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Rio Ferdinand believes the right blend of youth and experience is crucial as United head to Liverpool without several elder statesmen who were at the club last term.
A number of thirtysomethings, fortysomething in Edwin van der Sar's case, have departed with an injection of young talent helping reinvigorate the champions at the start of the season. However, the trip to Anfield always demands wise heads to deal with the frenzied atmosphere. Ferdinand explained:
"It is just another part of the youngsters' learning curve. It is great for these young guys to be able to go to Anfield with Manchester United, to feel the environment and atmosphere that is put in front of you. To become top players, you have to be able to adapt and apply yourself in different environments. This is a hostile place, but one there is no better place to win at as a United player. Our manager is the best in the business at mixing youth and experience. If he feels we need youth and experience mixed in, then great. Experience is valuable, so is youth. The mixture will be vital.
"I would say it's the biggest game for the players. We have played a couple of the teams who are normally around us in the league at home, but this is away. Regardless of what part of the season it is, going to Anfield is always huge for us. It's a game we look forward to and one I'm sure the fans are really excited about."
Vidic considered for Anfield clash...
Sir Alex Ferguson is pondering whether to hand captain Nemanja Vidic his United return at Liverpool on Saturday.
The centre-back played for Serbia on Tuesday night in Slovenia after being sidelined since the opening weekend win at West Brom and the length of his absence is causing the boss to place a question mark over his involvement at Anfield.
The final decision could come down to how the player feels in himself, although Jonny Evans has performed well and is a reliable alternative for the boss as he's available after missing the recent Northern Ireland internationals with an ankle problem.
"The big question mark is whether Vidic is ready," said the boss at his pre-match press conference. "He has his first game for Serbia on Tuesday. It’s certainly a consideration because he’s such a great competitor. He came in yesterday and felt okay. But the Liverpool game is such an intense, stamina-draining game that you want everyone to be 100 per cent so it might be more down to how he feels himself.
"Jonny Evans’s form has been absolutely brilliant so I don’t have any real concerns about who I play because they’re all playing well."
Tom Cleverley is still not fit enough to be considered for the match on Merseyside but there's encouraging news on right-back Rafael, who is back in full training ahead of schedule. No other fresh injuries were picked up during the international break, which Sir Alex describes as a "blessing" particularly with Fabio, Ashley Young and Patrice Evra all suffering knocks last Friday.
The 'BOSS' wants Cool Heads...
Sir Alex is determined United will keep calm in the Anfield cauldron on Saturday and finish the game with 11 men on the pitch. Sendings off have seriously hindered the Reds' hopes in recent years and the manager has also acknowledged Liverpool's improvement under Kenny Dalglish.
"In my time, we've had about nine players sent off in games there which is unusual for Manchester United," declared the boss. "That is down to the atmosphere which can be created there. It's something you have to deal with.
"Last season, we were playing really well in the game and made two really bad errors to give the goals away. It was hard to overcome that. In the previous two seasons, we had players sent off. There are issues you have to deal with - your temperament and composure in these situations to make sure you handle these sorts of things."
Dalglish will bid to outdo his old adversary with the two Scots on the touchline again this weekend.
"He's what the fans wanted and I think there has been an improvement," added Sir Alex. "They've bought a lot of players. They've gone for it financially and the owners have supported Kenny very well. At the end of the day you would always expect Liverpool to be challenging at least for a Champions League place."
The Boss' Respect for Liverpool...
The rivalry may be intense but Sir Alex feels Saturday's opponents have huge respect for each other and form a vital part of the fabric of English football.
When Liverpool and United lock horns, it's always the game of the season for the Reds chief, as he relishes another testing trip to Merseyside to tackle Kenny Dalglish's side.
"I think they’re the two most successful clubs in England historically and also from an initial point of view when industry changed and they opened the ship canal," opined the boss. "It had a lot to do with the history of both cities and both clubs. It’s an inherent situation. It’s been here since I came. To me, although things may change in the next two or three years with Manchester City and whether or not the derby can equal a United/Liverpool game because I’ve always considered that to be the game of the season in English football. At the moment, I think it remains that.
