Michael Carrick reckons Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool will be the biggest battle for years between the old enemies. The Red Devils star reckons the fact Liverpool are now credible title-challengers has raised the intensity surrounding Sunday’s Anfield battle. Midfielder Carrick, 26, said: “As players, Liverpool is always a special game for us — especially at Anfield. The difference this year is that Liverpool are going for the title too, which makes it even bigger. There’s no doubt you can feel the intensity surrounding this fixture. You can feel it around the town."
Neil Custis, The Sun
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Friday, December 14, 2007
A match like no other
Sir Alex Ferguson cannot wait to sample Sunday's clash with Liverpool, insisting that fixtures between the pair are unrivalled in English football.
Liverpool's improvement this season looks set to make them genuine contenders for the Barclays Premier League title, adding even more of an edge to an invariably spicy fixture.
"This is a game separate from everything, it has different tendancies to any other game," said Sir Alex. "I think it's fair to say we look upon each other as our main rivals in English football, so it's separate from everything."
Despite slipping to a shock defeat at Reading last weekend, Liverpool's midweek win over Marseille takes them into Sunday's fixture on a high, although Sir Alex hinted that he would not have relished the fixture if the Merseysiders had crashed out of Europe.
"There are two different ways of looking at it," he said. "You could have Liverpool as a wounded animal going into the game, or as they are. Sometimes a wounded animal is more dangerous."
United go into the match six points ahead of their local rivals, but having played a game more. Sir Alex admits Liverpool are well in the title picture alongside Arsenal and
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Liverpool's improvement this season looks set to make them genuine contenders for the Barclays Premier League title, adding even more of an edge to an invariably spicy fixture.
"This is a game separate from everything, it has different tendancies to any other game," said Sir Alex. "I think it's fair to say we look upon each other as our main rivals in English football, so it's separate from everything."
Despite slipping to a shock defeat at Reading last weekend, Liverpool's midweek win over Marseille takes them into Sunday's fixture on a high, although Sir Alex hinted that he would not have relished the fixture if the Merseysiders had crashed out of Europe.
"There are two different ways of looking at it," he said. "You could have Liverpool as a wounded animal going into the game, or as they are. Sometimes a wounded animal is more dangerous."
United go into the match six points ahead of their local rivals, but having played a game more. Sir Alex admits Liverpool are well in the title picture alongside Arsenal and
A match like no other
Chelsea, who also lock horns on Sunday.
"Liverpool have got a game in hand, haven't they," he said. "Three points is nothing in this league, it's a competitive league now. Arsenal were six points ahead of us two weeks ago, now it's one.
"With Chelsea going to Arsenal as well, if it was March or April then it would without doubt be a significant weekend, but it's halfway through the season.
"Two draws will be the favourite scorelines, they're two difficult games to call. Certainly I'm looking at Arsenal and Chelsea and hoping it's a draw. Whenever your rivals play each other, you hope they'll drop points."
Hargreaves fit for Anfield test
Owen Hargreaves is fit and ready to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday after overcoming a slight calf strain.
The 26-year-old midfielder was withdrawn from last weekend's 4-1 win over Derby County at Old Trafford after pulling up in the warm-up.
He didn't travel to Italy in midweek for the 1-1 draw with AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, but he will be available for the crunch clash with Rafael Benitez's men.
Hargreaves' energy, defensive qualities and passing ability could be crucial on Sunday, and one of his main tasks could be to stifle Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
Sir Alex Ferguson will also have John O'Shea fit for the match after injuring his groin against Roma in midweek.
"Everyone is fit," said Sir Alex. "John O'Shea is ok after a couple of days' rest." Read more...
The 26-year-old midfielder was withdrawn from last weekend's 4-1 win over Derby County at Old Trafford after pulling up in the warm-up.
He didn't travel to Italy in midweek for the 1-1 draw with AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, but he will be available for the crunch clash with Rafael Benitez's men.
Hargreaves' energy, defensive qualities and passing ability could be crucial on Sunday, and one of his main tasks could be to stifle Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
Sir Alex Ferguson will also have John O'Shea fit for the match after injuring his groin against Roma in midweek.
"Everyone is fit," said Sir Alex. "John O'Shea is ok after a couple of days' rest." Read more...
