Fergie’s Shiny New DB

By: Simon James | September 13th, 2008

Liverpool v Manchester United Preview, Kick-off: September 13th, 1245 BST

You can’t help thinking that Fergie is relieved that the International break is over as he will be no doubt be dying to try out his brand spanking new signing, Dimitar Berbatov, who has been burning a hole in his pocket (in more ways than one) since the end of the transfer window.

Although, undoubtedly a great signing, it raises many questions as to how he is going to play him and, indeed, whether he will start him. Rooney and Tevez have been busily buzzing around up front so far like a pair of excited chipmunks around a juicy redwood, but, being similar players, they haven’t really produced an attacking display that has had a real cutting edge. However, after Rooney’s creative display for England, especially as it was next to a big man with quick feet, Berbatov will be looking forward to a lot quality ball. I doubt Fergie will worry about showing any restraint against Liverpool by not playing a front three. The y will recycle the responsibility to drop deeper for the ball, although I doubt Berbatov will venture past the half way to many times.

Luck has been a feature of all Liverpool’s games so far and who’s to say they’re not going to get more. Sulky face Gerrard and Man-child Torres have surprisingly returned from injuries, which is a big boost for them, but then again, so have Hargreaves and Carrick for United which equally will provide a good stable platform for the forwards to menace, in my opinion, a suspect back four. Could this game, or at least Liverpool’s attacking flavour, be decided on where Rafa decides to play Keane? So far the wide positions have been awful for Keane and have created many problems when he cuts in to join up with Torres and Kuyt leaving lots of space behind him in the breakdown. If he plays as a second striker he will feel he has a lot to prove and may try to do too much. However, Liverpool’s play has been so lacking in width it’s practically anorexic at the moment, if Babel and Riera play those channels Keane and Torres may get more ball to run on to.

United have a full squad to choose from except for Ronaldo, who is expected to be fit for Villarreal on Wednesday. I expect the starting line up to be Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Carrick (or Fletcher), Scholes, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov. The last four names fill me with expectation of industry, creativity, flair and most of all goals, which is what we have been lacking.