Liverpool v Manchester United – Rooney’s record chances
Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney can make EPL history against Liverpool and become the EPL’s all time leading scorer for a single club.
Former Everton man Rooney has hit 175 goals for the Red Devils and another on Sunday at Anfield will see him move clear of Thierry Henry who achieved the feat for Arsenal.
Online football tipsters can point to Rooney’s recent record – the England captain has scored in each of his last three games and should he find the net against the Reds it will be the first time since March 2012 that he will have scored in four consecutive matches.
His Spanish team-mate Juan Mata will similarly be looking forward to the match having scored three goals and made four assists in his last six games against Liverpool – while football fans around the world will be salivating at the prospect of this encounter.
GLORIOUS HISTORIES
Both sides have glorious histories and both may be struggling now yet this fixture remains a verifiable highlight of any EPL season such is the bitter rivalry between the clubs, players and fans.
At stake is more than bragging rights with the Reds from Merseyside and Manchester still having ambitions for (at the very least) a top four finish.
Defeat for Jurgen Klopp’s men will all but end Liverpool’s chances of mounting a serious challenge but a win against United just a few days after securing a 3-3 draw against league leaders Arsenal could spur the Red Men onto bigger and greater things.
BOOST FOR KLOPP
Such a boost for Klopp and the Kop would be bad news indeed for United boss Louis Van Gaal who continues to feel the pressure from his side’s perceived poor performances and indifferent results.
The midweek capitulation to Newcastle may have been incredibly exciting and entertaining, but the two points dropped having taken a 2-0 and 3-2 leads was the cause of more criticism for Van Gaal and his “philosophy.”
United have just one win from their last eight EPL games and have slipped from the pinnacle of the table to now sit sixth on 34 points – two behind Tottenham in the all important fourth place.
Win and Liverpool can go level with United on points but will need a huge win to go above them given a massive goal difference that has United on plus 7 and Liverpool on minus 2.
RED CARDS AND PENALTIES
The frequency of red cards in a clash between the Reds may not be too surprising and
online football tipsters may take into account the chance of one side being depleted.
Liverpool against Manchester United in the EPL has witnessed 16 red cards making it the second highest behind only the Merseyside derby which has seen Liverpool and Everton accumulate 20 red cards.
It’s clearly an emotional encounter and who can forget Steven Gerrard’s last ever game against United at Anfield last season when the skipper lasted just 38 seconds before getting a red card as a second half substitute to end his personal history with the clash.
Tipsters may also fancy the likelihood of a penalty being awarded as this match has seen more spot kicks than any other except Liverpool v Spurs (18 and 19 respectively).
By: Joe Cahal]]>