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Fergie happy with Nani
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has declared his satisfaction with Nani's contribution to the Manchester United cause since the winger's £17million arrival from Sporting Lisbon. The 21-year-old has not even made the bench at times during his maiden Premier League campaign, but he was one of the most effective performers in United's encouraging 1-1 Champions League draw with AS Roma on Wednesday night and Ferguson is confident he has a big future with the club. "Nani is settling in very well at our club. When we brought him here, we told him he would not play all the time," said Ferguson. "We will get injuries as the season goes on. But the times he has played, Nani has done well, particularly in the first-half (on Wednesday night) when he was a big threat."
Staff writer, Daily Express Read more...
Staff writer, Daily Express Read more...
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
AS Roma Vs. Manchester United Result Report
This was never likely to be a game to excite the senses or engross the neutrals, but Sir Alex Ferguson can take positives from some bright performances as his young side earned a 1-1 draw in the Stadio Olimpico.
Gerard Pique’s thumping header gave United a half-time lead, but the Italians, who were largely off-colour in the first half, couldn’t afford to disappoint the home crowd and pushed men forward after the break. It worked, with Mancini striking a fine equaliser with 20 minutes remaining.
As expected, with both sides already through to the last 16 there was little resting on this tie, and the match lacked the customary cut and thrust of Champions League encounters. But, although Sir Alex took a very young squad to the Italian capital, his starting line-up certainly wasn’t bereft of first-team regulars. Captain for the night Wayne Rooney, who completed 70 minutes and looks sharp in readiness for Sunday’s trip to Anfield, partnered Louis Saha in attack. Michael Carrick, John O’Shea, Darren Fletcher and Nani were also given valuable playing time.
However, the United boss did go with a very inexperienced back four and goalkeeper. Gerard Pique and Jonny Evans, who started the ill-fated Carling Cup defeat to Coventry City in September, were again paired in central defence. Full-back Danny Simpson supported Chris Eagles on the right side for the Reds, while Tomasz Kuszczak replaced Edwin van der Sar in goal. Those five players can claim just 12 Champions League appearances between them.
Led by Rooney, the Reds made a positive start. Dropping deep off Saha – a role he performs much less frequently alongside Carlos Tevez – Rooney had two long-range efforts inside the first 20 minutes, but both were high over the bar.
Roma Giallorossi talisman Francesco Totti did have the ball in the net after 10 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. Then, midway through the first half with Roma enjoying a five-minute spell of pressure, Kuszczak had to make two smart saves to keep the scores level. From an Antunes cross the Polish stopper desperately palmed the ball over the crossbar, before saving low from David Pizarro’s 20-yard strike.
The Italians sensed an opening and continued to press United’s young defence. Mauro Esposito could have scored had he directed his header from eight yards, but he failed to trouble Kuszczak and the Reds stood firm. Moreover, it was a Reds defender that gave United the lead. On 34 minutes, Nani swung in a corner and Pique powered home his header, his second goal in three Champions League appearances this season.
The home side could have equalised before the break when Mancini hit the bar from close range and Esposito again misdirected his header. Kuszczak, too, was proving obstructive to the home side’s advances, pulling off a fine save from Mancini’s shot.
United were deserved leaders at the break, and with Roma unable to alter the scoreline 20 minutes into the second half, Giallorossi boss Luciano Spalletti made two attacking changes to his team, bringing on Ludovic Giuly and Mirko Vucinic. However, the Reds continued to pepper Roma’s goal. Carrick and Eagles both watched long-range shots drift wide, before an exquisite one-two between Rooney and Saha put the Frenchman through on goal but his shot was well saved by Doni.
Rooney left the field with 20 minutes remaining, being replaced by Dong Fangzhuo. But his departure came second after Roma’s equaliser. Mancini, who has received much criticism from the home supporters for his inconsistent displays, dealt ruthlessly with the time and space he was given inside the area. Cutting inside away from substitute Wes Brown, he arced his shot past Kuszczak. Seconds later Vucinic struck the post as the home side stepped up the tempo.
Both sides had chances to win it at right at the death. First Nani raced through on goal but could only direct his shot straight at Doni. Then, after United failed to clear the ball, Vucinic blazed his shot over the bar from two yards. It was hardly a surprise that, with nothing resting on this dead-rubber of a tie, the scores ended even. The intensity of this game may be poles apart from what is expected in Liverpool on Sunday, but this young United team can be pleased with their performance.
Team Line-ups
AS Roma: Doni; Cicinho, Ferrari, Mexes, Barusso (Giuly 62); Esposito (Vucinic 62), Antunes, Taddei, Pizarro, Mancini; Totti.