"It’s never going to change," he insisted. "I think both clubs need each other. The history both clubs have should be appreciated by both sets of fans and that’s sometimes annoying when I hear silly chants about Munich and Hillsborough, I don’t think it does either club any good at all because without each other it wouldn’t be the English league.
"If it came to a stage where fans were banned from each other’s ground, it wouldn’t be the same game so we need each other in that respect. The history of both clubs should be respected and hopefully we can see that because it’s fantastic for fans to see these games - the rivalry, great footballers, the intensity… to me it’s the game of the season."
Fortune: Mersey memories...
When Liverpool and United lock horns, it's always the game of the season for the Reds chief, as he relishes another testing trip to Merseyside to tackle Kenny Dalglish's side.
"I think they’re the two most successful clubs in England historically and also from an initial point of view when industry changed and they opened the ship canal," opined the boss. "It had a lot to do with the history of both cities and both clubs. It’s an inherent situation. It’s been here since I came. To me, although things may change in the next two or three years with Manchester City and whether or not the derby can equal a United/Liverpool game because I’ve always considered that to be the game of the season in English football. At the moment, I think it remains that.
"It’s never going to change," he insisted. "I think both clubs need each other. The history both clubs have should be appreciated by both sets of fans and that’s sometimes annoying when I hear silly chants about Munich and Hillsborough, I don’t think it does either club any good at all because without each other it wouldn’t be the English league.
"If it came to a stage where fans were banned from each other’s ground, it wouldn’t be the same game so we need each other in that respect. The history of both clubs should be respected and hopefully we can see that because it’s fantastic for fans to see these games - the rivalry, great footballers, the intensity… to me it’s the game of the season."
Fortune: Mersey memories...
Fortune on Merseyside:
04/11/01 - Liverpool L1-3
01/12/02 - Liverpool W2-1
01/05/03 - Everton W2-1
09/11/03 - Liverpool W2-1
07/02/04 - Everton W4-3
15/01/05 - Liverpool W1-0
19/02/05 - Everton W2-0*
* - FA Cup, all the other games were in the Barclays Premier League.
Former Reds midfielder Quinton Fortune is hoping for more United success at Liverpool this weekend after enjoying a good record on Merseyside.
The South African scored in a hostile FA Cup win at Everton in 2005 and was only beaten once at Anfield, in his first game in front of The Kop in 2001. Although Fortune feels the Reds need to keep things tight at the back, he's confident the champions can achieve a positive result this Saturday.
"I only lost one game at Anfield," recalled Fortune to ManUtd.com. "I never ever lost again after that.
"The first one was the hardest game but, after that, Diego Forlan scored, Giggsy scored. There are some great memories. It's a great place to go as the atmosphere is unbelievable. The rivalry between ourselves and them is what it's all about and why you want to play on that stage. It's where you want to show your ability and character and prove to the world what sort of a player you are."
Fortune hopes the possible return of Nemanja Vidic will help eradicate any insecurities at the back for the trip to Merseyside. "I think we'll win the league but I'm a bit worried about the defensive side," he admitted. "I'm sure everyone wants to sort it out.
"Going forward, we're unbelievably scary. I've been going to most of the games and teams don't know how to cope with us. On the other side, we're letting too many easy goals in. I'm sure when we get a settled back-four again, with Vidic back, we'll be fine as we've been having to chop and change."
COLE'S FIRES STILL BURN FOR LIVERPOOL GAMES
Andrew Cole feels the white-hot atmosphere at Anfield on Saturday will make life difficult for United.
The ex-Reds striker believes older heads like Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand will need to pass their experience on to the younger lads in order to ensure the champions handle the occasion. After three consecutive defeats in front of The Kop, the pressure is on United to extend their unbeaten start to the campaign in the lunchtime fixture.
