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Bottle thrown at Man United bus ahead of Liverpool game

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December 17, 2023

Bottle thrown at Man United bus ahead of Liverpool game
ESPN
Dec 17, 2023, 05:30 PM
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Manchester United’s bus was damaged by a bottle. Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images
Manchester United’s team bus was hit by a glass bottle as it arrived at Anfield ahead of their Premier League game against Liverpool on Sunday.

Video on social media shows a bottle being thrown from the street and hitting the front of the bus as it made its way towards the stadium.

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It’s reported the bottle damaged a window on one of two buses carrying United players and staff.

“Liverpool Football Club utterly condemns the actions that led to damage being caused to the Manchester United team bus during its arrival at Anfield this afternoon,” the club said in a statement.

“We are aware of footage of the incident circulating online and are working with Merseyside Police, to fully investigate and identify those responsible.

“Any individuals found guilty of this reprehensible behaviour will also face the full force of the Club’s sanction process.”

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Arteta hails ‘incredible’ Arsenal in 2-0 win over Brighton
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Has Arteta worked out how to get the best from Havertz? (1:02)
Reuters
Dec 17, 2023, 05:32 PM
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hailed an “incredible performance” from his squad as they dismantled Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at home on Sunday to provisionally return to the summit of the Premier League table.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz sealed the three points for the north London side, who underlined their first-half dominance by denying Brighton a single shot on goal.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Roberto De Zerbi’s side had scored in every single Premier League game this season but had no solutions against Arteta’s physical and free-flowing Arsenal.

“Incredible performance, a joy to watch from the start to the end, the way we did it against this very good team,” Arteta told BBC Sport.

“Even at half time the scoreline didn’t reflect that. We fully deserved to win the game. We had 15 shots [in the first half], it was a lot. We had to keep going, we don’t have that accuracy in front of goal.”

Arsenal’s win over Brighton was their 12th win in 17 Premier League games this season. Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Brighton’s best chance came at 1-0 when Pascal Gross saw his shot fly wide of the post in the 82nd minute, and Arteta said that was the unpredictable nature of the Premier League.

“You see it in every game. We had many situations to put the ball in the net and we didn’t, 1-0 isn’t enough,” he said.

– Olley: Classy Arsenal end bad run vs. Brighton with dominant win

Arteta also had words of praise for Havertz, who has started to justify the £65 million ($82.4m) transfer fee Arsenal paid for his services, with the Germany international netting four goals in his last seven games.

When asked if he was finally putting in the performances expected of him, Arteta said: “In terms of goals, yes.

“In terms of performances, it’s exactly the same as he was at the start of the season. You can see he’s confident and enjoying his football.”

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Liverpool
Liverpool player ratings vs Man Utd: two score 8/10 but ‘completely anonymous’ 4/10 in 0-0 draw – gallery
Liverpool player ratings and scores from the 0-0 draw against Man Utd in the Premier League at Anfield.

By Will Rooney
Published 17th Dec 2023, 18:25 GMT
Updated 17th Dec 2023, 18:25 GMT

Liverpool missed out on moving back to the summit of the Premier League as they were held to a frustrating goalless draw against Manchester United at Anfield.

The Reds dominated the game but struggled to muster enough gilt-edged opportunities throughout the encounter. Despite having 27 shots on goal, Jurgen Klopp’s men lacked cutting edge and means they’re now a point behind Arsenal in the title race.

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Liverpool were on front foot for much of the first half but struggled to create any clear-cut chances. In the 28th minute, United keeper was forced into his first save when he pushed Virgil van Dijk’s header over the crossbar. Eight minutes later, a Ryan Gravenberch volley that appeared to be on target was deflected wide for a corner – and Ibrahima Konate nodded above the bar when unmarked.

The Reds continued to be frustrated in the second period. Trent Alexander-Arnold hit the side netting two minutes after the restart before Mo Salah’s shot from outside the area was easily held by Onana. In the 66th minute, Liverpool must have thought they’d taken the lead when Alexander-Arnold latched onto Salah’s pass but his effort flashed just past the post with Onana rooted to his spot.

Moments later, Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker was finally forced into action as he kept out Rasmus Hojlund. The game started to become more of an open affair with Onana parrying a Salah effort to safety on 70 minutes.

With 14 minutes remaining, the Reds thought they were in with a shot for a penalty after Luis Diaz was brought down by Sofyan Amrabat after having a shot on goal, but the appeal wasn’t entertained by referee Michael Oliver. In stoppage-time, substitute Cody Gakpo missed a good chance to earn Liverpool a late winner. And while Diogo Dalot was sent off in the dying embers for a second yellow card, the Reds could not take advantage and had to share the spoils.

Here’s how we rated the Liverpool players.

