not concerned who we get, we don’t mind. A top Spanish club? We are not afraid. I don’t think we have anything to fear from any side now...”
Manchester City can take another step towards the English title by winning at second-bottom Stoke City on Monday.
City are 16 points clear with nine games remaining and need just four more victories to claim the trophy.
Though Stoke were thrashed 7-2 at City in October, manager Paul Lambert is looking forward to the challenge.
“We have to take them out of their comfort zone, and maybe we can,” he told the Stoke Sentinel. “You know you are going to have to play like hell.”
Tottenham hope to rebound from their disappointing Champions League exit when they visit Bournemouth on Sunday.
Spurs had a foot in the quarter-finals before Juventus scored twice in four second-half minutes to win 2-1 on Wednesday and go through 4-3 on aggregate.
“We are so disappointed, but that’s football,” manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “We need to learn.”
Chelsea host Crystal Palace, Everton play Brighton, Swansea are at Huddersfield, Newcastle meet Southampton, Leicester visit West Bromwich and West Ham face Burnley in the other matches tomorrow. Arsenal host Watford on Sunday.