Liverpool versus Manchester United

It has been a really long time since I last wrote about football. Every soccer fan's mind will no doubt be thinking about the above match this week regardless of whichever club they support

Other than the intense rivalry of both English clubs that will attract many people to watch, there is also another reason. Michael Owen the Liverpool legend. He will be back at the Kop but in a Manchester United jersey

Anfield will be the venue of this fiery encounter but I don't think anyone is afraid of playing at this stadium anymore. The diehard Reds supporter will tell you that the spectators who are also the twelve man can suck the ball into the opposition's net when they cheer loud and enthusiastically enough

These are all myths, Liverpool myths. The truth is the Red Devils are in good form currently whereas their rivals are on a four match losing streak in all competitions. To add on to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's woes, his star players might not be able to make it for the match due to injuries

Alex Ferguson's team also have their injury concerns but there is depth in their squad. He has players on the bench whom he can rely on when they are needed. Unlike Liverpool, when someone in the team falls, there is always another Man U player ready to take over him

Steven Gerrard and co. will be the ones wearing red for this game but it will do them no favour since he and strike partner, Fernando Torres is heavily relied on to win matches. Man U have shrugged off criticism that they cannot cope with C.Ronaldo. Many of their forwards can win a game on their own

Manchester United can hurt Liverpool in many ways and the most notable one would be to expose the weakness of their midfield defence

Javier Mascherano is still a pale shadow of himself last season. Maybe Diego Maradona's roller-coaster management of the Argentinian national team is still reeling in Mascherano's mind when he is back in England

The Argentinian's partner at the centre of the park is ahem ahem, Lucas Leiva. Enough has been said of this guy. No, he is really improving, at least one man will agree so and he is none other than the eccentric Benitez. If Liverpool were to be classified as the Chinese Zodiac, Benitez would surely be the goat. As stubborn as a mule by insisting that Lucas is better than before

I think Alberto Aquilani will make his long-awaited debut for the Reds in this match by playing alongside Mascherano while supporting Gerrard from behind. If he gives a good performance, there goes Lucas' chances of starting in a game except for Carling Cup matches

The evergreen Paul Scholes, energetic Anderson and indefatigable Darren Fletcher are all capable of creating havoc and expose the layer of protection for the back four. Even Dimitar Berbatov, who is really improving, can track back in a supporting role to help out.

Vice versa, Liverpool can also hurt Manchester United. How should they do it then? Well, the recent form of centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are not so positive. Ferdinand looks like he is challenging for the year's defensive blunder award in many matches this season

Vidic is fairly better but most people who watched the previous meeting of both sides at Old Trafford should still remember how Torres equalized. Vidic was slow at turning around and allowed the Liverpool star to run past him and gain possession from a high ball which led to a goal

If Aquilani can float several beautiful long balls upfront with his fine passing and Gerrard(provided if he's fit) has regained his momentum for long range shots, Edwin van der Sar will have a busy afternoon. Even if Torres is unavailable, Ryan Babel should give the United defence a headache too with his pace

These are the probable line-ups for both teams. I hope Benitez will use a formation that will benefit everyone especially himself

Liverpool(4-2-3-1):Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio; Mascherano, Aquilani; Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel; Torres

Manchester United(4-4-2):van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs; Berbatov, Owen

Even though I wish for a Liverpool win, I have to be practical thus I predict a goalless stalemate for both sides. Maybe someone will get a red card. Oh yes, a beach ball might appear again