Related topics:Player RatingsTrent Alexander-ArnoldPremier LeagueManchester United
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Liverpool and Man United are LOCKED out of new Club World Cup as FIFA restrict each country to two clubs… with Arsenal given a lifeline if they win the Champions League this season
By Matt Hughes For The Daily Mail
15:01 GMT 17 Dec 2023 , updated 15:42 GMT 17 Dec 2023

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The Club World Cup tournament will take place in the summer of 2025 in the US
Two English will be involved unless they’ve won Champions League recently
‘There’s no bigger waste of time!’ What is the point of the Club World Cup? It’s All Kicking Off
Liverpool and Manchester United have been locked out of the inaugural Club World Cup after FIFA opted to restrict each country to two clubs unless they have won the Champions League in the last four years.

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Chelsea and Manchester City have already booked their place in the new tournament to take place in the United States in 2025 by virtue of their recent Champions League victories, while Arsenal could also qualify if they win this season’s competition.

Liverpool have qualified on their basis of their overall Champions League performances if access was based entirely on merit, while United would also have been in contention, but at a FIFA Council meeting in Jeddah today it was decided to limit each country to two clubs in an attempt to broaden the competition.

An exception will be made for clubs who win the Champions League during the 2021 to 2024 qualifying period keeping Arsenal’s hopes alive if they lift the trophy for the first time in their history at Wembley next year.

In addition to the four Champions League winners eight places will be made available to the European clubs with the best performances in the competition over the last four years.

Liverpool and Manchester United have been locked out from the inaugural Club World Cup
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Liverpool and Manchester United have been locked out from the inaugural Club World Cup
Manchester City won the Champions League in the 2022-23 season
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Manchester City won the Champions League in the 2022-23 season
Chelsea last won the Champions League in 2020-21 season
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Chelsea last won the Champions League in 2020-21 season
Missing out on the competition will be a significant financial blow to United and Liverpool as the prize fund has been projected at up to £50million depending on the value of international broadcast rights.

Real Madrid have already qualified with Chelsea and City as Champions League winners, whilst Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Porto and Benfica are all guaranteed places as their rankings cannot be overhauled.

There are four more slots available for European clubs via the ranking route, with Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Leipzig, Juventus, Napoli, Lazio and Red Bull Salzburg all in contention.

Arsenal can qualify for the Club World Cup if they win the Champions League this season
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Arsenal can qualify for the Club World Cup if they win the Champions League this season
Real Madrid have already qualified with Chelsea and City as Champions League winners
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Real Madrid have already qualified with Chelsea and City as Champions League winners
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In addition to Arsenal, Real Sociedad, PSV Eindhoven and FC Copenhagen could theoretically qualify by winning this season’s Champions League.

Beyond Europe there will be six clubs from South America, four each from north/central America, Africa and Asia, as well as one from Oceania and a final guaranteed spot for the host country, the USA.

The Club World Cup will follow the same format of recent World Cups, with eight groups of four leading to a first knockout round of 16, so the eventual finalists will end up playing seven games in four weeks.

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‘Struggled’… Danny Murphy left unimpressed by 27-year-old Liverpool player recently

Milo Clay
Sun 17 December 2023 9:45, UK
Danny Murphy feels Konstantinos Tsimikas has ‘really struggled’ to fill the void left by Andy Robertson recently.

Writing in his latest column for BBC Sport, Murphy claimed that Liverpool will improve defensively once Andy Robertson returns from injury.

Robertson picked up a shoulder injury back in October and it’s led to Kostas Tsimikas getting a run in the side.

Indeed, the 27-year-old has started in six of Liverpool’s last eight league games, grabbing three assists in the process.

Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Tsimikas has stepped up well in Robertson’s absence in the past and Liverpool currently sit top of the league without the Scotsman.

Yet, Danny Murphy believes the Greek full-back has struggled to fill in for Robertson this season.

Murphy says Tsimikas has ‘struggled’ at Liverpool this season
Murphy was looking ahead to today’s huge clash against Manchester United at Anfield.

The pundit discussed Liverpool’s recent struggles at the back and feels they will improve defensively once Robertson returns next year.

“Even so, I still think they will get better at the back once Andy Robertson is back from his shoulder injury in January,” Murphy said.

“He’s an integral part of their defence and one of the best left-backs in Europe. I think people have overlooked the fact he’s been out since October because Liverpool are top of the table, but it’s one of the reasons they’ve not been defensively sound.

“Konstantinos Tsimikas has struggled to fill in for him, hence Joe Gomez has been put there a few times.”

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
In our view, this feels harsh on Tsimikas as he’s largely performed well in Robertson’s absence.

Of course, the Greece international doesn’t provide the same level of quality as Robertson. But he’s proven himself to be a more than capable back-up option for the Scotsman and Liverpool remain in brilliant form.

It will be intriguing to see if Klopp opts for Gomez over Tsimikas today though, with the Reds facing Manchester United at Anfield.

