The FA Cup may not be anywhere near the top of Manchester United’s priority list this season, but the fact that they been paired with bitter rivals Liverpool in the third round - added to last season’s early exit from the competition - means this is a match they will be taking very seriously indeed.
Sir Alex Ferguson will surely also be licking his lips at the chance to dump yet more misery on his arch-rivals, particularly in a season where his team are currently on target to surpass Liverpool’s record of 18 league titles.
The Scot will also be aware that with time rapidly running out for Roy Hodgson, a victory for his side could quite possibly hammer the final nail in the Liverpool manager’s proverbial coffin.
Reds Hoping For Some FA Cup Magic
They say that form goes out of the window in the FA Cup, and in derby games too for that matter, and Liverpool will travel to Old Trafford praying that really is the case. The Reds are under fire after a dismal season, and recent defeats to Blackburn Rovers, Wolves and Newcastle United have left manager Hodgson teetering on the brink.
Yet the Merseysiders should need little motivation for this game, and a quick glance at the history books will give them hope. The last time the two sides met in the competition, in 2006, the Reds beat United in the fifth round courtesy of Peter Crouch’s first-half goal.
History also dictates that in every FA Cup tie between these two sides since 1985, the winners of the tie have gone on to lift the trophy. Motivation, indeed, if any were needed.
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Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted that he will select a strong side for the visit of struggling Liverpool after claiming to have erred last season in “picking the wrong team” after the Red Devils were knocked out in the third round by Leeds United.Two men who definitely miss out are John O’Shea and Paul Scholes, while Wayne Rooney and Edwin van der Sar remain doubts. Javier Hernandez, meanwhile, may have forced his way into the starting XI with two goals in his last two games.
Possible starting XI: Kuszczak; Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson; Berbatov, Hernandez.
Liverpool
There has been little good news for Roy Hodgson in recent weeks but he does have something to smile about at last as, aside from Jamie Carragher, he has virtually a full squad to pick from.Sotirios Kyrgiakos is expected to miss out in favour of Daniel Agger in defence whilst Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles should also return, which means Hodgson has something of a selection headache in midfield.
Possible starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Konchesky; Kuyt, Meireles, Lucas, Gerrard, Cole; Torres.
Prediction
Current form suggests this is a no-brainer; Liverpool have just won once away from home all season while United are unbeaten at Old Trafford.
However, the FA Cup doesn’t always work like that, particularly when you throw in the added spice that this fixture always produces and the fact that Roy Hodgson has now departed and new manager Kenny Dalglish arrived.
Yet Liverpool have provided little evidence in recent weeks that they are capable of the “remarkable coup” Hodgson claimed victory would be, and anything other than a home will be seen as a major shock.
However, the FA Cup doesn’t always work like that, particularly when you throw in the added spice that this fixture always produces and the fact that Roy Hodgson has now departed and new manager Kenny Dalglish arrived.
Yet Liverpool have provided little evidence in recent weeks that they are capable of the “remarkable coup” Hodgson claimed victory would be, and anything other than a home will be seen as a major shock.
Man Utd. 3-1 Liverpool 
