Leicester’s ‘deep-down Red’ plots United’s fall
LIFELONG Manchester United fan Danny Simpson says champions Leicester City will go for broke at Old Trafford tomorrow, underlining coach Claudio Ranieri’s philosophy.
The Italian has instructed Leicester to chase victory in each and every match, home or away, according to Simpson.
“I am sure he will give us the right game plan to try and do that,” the right back said.
United ended a three-match losing streak by winning 3-1 at Northampton Town in the League Cup on Wednesday and Simpson believes that much will depend on the opening exchanges in their Premier League tussle at the weekend.
“You can look at it in different ways. They won’t want to lose again so they may be more hungry and more determined especially with them being at home,” the defender said.
“If we start well they might feel the pressure from their fans or the players might not have as much confidence.”
United were beaten 3-1 at Watford last weekend, having lost 2-1 in the Premier League to neighbours Manchester City the week before and going down 1-0 at Feyenoord in the Europa League.
The 29-year-old Simpson, who committed his future to Leicester by signing a new three-year deal earlier this month, is a product of United’s Academy.
“I’ve supported United for as long as I can remember,” he said. “My uncle and my friends were Reds and I followed them.
“I was picked up by United’s youth scouts who had seen me playing on Saturdays and Sundays at Deans FC, the same club where Ryan Giggs was.”
Simpson went on to spend four years as a professional at Old Trafford before being sold to Newcastle United in 2010 after a series of loan moves.
“I was fortunate enough to be playing for United as a kid and eventually got my first full professional contract and went on to make it into the first team,” he added.
“I was lucky enough to play with some of my heroes. I’ll always be a Red deep down.”
United are seventh in the table with nine points from five games, four places above Leicester.
Simpson knows that he and his defensive partners will need to keep a constant eye on United new boy Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“That’s why I’ve got big Wes (Morgan) and Robert Huth next to me. I’ll just look at them and let them deal with him,” he joked.
“No, he (Ibrahimovic) is a quality player and he’s scored goals everywhere he has been. It’s not just his football, it’s the aura and everything that comes with him.
“United have got a load of top players and we need to defend as we know we can defend.”
Leicester have a new signing of their own and Simpson said he had been impressed by the record £30 million buy, Islam Slimani, after he twice found the net against Burnley last weekend.
“He has just taken it all in his stride,” said Simpson. “He’s come in with a big price tag but I don’t think he is thinking about that.
“It’s good that he knows Riyad (Mahrez) and that’s helped him a lot,” he added of Leicester’s playmaker.
“To play at the King Power Stadium and score a couple of goals on your home debut, there’s just no better way to start.”
Adding to his goal tally is not the only challenge facing the Algerian striker who has a team ceremony to look forward to ahead of the 1.30pm (SA time) kick-off at United.
“He’s got his initiation in the hotel before the game. We’ll get a little song out of him,” laughed Simpson.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants his players to be “angry” and guard against complacency when they entertain promoted Hull City tomorrow.
The five-time European champions are sixth in the Premier League, having beaten Arsenal, Chelsea and champions Leicester City and drawn with Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool’s only defeat this season has come against one of the smaller clubs, promoted Burnley.
“We need to be angry against Hull,” Klopp told reporters. “They want our points.
“I would love to see everybody go with the right expectations to these games. Why should it be easier?”
There is a perception that some of the smaller teams adopt a defensive approach against the bigger clubs by “parking the bus”, as Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho once described it.
“We have to think about why people think we have problems against bus parking,” Klopp said. “I can guarantee it’s not about the attitude of the players. We didn’t care about the opponent before we played Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham, it’s not about the name in our preparations.”
Liverpool have lost striker Luis Suarez and winger Raheem Sterling in big-money transfers to Barcelona and Manchester City in recent years and Klopp does not want his side to be termed “a selling club”.
“The summer was quite busy for us and I don’t want to have those busy transfer windows ... success is about having consistency. Big teams don’t change a lot, there is no need to be a selling club,” the German said.
“We don’t need money but it’s about finding the right squad. I’m not that busy usually but it was the situation. We needed to do a few things.
“If everything is going well then we don’t have to buy another six players next year. Let’s try to bring more consistency,” added Klopp.
Liverpool welcome back midfielders Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum who were left out of Tuesday’s 3-0 League Cup victory over Derby County as a precautionary measure.
Klopp is also optimistic that striker Daniel Sturridge will be available against Hull, who are 12th in the table, after injury. – Reuters