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Jamie Carragher reveals Manchester United legend has picked Virgil van Dijk as best centre-back in PL history over Chelsea legend John Terry
Manchester United legend picks Virgil van Dijk as the best defender in PL history

Jamie Carragher reveals Manchester United legend has picked Virgil van Dijk as best centre-back in PL history over Chelsea legend John Terry
By
Apratim Banerjee
Modified Dec 17, 2023 02:33 GMT
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Lionel Messi: The Man Behind the Magic
Jamie Carragher has revealed that former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam picked Virgil van Dijk as the best defender in Premier League history over Chelsea legend John Terry.Stam is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of the modern era. The Dutchman had a spell at Old Trafford between 1998 and 2001, making 127 appearances.

Stam recently appeared on The Overlap Show and was asked to pick an ideal defensive partner by his former teammate Gary Neville. Chelsea legend John Terry, Manchester United legends Rio Ferdinand, Gary Pallister and Nemanja Vidic, Arsenal icon Tony Adams, and former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany were among the other options.Carragher has tweeted that Stam picked Van Dijk to be the greatest Premier League defender ever:
“Jaap Stam picks VVD as the best CB in PL history and would love to have played alongside him! Big Jaap knows.”
Jamie Carragher’s recent tweet
Jamie Carragher’s recent tweet

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Virgil van Dijk has played for Liverpool and Southampton in the Premier League. The towering Dutch defender has made 242 appearances for the two clubs.He has won the Premier League once, with Liverpool in 2020. Van Dijk is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. So, Stam’s endorsement is a massive feather in the 32-year-old’s decorated cap.However, the choice is controversial, as the likes of Terry, Ferdinand and Vidic have had more trophy-laden careers.
Virgil van Dijk showers praise on Mohamed Salah ahead of Manchester United clash
Mohamed Salah scored his 150th Premier League and 200th Liverpool goal during the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on December 9.As Jurgen Klopp’s side prepare to take on Manchester United in a pulsating Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday (December 17), Virgil van Dijk has described how the Egyptian winger is an inspiration to the team. He wrote (via the Reds’ website):
“The good thing is we can always look within for inspiration and right now there are not too many (better) examples of this than what Mo Salah is doing this season. No matter how many goals he scores or creates, he always wants more.”
Salah boasts an impressive record against Manchester United, bagging 12 goals and four assists in 12 appearances across competitions.
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Liverpool vs Manchester United Match has been cancelled, Eric Ten Hag sacked FIFA called Jurgen Klopp for his statement towards Eric Ten Hag

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Dimitar Berbatov predicts who’ll win Liverpool vs Manchester United at Anfield

Subhankar Mondal
Sun 17 December 2023 5:45, UK
Dimitar Berbatov has given his prediction of the upcoming match between Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.

The former United striker believes that there will be two goals in the Premier League game at Anfield.

So, what has Dimitar Berbatov said about Liverpool against Manchester United? Let’s take a look.

Dimitar Berbatov predicts Liverpool vs Manchester United
Well, Liverpool will lock horns with Manchester United at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.

Liverpool will head into the match as favourites. The Reds are at the top of the league table with 37 points from 16 matches, a point clear of second-placed Arsenal.

United are way down in seventh place. The Red Devils have picked up 27 points from 16 matches.

Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov has backed Liverpool to pick up all three points from the match at Anfield courtesy of a 2-0 win.

The pundit has also outlined the importance of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah in the match.

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Paul Merson thinks Jurgen Klopp is about to start 22-year-old Liverpool star vs Man United
Fri 15 December 2023 17:30
James Brooke
Jurgen Klopp is set to make a change to his midfield for Liverpool’s game against Manchester United on Sunday.

Klopp has rotated the middle three of his team around a fair bit this season. And with Alexis Mac Allister still missing through injury, the manager is going to have to pivot again for this weekend’s game.

Disregarding the experimental three against Union Saint-Gilloise last night, Liverpool’s midfield against Crystal Palace last Saturday was: Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.

But according to pundit Paul Merson, there’ll be a new face in there against United. Writing for Sportskeeda yesterday, Merson has predicted that Curtis Jones will be the man asked to step in.

“I expect Liverpool to rip them to shreds, so I’m going for a 3-0 home win,” says the former England midfielder.

“Alexis Mac Allister is a massive injury doubt, but Jurgen Klopp has a few options to choose from in midfield. Wataru Endo has played a few games recently and Harvey Elliott’s cameos have been impressive, but I think Curtis Jones is someone who knows how big this game is, so I expect him to start at Anfield.”

Merson predicts Jones return
Jones was one of those who started – and actually played the full 90 minutest – in Belgium last night.

That doesn’t necessarily rule him out of Sunday’s game, but we’d be surprised to see him go again.

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
The 22-year-old looked rusty against Union Saint-Gilloise. He may have claimed an assist for Jarell Quansah’s goal, but he was at fault for USG’s opener and generally didn’t take his chance to impress.

Again, that doesn’t mean Klopp won’t fancy Jones against United. The boss does seem to like using the Scouser is big games and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him favour Curtis again.

Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images
However, the England U21 international isn’t actually in great form at the minute. Stats-wise, he’s now registered assists in back-to-back games. But he hasn’t looked like the player we saw at the back end of last season.

One thing that probably does work in Jones’ favour is that Klopp doesn’t have great options at the moment.

Szoboszlai is a nailed-on starter, while we’d probably expect to see Gravenberch again, too. But without Mac Allister, Jurgen has a decision to make in defensive midfield.

Given the form of Endo over the past two games, it isn’t an easy call to make. Maybe Merson will end up being right after all.

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Liverpool vs Man United Latest Update, Eric Ten Hag sacked, Wataru Endo sacked Alexis Mac Allister Suspended, Mohamed Salah suspended open and read

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Liverpool No 1 Alisson is a calm and measured presence in goal – but he’s ready to show his ruthlessness against Man United
By Lewis Steele For The Daily Mail
17:00 GMT 15 Dec 2023 , updated 17:00 GMT 15 Dec 2023

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The 7-0 win last season was Liverpool’s biggest over Man United for 127 years
Alisson has an aura in the Reds’ dressing room that makes his team-mates listen
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Alisson Becker is leaning back in a chair at Liverpool’s Kirkby training base with a single espresso shot in hand. The goalkeeper, a calming and measured presence not only between the sticks, is here to talk title races, South American brotherhood and his leadership role.

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But whichever tangents the conversation takes, the theme continually returns to the last time Manchester United visited Anfield. It was a day football fans will never forget – apart from, perhaps, United supporters attempting to wipe the memory – but as a reminder, they lost 7-0.

It was United’s biggest defeat against their bitter rivals for 127 years, dating back to a 7-1 thrashing in 1895 in the second tier. Alisson is soon asked how he would react if he was on the receiving end of a 7-0 embarrassment at the hands of his team’s nemesis.

‘I would be on fire, I think, and I would try to set my team-mates on fire as well!,’ he says. Of course, the Brazilian goalkeeper means in a psychological or metaphorical sense – hopefully – but it shows the ruthlessness of Alisson, who many regard as one of Liverpool’s key leaders.

In terms of importance to the team’s successes, Alisson is level – if not above – Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. If he was to suffer a long-term injury, any hopes of breaking Manchester City’s monopoly on the Premier League would slowly dwindle.

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Alisson claimed that if his side lost 7-0 in any game then he would consider setting fire to his team-mates

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Alisson discussed the leadership and South American brotherhood in the Liverpool dressing room

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The Brazilian has the most clean sheets in the Premier League in 2023

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Alisson holds an aura that when he speaks, his team-mates always listen according to reports

Sources say that Alisson is not an ever-present voice of inspiration in dressing-room team-talks but holds an aura that when he speaks, team-mates sit up and listen. He is one of Liverpool’s five-man leadership group but also is a role model with his stellar performances.

‘As soon as I sat down here (arrived in Liverpool) I knew my way, my style is to lead and I am a guy who likes to talk and a good one-on-one when it is needed with players. The armband at this club means a lot and wearing the armband brings a lot of responsibility.

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‘Not only on the pitch but off it as well, you become kind of like a symbol for the supporters. But we have and we’ve had so many leaders. So many players have already had a role as a leader. That is what our team is built off, from many leaders going in the same direction.’

The leadership that Alisson speaks of – Liverpool have five players who captain their national team – is just what those down the East Lancashire Road are missing, with Manchester United long missing characters in the dressing room and bust-ups seemingly a weekly occurrence.

The goalkeeper has found friendship in international rivals such as Argentine Alexis Mac Allister and Liverpool’s four South Americans – also Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz – have competitions in the dressing room, with Nunez scoring against both Brazil and Argentina for Uruguay this year.

‘Bobby (Firmino) and Fabinho were a huge loss,’ he says. ‘But the relationship we have here between the South Americans is amazing. We are from different countries but have pretty similar cultures. I drink mate, the same as Darwin, same as Macca.

‘So we have rivalry but when we are here we are really good friends. I can see so much desire and passion from Macca, Darwin, Lucho, to do great things for this club. The environment and atmosphere of the other players are helping them to get this passion.’

Liverpool’s togetherness and team spirit is perhaps their best weapon if the Premier League leaders are to push on this season, but they also rely on mercurial talent all over the pitch. Alisson is perhaps one they have relied on slightly too much this season.

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Alisson’s influence on Liverpool’s rise is equal to – if not greater than – that of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk

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It was the heaviest win against their arch rivals in 127 years taking back to a 7-1 pummeling in 1895
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He made a stoppage-time save at Crystal Palace to deny Joachim Andersen and he has kept the Reds in multiple games when they have been plagued by sloppy starts this season. Alisson has saved a league-high 80.4 per cent of shots this season and says he is only getting better.