Subs not used: Julio Sergio, Panucci, Juan, De Rossi, Pit.
Booked: Barusso (49)
Manchester United: Kuszczak; Simpson, Pique, Evans, O'Shea (Brown 54); Eagles, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani; Rooney (Dong 72), Saha.
Subs not used: Heaton, Lee, Hewson, Brandy, Eckersley Read more...
Gerard Pique’s thumping header gave United a half-time lead, but the Italians, who were largely off-colour in the first half, couldn’t afford to disappoint the home crowd and pushed men forward after the break. It worked, with Mancini striking a fine equaliser with 20 minutes remaining.
As expected, with both sides already through to the last 16 there was little resting on this tie, and the match lacked the customary cut and thrust of Champions League encounters. But, although Sir Alex took a very young squad to the Italian capital, his starting line-up certainly wasn’t bereft of first-team regulars. Captain for the night Wayne Rooney, who completed 70 minutes and looks sharp in readiness for Sunday’s trip to Anfield, partnered Louis Saha in attack. Michael Carrick, John O’Shea, Darren Fletcher and Nani were also given valuable playing time.
However, the United boss did go with a very inexperienced back four and goalkeeper. Gerard Pique and Jonny Evans, who started the ill-fated Carling Cup defeat to Coventry City in September, were again paired in central defence. Full-back Danny Simpson supported Chris Eagles on the right side for the Reds, while Tomasz Kuszczak replaced Edwin van der Sar in goal. Those five players can claim just 12 Champions League appearances between them.
Led by Rooney, the Reds made a positive start. Dropping deep off Saha – a role he performs much less frequently alongside Carlos Tevez – Rooney had two long-range efforts inside the first 20 minutes, but both were high over the bar.
Roma Giallorossi talisman Francesco Totti did have the ball in the net after 10 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. Then, midway through the first half with Roma enjoying a five-minute spell of pressure, Kuszczak had to make two smart saves to keep the scores level. From an Antunes cross the Polish stopper desperately palmed the ball over the crossbar, before saving low from David Pizarro’s 20-yard strike.
The Italians sensed an opening and continued to press United’s young defence. Mauro Esposito could have scored had he directed his header from eight yards, but he failed to trouble Kuszczak and the Reds stood firm. Moreover, it was a Reds defender that gave United the lead. On 34 minutes, Nani swung in a corner and Pique powered home his header, his second goal in three Champions League appearances this season.
The home side could have equalised before the break when Mancini hit the bar from close range and Esposito again misdirected his header. Kuszczak, too, was proving obstructive to the home side’s advances, pulling off a fine save from Mancini’s shot.
United were deserved leaders at the break, and with Roma unable to alter the scoreline 20 minutes into the second half, Giallorossi boss Luciano Spalletti made two attacking changes to his team, bringing on Ludovic Giuly and Mirko Vucinic. However, the Reds continued to pepper Roma’s goal. Carrick and Eagles both watched long-range shots drift wide, before an exquisite one-two between Rooney and Saha put the Frenchman through on goal but his shot was well saved by Doni.
Rooney left the field with 20 minutes remaining, being replaced by Dong Fangzhuo. But his departure came second after Roma’s equaliser. Mancini, who has received much criticism from the home supporters for his inconsistent displays, dealt ruthlessly with the time and space he was given inside the area. Cutting inside away from substitute Wes Brown, he arced his shot past Kuszczak. Seconds later Vucinic struck the post as the home side stepped up the tempo.
Both sides had chances to win it at right at the death. First Nani raced through on goal but could only direct his shot straight at Doni. Then, after United failed to clear the ball, Vucinic blazed his shot over the bar from two yards. It was hardly a surprise that, with nothing resting on this dead-rubber of a tie, the scores ended even. The intensity of this game may be poles apart from what is expected in Liverpool on Sunday, but this young United team can be pleased with their performance.
Team Line-ups
AS Roma: Doni; Cicinho, Ferrari, Mexes, Barusso (Giuly 62); Esposito (Vucinic 62), Antunes, Taddei, Pizarro, Mancini; Totti.
Subs not used: Julio Sergio, Panucci, Juan, De Rossi, Pit.
Booked: Barusso (49)
Manchester United: Kuszczak; Simpson, Pique, Evans, O'Shea (Brown 54); Eagles, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani; Rooney (Dong 72), Saha.
Subs not used: Heaton, Lee, Hewson, Brandy, Eckersley Read more...
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