Pre-Match Live: Manchester United vs Liverpool | Premier League matchday

e e e e e e e [Music] [Applause] [Music] so far so good for Anna slaugh at Liverpool two wins from two but today a Sterner test with greater expectation one of the biggest games in World Club football so can the Reds join the Champions on maximum points heading into the international break it is the 215th meeting of Manchester United and Liverpool the First with Eric tenh and Anna slot in respective dugouts it's a 4:00 kickoff at Old Trafford this afternoon very good afternoon we will get the thoughts of Neil M and Sammy Lee a veteran of 14 meetings between Manchester United and Liverpool in just a moment but first let's get straight to Old Trafford and Liverpool team news comes from mark benstead thank you rob an a slot is looking to become the first Liverpool manager to win his first meeting with United since Bob Paisley did it back in 1975 and to do so he's gone with the same side that lined up against brenford last weekend that means that it's Allison Becker in goal then Virgil Van djk is in from the off and he makes his 200th League appearance for the club today it's IU katti Lewis Diaz Dominic schas Alexis McAllister Muhammad Salah Joo jotter is in he makes his 100th League appearance for Liverpool and Andy Robertson is in as well he plays his 300th game for the club in all competitions Ryan grenberg and Trent Alexander Arnold complete the starting 11 on the bench it's keler Gomez Endo Nunes gako Elliot Simas K Quanza and Bradley yeah it is the three times Dutch manager of the year against the two times Dutch manager of the Year here today but more importantly than that it is Manchester United against Liverpool mark thank you very much indeed we'll bring you details of the Manchester United Team in full very shortly but just in brief it is three changes for them today Deli xeri and garnacho in for Harry MaGuire the injured Mason Mount and ammed Dio as well as I mentioned though Sammy it is a big big step up for Liverpool today in terms of the size of this fixture what's expected of Arna slot and how big it would be if he could make it three wins from three today well you know this fix is historic you know they're one of our closest Rivals you know we always it's always the Benchmark when you play against the lik of Manchester United Manchester City are closer to Everton as terms of proximity so for me it it is a big step up it's a big challenge you know and it's one that you'd always wanted to play in this is a game you always wanted to play in always wanted to test yourself challenge yourself and as you said no bigger than ad Old Trafford but you know this this are the games that you live for these are the games you dream about I think the thing with this fixture as well is at times over the last 5 years 10 years 20 years both clubs have been in different places at the moment you would say that we're in a better place than United and have been for a few years before that it was United they had that spell but where wherever these teams are in the league in terms of whether challenging for the title or maybe slightly lower down it just it's completely different but the results of last season proved that don't you know the me G similar situation you know where in fact in terms of league position you know but it got turned on its head last year you know the three games that we played against him you know the two draws we lost against them in the FA Cup so you right you know at the end of day form but this is this is different isn't it this one and these it's different exactly because again we got a totally new management team and you know but again as I mentioned before you know form goes out the window when playing Derby games and this is this is a very similar similar R if you like you know but again very very important the fans love it the fans want it and it's massive as you mentioned before Rob that this is this is the one that you you put your benchmark in every season games that you want you want to get in you want to you want to win every game but you know the fans they really look forward to the likes of this game the Derby game so huge huge Sami mentioned it there that maybe form occasionally goes out the window in Darby fixes though Liverpool Everton over the years maybe hasn't lived up to that particularly recently but certainly the three games from last season Liverpool would have sat there over their summer holidays and wondered how they won none of them yeah well especially after what happened the season before being inside anfield for that 7-0 what one of the best Premier League games we've ever seen that second half was unbelievable and we felt in the three games last season we could have done something similar you know an we should have should have you know we've had 30 shots it's nil nil I think how they got away with that one we'll put it right in the FA Cup game again it's probably the quietest I've seen Old Trafford at 2-1 second half in that FA Cup they were quiet they've resigned to being beaten they get a late equalizer they go on and win in extra time and again in the league game 22 you thinking how have they got away with that one so hopefully if we do take our chances which they'll come along today