‘Yes, if the numbers talk then maybe (I am getting better)!,’ he says. ‘I’m working for that – to improve each year as much as I can. I started to play (first-team) football at a young age for a goalkeeper, 21 or 22, so I’ve already played 10 years in the posts.

‘That’s a lot of time, but I’m still young for a goalkeeper. If you see goalkeepers now they are playing until they are 38, 39 and sometimes going over that. I think now I am getting to the highest point of my career, mixing physicality, experience and a big desire.

‘Goalkeeping has changed since Manuel Neuer. I think if you look in the past you can see goalkeepers who play with their feet. I think (Victor) Valdes at Barcelona with his feet but Neuer was the guy who was more active in playing, in sweeping behind the defensive line.

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Though already 31 Alisson believes he can keep going for a number of years yet at the peak of his game
Jurgen Klopp said win over Man U is ‘best performance for a long time’
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Alisson cited Bayern Munich and Germany legend Manuel Neuer as the great innovator for goalkeepers to play with their feet more often
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The stopper also spoke of his friendship with Liverpool’s other South Americans such as Darwin Nunez (left) and Alexis Mac Allister (right)
‘Then it is Ederson, myself, so many goalkeepers that have the quality to play. You have to work out that, you have to choose a goalkeeper with those kinds of skills, but the main quality of the goalkeeper is making saves and making the team feel safe when you are between the posts.’

So, how high can Liverpool go this season? ‘That game (7-0) is in the past, it’s a good thing for supporters to talk about and remember but we are a different team now,’ he says. ‘We have big goals for the season, we want to do everything to win this game, no matter how big the score.

‘We have to slow down talking about the title race because we are a team that is rebuilding. Of course we want to win the league, of course we want to beat every opponent that we have. But we have to be focused always on the closest thing we have now.

‘We have to perform better as well – better than what we are doing – but I think we will get there.’

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Liver without six players against Man United, jurgen Klopp explained why Mohamed Salah was absent against Union SG,Wataru Endo sacked

‘We collapsed’: Ten Hag reflects on 22/23 Anfield capitulation and urges players to have no fear this time around
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Posted 6 minutes ago by Isabel Ryan

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Erik ten Hag is adamant his squad can leave Anfield with a result they’re proud of on Sunday.

Manchester United were dealt one of the most humiliating results in their history last season when arch-rivals Liverpool annihilated them 7-0 on Merseyside.

Now, as the side prepare to tackle the fixture for the first time since the heavy defeat, questions are being raised as to whether the out-of-form Red Devils will be able to avoid another hammering this time around.

You’d expect the morale to be pretty low at Carrington this week due to United’s midweek Champions League exit, which came after they claimed a mere four points from six group-stage games. Finishing fourth also ruled out the prospect of dropping to the Europa League, so all European action is now out of the picture for the club prior to Christmas.

Currently, they sit sixth-placed in the Premier League table and 10 points behind leaders Liverpool. United have sustained more losses (seven) than any side in the top-nine, and are the only team in the top-eight to hold a negative goal difference (minus three).

Alas, a win on Sunday could change their situation drastically. Ten Hag, whose job is under increasing pressure with every poor result, knows that more than anyone.

Ten Hag’s pre-match message to his players
Asked whether the squad are ‘scared’ to face Liverpool, he responded (via Manchester Evening News): “I haven’t seen that last season we were scared there. It was a bad experience, but it’s not similar, and you start again. Last year we played very decent, and we got hammered just after half-time, and then we collapsed.

“That was a different team and different players for part at least. We can’t ignore it, but we will go there, and we will be confident. I want my players to be confident from the start to the end, we have to fight there, challenge there and go with the idea. We will go to win there.”

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Dec 15 2023, 15:36
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Liverpool V Man United -Head To – As Eric Ten Hag was sack today -Liverpool To Win Man United With This To Reasons

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Manchester United must overcome a huge psychological hurdle as well as an injury crisis and their own weaknesses against Liverpool… the stats are damning and all point to more Anfield misery for Erik ten Hag’s men
By Adam Shergold for MailOnline
14:30 GMT 15 Dec 2023 , updated 14:30 GMT 15 Dec 2023

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Man United are heading to a buoyant Liverpool at the worst possible time
Their chances of winning on Sunday are estimated at a lowly 11 per cent
Manchester United fans must be DREADING Anfield trip – It’s All Kicking Off
Manchester United will not only be fighting against Liverpool, an injury crisis and their own shortcomings when they visit Anfield this Sunday.

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They’ll have to overcome psychological hurdles, too, because the home of their arch-rivals has become a place of nightmares in recent times.

Following a week in which United were humiliated 3-0 at home by Bournemouth and crashed out of Europe, a trip along the M62 to Merseyside is the last thing Erik ten Hag needs.

They face a buoyant Liverpool side sitting top of the Premier League, unbeaten in nine league matches and determined to rub United’s noses even further into the dirt.

United must also cope with up to 11 absentees either through injury, suspension or simply being banished to the reserves.

