Manchester United of course play Liverpool away this coming weekend, with that in mind it’s worth taking a look at these three players who we should be wary of going into the game:
Andy Carroll
Big forward Carroll probably is the Liverpool player with the most to prove this season. After arriving injured during the January transfer-window, the powerful forward is still finding his feet at Anfield and needs more games and goals to prove why Kenny Dalglish signed him from Newcastle United.
Of course it’s not his fault that he was signed for a highly inflated price fee of £35million, but there’s no doubt that he will be reminded of just how much he cost, if the goals don’t flow as Liverpool fans will be expecting him to come good this season.
Whilst he is by no means a natural finisher, Carroll for such a tall forward has terrific ability on the ball and when playing right can cause defences trouble via his hold-up play. In glimpses he has shown his quality for Liverpool and he could become a hero at Anfield this weekend if he’s on his a-game.
Steven Gerrard
What else can be said about Gerrard. Everyone knows that he’s a great player. He’s won everything there is to win bar a Premier League title at club level and he has been a great player for England as well, despite the fact he’s struggled (like so many of the so=called golden generation) at World Cups.
He has proved the difference for Liverpool on seemingly 100’s of occasions and when fit can be backed to score 15-20 goals a season without even breaking sweat. Sadly for him and his club, he has struggled with injuries over the last two seasons and perhaps he is past the peak of his career.
However, any fan of an opposition club would be wrong to ever write of Liverpool’s no.8, as he is still as hungry and motivated as ever to win another trophy for his boyhood club. This weekend will be a test for Gerrard who will likely be making his first start of the season. He’ll be up for it, no doubt about that.
Luis Suarez
There are not too many forwards who have instantly set the Premier League alight. Uruguayan Suarez is one of a select few marksmen who have taken no time to ‘bed in’ and have made sure they have troubled defences right from the get go.
The former Ajax striker has brought pace, imagination and fire-power to Liverpool’s attack and he has proved that he’s a little man who can handle the big-occasion. In last season’s encounter between the two sides he ran United ragged and impressed with his work-rate before being substituted late on.
He cannot be afforded the freedom of Anfield this Saturday by United’s defence who will have prepared to stay tight on him, and cannot give him even the slightest bit of space to roam into. Suarez has a habit of ‘play-acting’ and has a great knack of getting players booked, which United will need to be wary of.
