Key to today? It’s about keepy-uppy and the keepers...
THE showdown between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield today will be won by the team playing at the higher tempo.
But if both sides play to their maximum, there can be only one winner because Liverpool have about 20 per cent more pace.
Liverpool’s system is set up to press high at all times, to nick the ball, and get their forwards on the front foot as often as they can.
And while you’d never totally write off either side, I’m certain my old club will win because they have more players in form.
The best scenario United can hope for is a 1-1 draw but I’m expecting Liverpool to win 2-1.
I’m certain United fans would think a defeat by that scoreline, or even a 2-0, would be about par given the way both sides are going. If Liverpool win 3-0, however, it would be disastrous for United and for Jose Mourinho.
I’ve said before that the build-up to this game is incredible for the players. They will have been accosted at filling stations all week by fans telling them: “You don’t lose this one.”
That was always the mantra in the 90s when we had some cracking battles.
Not least because whenever we played United we were up against the best goalkeeper in the division.
You’d run with the ball and get past Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, and then you’d just see this massive blond octopus in front of you.
Crack
It was quite a sight – every striker who faced him will tell you just how difficult Peter Schmeichel was to beat.
When you found yourself one on one with United’s great Dane he had a knack of filling the goal from whichever angle you were coming.
That would leave you with several options and a split-second decision to pick the best.
Should you go left, or right, or wait for him to go to ground? It was a tough one because he was so big and never went to ground until the very last moment. The best solution I found was to have a crack from 25 yards – a few of you will remember one such effort screaming past him.
Just as Schmeichel and David James were vital to the outcome of games between the two sides then, David de Gea and Alisson will have major roles to play today.
The lads who play in goal these days are seemingly playing a different position to those who did it two decades ago.
I played alongside some great internationals in Mark Crossley, Jamo and Tim Flowers, all of whom were excellent at commanding their areas, kicking and throwing.
But none was great with his feet. Crossley was probably the best and was encouraged by Brian Clough to keep the ball moving, making him one of the first sweeper-keepers.
Schmeichel, and those I played with, were better goalkeepers and made better saves than today’s crop, but I have to say Alisson and Co are quite incredible. De Gea would have been a great keeper in any era, but he isn’t a sweeper- keeper in the mould of Alisson and Manchester City’s Ederson.
I was always a bit sceptical about sweeper-keepers, although they actually make perfect sense given the fact the ball is in play a lot more these days because of the rule changes.
Some of the saves these boys are making late in games show how switched on they are.
Fierce
They are smaller, quicker and more mobile so they can almost act like another central defender.
I’m convinced the next incarnation of goalkeeper will be someone who is as good a footballer as any of the defenders in front of him.
The key for Alisson and De Gea this afternoon will be to get the ball moving through their team as quickly as possible, setting the tempo their teammates can use to settle this fierce old rivalry.