After their European exit, Manchester United face a daunting Anfield trip to face Liverpool
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After their European exit, Manchester United face a daunting Anfield trip to face Liverpool
Memories of Mohamed Salah and Co tearing them to shreds in a 7-0 Liverpool win in March remain at the forefront of minds as United head down the M62
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Memories of Mohamed Salah and Co tearing them to shreds in a 7-0 Liverpool win in March remain at the forefront of minds as United head down the M62
That seven-goal thrashing was the joint-heaviest suffered by United in their entire history
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That seven-goal thrashing was the joint-heaviest suffered by United in their entire history

Their debilitating injury list worsened in Tuesday night’s defeat to Bayern Munich as Harry Maguire went off with a groin injury and Luke Shaw suffered a hamstring issue.

However, Ten Hag confirmed on Friday that Shaw should make the match with Maguire facing a few games on the sidelines.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both missed that one through illness with only the former passed fit for Sunday.

Captain Bruno Fernandes is suspended after talking himself into his fifth yellow card of the season during the Bournemouth debacle.

Given the Portuguese midfielder’s petulant behaviour when United crashed 7-0 at Liverpool back in March, that may be a blessing in disguise.

Of course Jadon Sancho remains an outcast, and other injured players include Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof and Amad Diallo.

But it isn’t just a physical challenge for United, it’s very much a mental one too.

Rarely will their fans have set off for a game with Liverpool feeling so despondent about their team’s chances of winning. The stats around the fixture only support this low mood.

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Liverpool are undefeated in their last seven Premier League home games against United, winning four of them.

United captain Bruno Fernandes threw a hissy fit at Anfield in March but will be suspended for Sunday’s return visit
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United captain Bruno Fernandes threw a hissy fit at Anfield in March but will be suspended for Sunday’s return visit
Erik ten Hag’s side are given a minimal chance of winning at Anfield after recent setbacks
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Erik ten Hag’s side are given a minimal chance of winning at Anfield after recent setbacks
The stats don’t bode well for United
Courtesy of Opta

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home games against Manchester United (W4 D3), winning the last two by an aggregate score of 11-0. They last had a longer run without a league defeat at Anfield against them between 1970 and 1979 (9).

Manchester United have failed to score in their last four Premier League away games against Liverpool. They last had a longer run without an away league goal against an opponent between 1969 and 1974 (6 vs Everton).

Liverpool have lost just three of their last 17 games against Man Utd in all competitions (W7 D7), winning four of their last five against the Red Devils (L1).

Liverpool have won all seven of their Premier League games at Anfield this season, only in 2019-20 (first 17) have the Reds began a Premier League campaign with a longer home winning run.

Liverpool are also averaging three goals per game at home in the league this term (21 goals), their most in a single season in the competition.

Jesse Lingard scored United’s last goal at Anfield back in December 2018
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Jesse Lingard scored United’s last goal at Anfield back in December 2018
Manchester United have failed to win any of their last 13 Premier League away games against sides starting the day in the top eight of the table (D3 L10) since beating Spurs 3-0 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in October 2021.

This exact fixture last season finished 7-0 to Liverpool, Man Utd’s joint biggest margin of defeat in the club’s history.

Since winning back-to-back Premier League trips to Anfield in March 2015 (2-1) and January 2016 (1-0), Man Utd have since failed to win any of their seven league visits (D3 L4), failing to score in each of the last four.

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Liverpool have lost more Premier League games (29) and conceded more goals (81) against Man Utd than they have against any other side. However, no side has more Premier League wins against the Red Devils than Liverpool (19 – level with Arsenal & Man City).

United last came away from Anfield with three points on January 17, 2016, when Wayne Rooney’s goal gave Louis van Gaal’s side a 1-0 win. An awful lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then.

More pertinent is the fact Liverpool have won their last two meetings there by an aggregate of 11-0.

There was that seven-goal shellacking last season – a curious game in which Liverpool only led 1-0 at the break after United had been on top – and a 4-0 humbling the previous April with Ralf Rangnick in charge.

The last time Liverpool had a better home run against United was during their 1970s heyday, when they accumulated nine straight unbeaten.

That seven-goal loss last season was the joint-heaviest in United’s entire history and it must have left a mental scar for the players involved.

Worryingly, United have failed to score on their last four visits to Anfield. Jesse Lingard was the last to score there in a 3-1 loss on December 16, 2018.

Harry Maguire’s groin injury just adds to United’s problem ahead of a demanding Anfield trip
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Harry Maguire’s groin injury just adds to United’s problem ahead of a demanding Anfield trip
United were knocked out of the Champions League and all European competition in the week
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United were knocked out of the Champions League and all European competition in the week
That match proved the final straw for Jose Mourinho and Ten Hag will be hoping and praying this Sunday isn’t his swansong, even if it appears his job is safe for now.

The last time United had a longer run of failing to score away to a league opponent was six games against Everton between 1969 and 1974.