we could make it an enjoyable afternoon well I think the best way to start off is by keeping the clean sheet you know we've done in the previous two games you know I have to say to you again I've been on here many occasions and I preacher you know cuz with clean sheets you can win any game whether it be from a set piece from a mistake but it's nice that when the previous two games we've kept them clean sheets I think last year you know in last previous season we've always had to go goal down before we suddenly wake up but um hopefully hopefully that's not the case and you know you said you're right what you're saying is that I think you mentioned you at the the ground you're in shock I was in here and we're in shock we couldn't believe it you know stats can angry as well Sammy angry as well well you can say that you say that I'm always angry with you when you don't win but you know you're right and it State of Shock and we should have should have put them to the sword that's why I said it's it's a very unpredictable fixture this and I mentioned it last year you know Manchester United were very unpredictable and in being unpredictable anything can happen just on that point about it being unpredictable perhaps one of the criticisms of Liverpool last season particularly in the two games at Old Trafford was a lack of control they allowed it to become a little bit of a school match where everyone just ran around a little bit is there more signs of control under on a slot and how important has Ryan grenberg been to that control so far well it's difficult to say because there's only been two Gam games rob you know I don't seem to be critical of the previous regime far from it he did all right didn't he well he did more he did more than all right but you know as I say we've had two clean sheets which is nice you know gin bash I think is coming and he's had more minutes than he's had you know and players always want minutes Neil you know better than anybody and i' I've enjoyed the way the way he started off this season you know it's allowed mallister to play in a a more advanced role if you like and obviously robers like I'm very impressed with he had a fantastic start to last season tailed off a little bit post I was post intern game I'm looking for big things from him and from grain Bish I think it's a big test for him today and the reason why I say that is he started in the Liverpool team he starts again three games in a row he's up against a manager in ten hog who he owes a lot to you know ten hog developed him at ax he he was the one who gave him a chance ax that's where he really established himself as a young player and and not that I'm saying he'll want to sort of prove a point to him listen I'm I'm making it for myself here at Liverpool but that comes into a different sort of challenge something mentally that he has to deal with again brenford against IPS did they have someone in the tent to really hurts I don't think they did I think against United with Bruno Fernandez there is a top class player there who he here is going to have to be mindful of defensively on the ball absolutely superb keep it moving playing forward defensively switched on because Bruno Fernandez will find gaps that he's going to have to stop and I think his defense can help him on that by communication because you know at the end of the day you you always need to be talking to each other you need to say cuz at some point you focus on the ball and you sometimes miss this little running behind you so it's important to out from the back back to the front that they communicate and you don't let them situations appear because as you say he's a very he's a very clever player Fernandez for want of a better of adjective you know and he he he can cause his damage but I I hope he doesn't today do you think that there would have been any Temptation at all given the threat of Bruno Fernandez given the Step Up in opposition to play Someone Like wato Endo today or not no no I think Endo hasn't started the season for whatever reason the manager has got a good balance in he likes what he has in there his good energy good Mobility with the Midfield it's worked so far there's no reason to change that at some stage dur in the game if he is feeling as though we're getting overloaded and there's too much space there and the Gap is too big between defense and Midfield he might he might just say to mallis just drop a little bit deeper or or maybe soers lay as well um so yeah absolutely no now Ryan grenberg has earned the right to be starting in this big fixture today and this is his biggest test though yeah yeah and I like Endo I've got to be I like Endo you know and I you know I agree exactly what you're saying think but why would you change it Rob you know at the end of the day you know it's been a good start you can change as the game's going on you can make the changes but I don't feel the need to change the starting lineup today and I I agree totally we I think he he deserves his place in the starting lineup whether that'll be the finished lineup is a to you know that's another question and we'll be able to discuss that later on but I think he deserves to be in the starting lineup for sure mentioned it briefly but let's just bring you full