"It's a great game," Cole enthused on MUTV's Live at the Red Cafe. "I think if you speak to the majority of the lads as well, this is the one game everyone looks forward to. Liverpool at Anfield is the kind of match you want to play in when you come to United."
With the likes of Gary Neville, Edwin van der Sar and Paul Scholes all no longer available, it will be a younger United squad that travels to Merseyside this season. "I know we've surpassed them championship-wise, but you're talking about great history there," explained Cole. "When you've got experienced players like Giggsy and Rio, all those kind of boys will let the players know what it's like at Anfield and how passionate it is. It gets tougher and tougher every year you go there and I think form goes out of the window. In recent years, United have always been going there in decent form but Liverpool have somehow got the results.
"It's feisty at times because the atmosphere is so hot. If there's any mistimed challenges, the Liverpool punters are straight on it. The manager sometimes says the referee has got to be strong and Andre Marriner will need to be on Saturday because the fans do get behind their team."
Finally, which club has captured...My HEART?
Have a Great and Safe Weekend .
04/11/01 - Liverpool L1-3
01/12/02 - Liverpool W2-1
01/05/03 - Everton W2-1
09/11/03 - Liverpool W2-1
07/02/04 - Everton W4-3
15/01/05 - Liverpool W1-0
19/02/05 - Everton W2-0*
* - FA Cup, all the other games were in the Barclays Premier League.
Former Reds midfielder Quinton Fortune is hoping for more United success at Liverpool this weekend after enjoying a good record on Merseyside.
The South African scored in a hostile FA Cup win at Everton in 2005 and was only beaten once at Anfield, in his first game in front of The Kop in 2001. Although Fortune feels the Reds need to keep things tight at the back, he's confident the champions can achieve a positive result this Saturday.
"I only lost one game at Anfield," recalled Fortune to ManUtd.com. "I never ever lost again after that.
"The first one was the hardest game but, after that, Diego Forlan scored, Giggsy scored. There are some great memories. It's a great place to go as the atmosphere is unbelievable. The rivalry between ourselves and them is what it's all about and why you want to play on that stage. It's where you want to show your ability and character and prove to the world what sort of a player you are."
Fortune hopes the possible return of Nemanja Vidic will help eradicate any insecurities at the back for the trip to Merseyside. "I think we'll win the league but I'm a bit worried about the defensive side," he admitted. "I'm sure everyone wants to sort it out.
"Going forward, we're unbelievably scary. I've been going to most of the games and teams don't know how to cope with us. On the other side, we're letting too many easy goals in. I'm sure when we get a settled back-four again, with Vidic back, we'll be fine as we've been having to chop and change."
COLE'S FIRES STILL BURN FOR LIVERPOOL GAMES
Andrew Cole feels the white-hot atmosphere at Anfield on Saturday will make life difficult for United.
The ex-Reds striker believes older heads like Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand will need to pass their experience on to the younger lads in order to ensure the champions handle the occasion. After three consecutive defeats in front of The Kop, the pressure is on United to extend their unbeaten start to the campaign in the lunchtime fixture.
"It's a great game," Cole enthused on MUTV's Live at the Red Cafe. "I think if you speak to the majority of the lads as well, this is the one game everyone looks forward to. Liverpool at Anfield is the kind of match you want to play in when you come to United."
With the likes of Gary Neville, Edwin van der Sar and Paul Scholes all no longer available, it will be a younger United squad that travels to Merseyside this season. "I know we've surpassed them championship-wise, but you're talking about great history there," explained Cole. "When you've got experienced players like Giggsy and Rio, all those kind of boys will let the players know what it's like at Anfield and how passionate it is. It gets tougher and tougher every year you go there and I think form goes out of the window. In recent years, United have always been going there in decent form but Liverpool have somehow got the results.
"It's feisty at times because the atmosphere is so hot. If there's any mistimed challenges, the Liverpool punters are straight on it. The manager sometimes says the referee has got to be strong and Andre Marriner will need to be on Saturday because the fans do get behind their team."
Finally, which club has captured...My HEART?
Have a Great and Safe Weekend .
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