Given we’re already looking at a case of damage limitation, it’s hardly ideal for United that Liverpool are averaging three goals a game at home this season – their highest ever in the Premier League.

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There are also clear signs of how the pendulum has swung from United to Liverpool in their rivalry.

While Liverpool have lost more Premier League games (29) and conceded more goals (81) against United than any other team, they also have 19 wins against them (the joint-most with Arsenal and Manchester City).

Salah loves scoring against United, with 12 overall and nine in his last five meetings with them
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Salah loves scoring against United, with 12 overall and nine in his last five meetings with them
Mohamed Salah’s favourite opponents, with United topping the list. Courtesy of Opta
Mohamed Salah’s favourite opponents, with United topping the list. Courtesy of Opta
But recent history has greater relevance and Liverpool have actually lost only three of their last 17 meetings with United in all competitions (seven wins, seven draws).

As with quite a few opponents, the tables have turned since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and not in a positive way for United.

As usual, Mohamed Salah will be one of Liverpool’s principal threats and the Egyptian just loves playing against United.

Salah has scored 12 goals in 12 appearances against the Red Devils, more than against any other team and he also has four assists.

Recent encounters with the forward have been especially painful for United.

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In the 2021-22 season, he scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford in Liverpool’s 5-0 win before netting twice in the aforementioned 4-0 at Anfield.

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Last season, he scored a consolation in a 2-1 loss in Manchester before grabbing two goals and two assists in that 7-0 thrashing.

Salah has scored nine times and contributed four assists in his last five games against United and will doubtless be licking his lips at the thought of taking on their makeshift defence this Sunday.

With all that in mind, it’s perhaps no wonder Liverpool’s win probability for Sunday is a very high 74 per cent, with United’s just 11 per cent.

Adversity can sometimes inspire fighting qualities but the brutal truth is all signs point to another chastening Anfield afternoon for United this weekend.

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Liverpool in talks to sign “one-man army” midfielder
BY
HENRY JACKSON
PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO
The Reds have been linked with him in the past.

Liverpool are believed to have made contact and had talks with a player who has been described as a “one-man army”, according to a new update.

Liverpool transfer news
The Merseysiders are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League heading into the weekend action, with bitter rivals Manchester United heading to Anfield on Sunday afternoon. After last season’s woes under Jurgen Klopp, in which too many players looked a long way past their best, the manager rebuilt his midfield and it has made all the difference.

Injuries have started to creep in once again, however, with the likes of Alisson, Andy Robertson, Joel Matip, Alexis Mac Allister and Diogo Jota all affected of late – Matip won’t play again this season after suffering ACL damage – and it could force Liverpool into the transfer market in January.

With Matip unavailable, Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi has been linked with a move to the Reds, potentially being seen as someone who can bolster that area of the pitch, especially if an injury suddenly strikes down Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate.

Signings further up the pitch also don’t appear to be out of the question either, with Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu seen as an option for Liverpool, while RB Leipzig attacker Lois Openda has been backed to head to Anfield and boost their options in the final third.

Liverpool in contact over Khephren Thuram move
According to an update from Italian publication Calciomercato, Liverpool have made contact with Nice over midfielder Khephren Thuram, with the Reds, and by extension owners FSG, also reaching out to the player’s representatives.

Manchester City and United are also believed to be in the same boat, however, so there could be a big battle to snap him up in one of the upcoming transfer windows.

Thuram has been a long-time target for Liverpool, with a summer move not coming to fruition and the likes of Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai signed instead, but he could still be a great option to come in.

Granted, the 22-year-old isn’t the out-and-out defensive midfielder that some Reds supporters crave, with someone of Fabinho’s ilk arguably giving Klopp the perfect balance in the middle of the park, but he is still capable of playing there, or in more of a box-to-box role.

This season, Thuram has completed 89.2% of his passes in Ligue 1 across 12 appearances, also averaging 1.3 tackles and 1.1 clearances per game in the competition, showing that he can be effective in and out of possession.

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FSG send scouts to watch “quality” ace for Liverpool ahead of next summer
The Frenchman could be even more of a force alongside superior teammates, too, and at just 22 years of age, there is so much more to come from him, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig describing him as a “one-man army in midfield” back in August. It could be a surprise to some if Thuram arrived in January, however, it looks as if it could be one to watch following this update.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Henry Jackson • News Writer
(6070 Articles Published)
Henry is an experienced football writer with a huge passion and knowledge of the game.

With over a decade of writing under his belt, he has been part of Snack Media’s freelance team since 2020. He is also a main contributor for This Is Anfield, one of the world’s biggest Reds-related sites, where he writes features and news, and covers matchday content, from live blogs to the dreaded Player Ratings.

Henry is a Liverpool fan, which you may have guessed, and has also written articles for the Times and the Guardian, as well as featured on the radio on BBC Radio 5 Live and LBC.

Over the years, he has also accumulated nearly 30,000 followers on Twitter and become a known voice on all things Reds.