details of that Manchester United Team which does show three changes from the side that started their defeat at Brighton last weekend kend Matias Deli Joshua xer and Alejandro garnacho come into the team Harry MaGuire and ammed Dio drop to the bench and Mason Mount is out injured interesting Neil in terms of what you would say is a slight change intact that xer gives him the focal point that maybe hasn't been there from the start in the first two games yeah yeah he is the more recognized um attacking player obviously Bruno Fernandez has been playing that sort of false nine role and and by bringing xer in and garnacho there's a little bit more attacking threat there I feel as though Fernandez is a player who who has the ability to create xery will occupy our Defenders I think United's biggest threat I don't know if you agree Sami is the pace they have out wide rashford's a big call there's a lot of United fans wanting to see him dropped he's kept him in there you you maybe because it's a big game maybe he's used to the fact fix absolutely had this have been a different Premier League game I'm not sure rashford would have started but for me garnacho is a massive massive threat and he is a player we have to be mindful of but that's their threat on the attack in the wide areas yeah and we we have to nullify that I think XI has come on he scored two goals coming on as a substitute so he's been he's been a good impact for them you know whether that be maintained the same as as a starter will wait to be seen but listen the likes of our guys they'll know they'll be aware of their strength and their their weaknesses you know Vil for sure will know them you know the people that have come in so it's important that we we we we nullify the threat what they've obviously got but I agree totally with you it'll be a totally different threat than what they've had in recent games because as I say they've got a more of a focal point with they actually starting up front do they feel particularly different overall to what they were last season no no not not to me I quite enjoyed seeing where they were last season from a Liverpool point of view they were eighth they were nowhere near European football they got away with it by winning the FA Cup that's why they're in Europe this season 22 points that is how far they were behind us it was a massive Gap and we left them off to HW on a couple of occasions but it's felt like that over the last few we are much better but these games slightly different um yeah it's been a stuttering start for United beat Fulham Fulham had chances beat beat them late had to have a late goal done at Brighton you know again theyve spent 200 million pounds in the window so ten Hog's been there a while and spent a fair few quid for whatever he's not happy with what he's got and he's gone and spent another 200 million pounds I think Ugarte have I said his name right there I'm not sure U I think incredibly authentic yeah well well I think he's a good signing and I think that's what they've needed thankfully he's not involved today but I think that is one of a few decent signings they made I got asked a question forgive me last year something we were doing this fiction someone said do you feel sorry I don't feel sorry sorry I don't feel sorry I think you're fine this is not the channel to feel sorry you're very safe here not to we talked about m l the new Manchester United signing there is a new Liverpool signing as well federo Kinga not involved today at Old Trafford but still very happy to be a Liverpool player when uh Richard Hughes called me and he said do you want to join Liverpool and the coach called me uh I said yes immediately because I know the history of this club I know what it represents represents to the fan and so I'm I'm so happy and I I can't wait to get to get started the people here are amazing and uh I felt a great empathy and uh I just want to say something that uh you know stuck um to my mind when I when I arve when I was about to land with the with the airplane I saw the anfield uh and as soon as I saw anfield I said to my wife put the song on you never work alone because I want to I want to imagine myself playing there and hear in the Chant of the fun and this song so it was just a fun bit of course you're really excited that we brought him in I think um one of the best things of of working here what I've noticed till now is the culture of this team the they work really hard to try to achieve their goals and I think that it's really important that the first player you bring in uh has that same attitude in that same uh uh um how should I say this uh the same brings the same culture so he's uh he works really hard on and off the pitch to try to get the best out of him and he combines this with scoring goals and um and like I said really aggressive without the ball and that's uh that's uh those are already two correct istics with him can playing on so many positions in the on the right on the left and maybe even in the middle makes him a interesting signing for us although I agree with you we should take care of him in the beginning because uh he didn't train with the team in the last two weeks but before he did haven't played many game minutes yet but we have a very good performance