Manchester United (h) build up

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Because they're dirty annoying cunts that constantly fluke goals and results despite being absolutely ****, and they have a brilliant keeper.

Sounds like a description of our game yesterday.

[BobTheCharmer]

Why worry about it? United are utter ****. Even against a truly woeful Spurs their football was poor. We'll batter them no problem. I've never been more confident going into a game against them and I've been watching this fixture for half a century

I admire the confidence. We as fans have every reason to feel confident right now. But I wouldn't put my life savings on us beating hull let alone utd. We should beat them but if history tells us anything, its far from a dead cert. Form goes out the window in these games.

[Vermilion]

We've already played the '****' utd this season. That went well.

[Liverpool]

My preference is to constrain Moreno and Coutinho to help Can, Lallana, Sterling play with a bit more freedom.

------------Mig
Can - Skrtel - Sakho- Moreno
-------Henderson-Allen
Sterling- Lallana- Coutinho
---------Sturridge

[Liverpool]

first time in years I havent had a ticket for this one, im falling to bits Literally cant cope knowing im not going to be there. Watching on tele im powerless and have no impact at all if that makes sense.

[baitman]

if all fit and available id like to see

----------------------------MIGNOLET---------------------------

-----EMRE CAN--------------SKRTEL--------------SAKHO-------

----------------------------LUCAS----------------------------

------------------HENDERSON--------ALLEN--------------------
STERLING-------------------LALLANA----------------COUTINHO

----------------------------STURRIDGE-------------------------

hendo is bound to square up to fellatio like he did with costa. whatch him puff his chest out and flick his head in slo mo

[Yozza]

Because they're dirty annoying cunts that constantly fluke goals and results despite being absolutely ****, and they have a brilliant keeper.

Sounds like a description of our game yesterday.

Apart from the brilliant keeper bit....

[Pablo]

first time in years I havent had a ticket for this one, im falling to bits Literally cant cope knowing im not going to be there. Watching on tele im powerless and have no impact at all if that makes sense.

It does mate. You're in absolute control of the result while you're at the match. You've probably got more say in it than Rodgers if we're all totally honest. We're a rudderless ship on Sunday now. Thanks Adam

[Havors]

We need to dominate the midfield and really pressure their defence with quick attacks. Job done.

-----------Mignolet------------
----Can----Skrtel----Sakho----
------Henderson---Allen--------
-Sterling----Gerrard----Merano-
-------Coutinho---------------
-----------Sturridge-----------

[BigChief]

We've already played the '****' utd this season. That went well.

We played them with our relegation form team. And they still struggled. On Sunday it will be our league winning form team.

The best thing about that Spurs result is they have belief, true belief they can overcome 'big' teams. They don't care that they only scored in the first half and were sussed in the second. They don't care that Chadli and Bentaleb were their best players and assist makers.

Nothing better than seeing a house of cards in a whirlwind.

[Paddy]

Is there a legitimate excuse other than "we smashed them Utd cunts" to call in sick to work after we hopefully beat them on Sunday and I get hammered?

[dww]

They will definitely go long to Fellaini, I'm sure of it. Just need to make sure we can deal with it. Skrtel's been dominant in the air lately too so we could maybe switch Can and Skrtel, as we've done a couple of times recently.

Praying they start with Jones and Smalling at CB.

There are essentially three different scenarios you have to think about with Fellaini:
1/ Flick ons in open play
2/ Headed efforts on goal from open play
3/ set pieces

The third we will have to deal with in the same way no matter where we play our players, leaving the first two.

The first is well dealt with in a back three because we should always have a spare man to drop off an compete for the second ball. The first is potentially an issue but ideally with a back three the midfield would look to make crossing harder and reduce the threat. Again I think shifting personnel around makes little sense.

I think it is more important to have Can and Sakho there to build play and to be on their natural sides so that they can move wide when necessary. If you worry to much about a blunt instrument like Fellaini at the expense of your own strengths then you give the initiative tactically and in terms of play to the opposition. Making their midfield play in the areas we want to and containing Rooney are more significant IMO.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31901145

Interesting from P.Neville. If the keep the same formation we'll have Fellaini on Can and Mata on Sakho. Big tests for both.

Wonder if we should put Sterling on Carrick? Close him down at all times.

Edit: maybe the pitch will help them though? Being long ball merchants of course.

How we deal with Carrick will be important, potentially key to the game I think. When he plays well United do too. How we deal with him depends a bit on who we chose in our front three. Sterling and Sturridge have the pace to make interceptions in and around him hurt them. Certainly I'd want one of them to drop on him, as there is little danger of Jones, Smalling et al building moves.

[The Birdman]

Fellani flicks very little on, they hit him early with a diagonal and he brings runners into play.

Yes if the pass is too high he'll flick on in the direction of Young but they don't launch it like Wimbledon of old from straight, it's worked to the right hand side for (mainly) Valencia or Carrick to play into him.

[The_weatherman]

How we deal with Carrick will be important, potentially key to the game I think. When he plays well United do too. How we deal with him depends a bit on who we chose in our front three. Sterling and Sturridge have the pace to make interceptions in and around him hurt them. Certainly I'd want one of them to drop on him, as there is little danger of Jones, Smalling et al building moves.

Maybe it would be best to go with Sterling up top and Lallana and Coutinho behind him that way there will be less space for Carrick and we'll disrupt the rhythm in midfield for them.

[Slinky Skills]

I wish people would stop worrying about the refs we get allocated and get on with it.

They're the ones that make the decisions so live with it, refs decisions are completely out of our control no matter who's in charge, there's nothing any of us can do about it. We sound even more bitter than Everton fans the way some of us go on.

I have total confidence in Atkinson doing a good job and making the correct decisions come Sunday.