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UEFA make huge mess of Liverpool as Cody Gakpo left fuming by decision
Moments you might have missed from Liverpool’s Europa League defeat to Union SG on Thursday

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ByPaul GorstLiverpool FC correspondentTheo SquiresLiverpool FC Writer
12:09, 15 DEC 2023UPDATED12:35, 15 DEC 2023
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Cody Gakpo of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Europa League in group E match between R. Union Sint Gillis and Liverpool FC at Lotto Park stadium

Liverpool’s Europa League group stage came to a close on Thursday night with a 2-1 loss to Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels.

A much-changed and youthful side slipped to the Reds’ second defeat of their Group E campaign but progress to the last 16 was already secure before kick-off.

With Manchester United to come on Sunday afternoon at Anfield, Klopp opted to rest many of his big names as he handed starts to the likes of Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon, Luke Chambers and Conor Bradley.

READ MORE: Liverpool without six key players for Manchester United match after latest injury news

READ MORE: Liverpool handed Manchester United boost as true impact of Europa League defeat becomes clear

But you knew all of that, of course. What you missed, however, were a series of intriguing subplots at Lotto Park on Thursday night.

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Team sheet shenanigans

If Liverpool’s much-changed side might have thrown USG boss Alexander Blessin and his pre-match plans, it was also one that flummoxed those at UEFA, whose official pre-match sheet turned up some apparent tactical tweaks of a curious nature from Klopp.

Playing in a two-man midfield pivot was Harvey Elliott supposedly alongside winger Kaide Gordon with defensive midfielder Wataru Endo said to be leading the line as the lone striker. Behind him was centre-back Jarell Quansah, who was given freedom to roam in an exciting new-look No.10 position.

The young defender has enjoyed an excellent campaign from a personal perspective but Klopp is unlikely to be calling for his creative skills in the final third any time soon, despite his well-taken equaliser on the night.

And while Andy Robertson’s injury has led to an overreliance at times on Kostas Tsimikas, we’re not sure Cody Gakpo is well placed to deputise for the Greek defender on the left side of the defence, despite UEFA sticking the forward in that spot on their sheet. Gakpo is a versatile operator but a full-back he is not. Curtis Jones, however, has at least played right-back this season, against Leicester in the League Cup.

The Reds manager might have been described as naming an experimental side in Brussels, but this was taking it too far as UEFA got the positions hopelessly wrong on the night.

Jones gives a toss

Curtis Jones captained Liverpool for the third time on Thursday night as he donned the Reds’ armband for the first time in Europe against Union SG. You couldn’t wipe the smile off his face pre-match as a result as he led out Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Jogging over to the centre circle for the pre-match pleasantries, the 22-year-old was allowed to call for the coin toss. But referee referee Orel Grinfeeld used a coloured disc as opposed to an actual coin.

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“Red or green?” he asked, with Jones’ answer obvious. ‘Red, of course!’ he responded sheepishly, with a smirk on his face. It landed on green. Perhaps a sign of things to come on this disjointed night for Liverpool.

Elliott gives Gordon advice

It’s been a long and often painful wait for Kaide Gordon to get back into the senior setup but the young winger was cleared for a comeback after 23 months on Thursday night as he started on the right of the front three.

Gordon has endured miserable luck with injuries due to what has been described as a “complex pelvic issue” but after nearly two years out, he was in the side against USG and picking up some tips and advice from his more established colleague Harvey Elliott.

Gordon, 19, may not been too much younger than Elliott, who turns 21 in April, but in terms of experience of first-team life at Liverpool, the latter is very much the senior player and it hints at his growing maturity and sense of responsibility within the group that he was giving out the advice to Gordon as the rest of the team celebrated Jarell Quansah’s equaliser.

Elliott pulled Gordon to one side to deliver a few succinct morsels of inspiration after Quansah had made it 1-1. It’s unclear what was said in the exchange but Elliott is certainly becoming more comfortable as a senior Reds player this term.

Gakpo’s boot’s on the other foot

It was an evening to forget for Cody Gakpo on the night with the Netherlands international barely getting himself into the game against the Belgian league leaders.

The forward, however, was not helped by some of the officiating, particularly a moment in the second half when he embarked one of those trademark dribbles through the centre.

Picking up the ball on the half-turn, Gakpo was running at the heart of the USG defence and was being chased by a handful of players determined to deny him the time and space.

The forward perhaps kept hold of the ball for too long but such was the pressure on the challenge that the Dutchman’s boot came off in the tackle from a USG player, leaving him to hobble around with only one on for more than a few seconds.

Gakpo stood there with his arms aloft in demand of a foul wearing only one boot. As he trotted over to put the boot back on, it was expected that a foul would eventually be given but the referee somehow deemed it to be a fair challenge, despite one of the cleats flying across the pitch. The sight of the Reds man moving to retrieve it as the game carried on around summed up an instantly forgettable evening.

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