staff so uh we will build them up in the right way and then uh hopefully we can see his quality in the near future so what sort of player are Liverpool getting in Federico k a Neil an exciting player I think when there's all that speculation the transfer window who will Liverpool sign what position that was never really a name that came up too often and maybe a position you felt as though we had a lot of quality there I think when you look at k is's a winner he's won things at Juventus didn't win the league but he won a few trophies he won the Euros with Italy with the business we've done in this window to sell somebody like carvalo who's who's an exciting young Talent who has nowhere near the same experience as somebody with over 50 caps won things and for half the price I feel as though it's a really good signing and and we've got a coach who will look after the players in terms of he's not going to get thrown straight in he's not the main man in attack he'll have his moments and and I think certainly coming off the bench I think it'd be an exciting option but you've got Salah you've got J Nune you know gapo so there's players there that will take a little bit of that responsibility and less pressure on a new play like that but it's an exciting signing it is and I think what I liked from all accounts he had other office but he was desperate to come here which always pleases me I also like what slot was saying the fact that is adaptability his versatility and as you say he's got good experience you know I I don't like to talk about the money because as a coach I've never been involved in trying to make that have an impact on my my decision but the thing about he's got he's got experience at the highest level both at Juventus and at National level and hopefully he can add to what I believe is a good squad anyway I think every every dress room want freshness in this in in this in in the dress room I get that but I think that the freshness will come from a totally new coaching staff this time because don't foret Jen left us with a fantastic Squad we've been told and we believe we've been watching them both in terms of quality and depth so I'm pleased with that bit a little bit surprised he's allowed a couple of them to go your Bobby Clarks as as you know and your cavalos but you know he he obviously works with them all the time and he he thinks that he's got enough strength and depth because you know we'll be talking later on about the the Champions League because you know we want to be involved in all competitions in order for us to do that we've got to have strength and depth and quality and depth just just on your point then about as a coach you wouldn't get involved in the fee which I understand probably even more so these days with with directors of football and Technical directors but there might have been a question for example from Richard Hughes downwards to say this guy has missed 80 games with injury since the start of the 2021-22 season do you say look for the fee which is is pretty low he's worth a risk because as Neil said look what he's achieved but it's not for me to answer that I've got to be honest the poers to be have obviously made that decision um again I honestly I would never look at the um I would never look at the fee I I would look at the exist you know injury record you know because that that will have an impact on on us going forward you know may be one of the reasons why Juventus have allowed him to to come at such a you know relatively cheap price but um at the end of the day also on mentioned before that it's it's incumbent upon the the the the sports boys as well to look after them prepare them right to make sure that we can maximize maximize his ability and his availability as well cuz that's massively important he's played over 30 games in the last two seasons he's not coming into Liverpool having to play 50 60 games we really need you this season he'll play his part at some point like the O will Champions League's been extended this season there'll be more games and and not just that not just starting games off the bench you know you look at the bench and thinking we've got players who can really change it if needed needed to and I think his experience in the dressing room will help you know cuz say he's The Proven International when Theos with ity so that's always nice to have an any dress room because we've got we have got a good mix of Youth and experience and if you add that to an already quality Squad then hopefully hopefully he'll be 'll be a a very good sign for Liverpool Football we look forward to seeing him after the international break for the moment we can return to Old Trafford uh David James and first mark benstead thank you rob welcome back to Old Trafford David James is alongside me but we've had to take refu refuge in the main stand here because it is bucketing down in Manchester as it so often is and we've managed to find a bit of roof that is intact so we're all good David the teams are out Liverpool unchanged what is that telling us about the manager's thoughts what he's seen so far well I think on the back of two great results uh to start the season two play sheets obviously um and loads and loads of opportunities created in those two games I think an is basically saying look your you're you're my team at the moment can continue what you're doing um and he's sending a message to the rest of the squad that unless things get bad and you're going to have to work very hard to be able to get into the starting lineup and stay in there which is which is a very good thing it certainly is how does our Midfield three get the better of United effective effective Midfield three looks like Bruno Fernandez is back in that number 10 hole again today after playing as a a striker connectively yeah I mean looking at the let's say the first two games I think the first half and we we covered the game against ipsd together I think the first half there was there was a bit of an issue maybe because of the way ipsd played uh but the second half everything was smooth and Liverpool took total control um in the game last weekend again that Midfield and I I was watching footage this morning there's something about it which is lovely to watch when you've got the lik to mallister bombing forward at times slop slly bombing forwards at times um and you talking about Fernandez in Midfield that whole midfield for Manchester United is going to have to be so aware that when Liverpool are in possession that there's going to be movement from different players going forward there's going to be cluster in front of the in zone 14 in front of the um the Manchester United penalty area and I think with Andy Robertson I I told you about the stat I think it's 16 crosses in two games you know there's a shape to this Liverpool side a function of this Liverpool side which Manchester United if they're not on their game could be in trouble kobby Mayu was the big success story for United last he and to a part England as well how good is he and where is casemiro alongside him in his career he got a lot of flack last season but he started this season yeah I mean it's funny because uh he got slack when they won the FA Cup um in o winning the the caravel cup and mest when there was only three teams who won anything so you know for for all the slack that he got he's still holding a a winners medal so I think it's a it's a blend how long it'll continue I think casemiro show signs of his game which is superb and that's why he's here um defensively people might pick up on it but we we talked about the beginning we did find a dry area but as anyone knows Old Trafford is not the not the most water TI stadium in the in the country um but again I go back to what Liverpool have have got the capabilties Liverpool got Casmir is going to be tested to the maximum you'd think today uh Mayu likewise will be tested to the maximum and when you look at the three combined you had what we were talking about when you look at an honoring the amount of shots saw saves he had to make last season is because there is a slight dysfunction to Manchester United's Midfield and if Liverpool can take advantage of that then they'll just get exposed just finally before one of us drowns they are starting a striker today xeri is in from the off for the first time does that sort of lend itself to them having to attack having to be bold and that could in turn offer us opportunities yeah and and you know because of the two results here last season um against Liverpool I think ten hog will be looking at I I say um auspicious signs if you like Zer sees as he proved in his first game is capable of scoring goals a wonderful finish against Fulham um he could be a danger player I don't know a massive amount about him but this crowd they turned up early before us even um they want to see Manchester United be successful and in order to do that they're going to have to attack but they're up against the a side that haven't conceed any goals against Alli my number one goalkeeper so it's going to be a big test and I just hope and I expect the livero and Arie will do what they've done in the first two games of this season and put in a tremendous performance good stuff we're going to go and ring our shirts out I'm going to predict it is easing off next time you hear from us it'll be a lot drier I have to say Neil we were there last year and absolutely chucked it down so I've got zero sympathy with the pair of them for getting what and it does always rain in Manchester surprised well maybe he'll be sort of floating on a boat the next time we return to Mark Ben said anyway if you're watching us on social media you are about to leave us for more details on how to sign up to lfctv and go liverpoolfc.com slatch is where you need to head to let's just point you in the direction of our coverage for today and Beyond the full match audio commentary from 4:00 this afternoon then Sammy and John Aldridge will be with us for 6:00 for reaction plus interviews from Old Trafford as well uh free highlights on go from 8:00 tonight then TV and go the full match available from Midnight let's hope it is one to look forward to and then inside died from Tuesday on the club's Facebook and YouTube channels well Mark mentioned that Bob Paisley the last man to win his first League game against Manchester United not since 1936 as a Liverpool manager won his first away game at United will that away dressing room be celebrating come 6:00 tonight more buildup on the way next [Music]