Gerrard or Scholes? Premier League players have their say…

It’s a much-debated question; who was better, Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard or Man United’s Paul Scholes? A host of Premier League players have their say ahead of Saturday’s match between the two north-west teams.

Gerrard or Scholes?

Gerrard or Scholes? #BPL stars have their say…

Posted by Premier League on Friday, 11 September 2015

Man United vs. Liverpool kicks off at 5.30pm (BST) at Old Trafford.

• MAN UNITED vs. LIVERPOOL BUILD-UP
• LFC – MUFC Combined XI
• LFC’s Top 5 Old Trafford Moments
• View from the opposition

• QUIZ – test your knowledge of previous encounters

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Liverpool confident Danny Ings can be a threat to Man Utd

With Danny Ings looking set to be given his full Liverpool debut at Manchester United on Saturday, Brendan Rodgers says he has no doubts the forward isn’t up to the task.

• MATCH PREVIEW: Danny Ings to replace Coutinho in Liverpool XI vs. Man United?

As reported earlier this week, it looks as though Ings will replace the suspended Philippe Coutinho in Liverpool’s starting lineup at Old Trafford on Saturday (17:30 kick-off).

The 23-year-old scored at Man Utd for Burnley last season, one of his eleven goals for the Clarets before completing a move to Anfield this summer.

“I’d have no qualms about putting Danny in,” Rodgers is quoted by the Liverpool Echo as saying on the eve of the Man Utd v Liverpool Premier League encounter.

“He scored there last season, and he’s been a real bright spark since he came to the club.

“It’s going to take time for him to come in and adapt to the club but I would have no qualms about picking him because he’s a threat to the goal.

“He works hard, he presses really well and he has that quality in front of goal, so I’d have no hesitation about putting him in if I felt he could help the team.”

Ings came on for the final half hour of Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at home to West Ham at the end of August.

The Reds will be looking for a much-needed victory after two wins, one draw and one defeat in their opening four league games.

Keep an eye on This Is Anfield throughout Saturday for more pre-match buildup and live coverage. Follow us on Twitter:

• MAN UNITED v LIVERPOOL BUILD-UP
• LFC – MUFC Combined XI
• LFC’s Top 5 Old Trafford Moments
• 3 key battles
• View from the opposition
• QUIZ – test your knowledge of previous encounters

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Simon Mignolet reflects on contrasting year ahead of Liverpool’s return to Old Trafford

Simon Mignolet is hoping Saturday’s Premier League trip to Manchester United gives him the chance to avenge his demons of last year’s meeting when he was left out of the Liverpool side.

The Belgian goalkeeper was dropped from the Reds’ starting lineup when Liverpool went to Old Trafford in December 2014 after poor form in the early stages of the season.

His understudy Brad Jones had a torrid time in Mignolet’s absence as Liverpool went down 3-0 to their arch rivals.

When injury forced Jones off during Boxing Day’s visit to Burnley, Mignolet regained his place in Brendan Rodgers‘ starting XI, enjoying much-improved form ever-since.

“It’s a totally different picture this time,” Mignolet is quoted on the club’s official website as saying.

“Last time I went there and sat on the bench. It was a difficult time. It was the day before the game when the gaffer told me I wouldn’t be playing.

“We trained a bit later that day before travelling to Manchester. I said to myself that I wanted that period out of the team to be as short as possible.

“I’ve never been one to sit on the bench. I said to myself you have to work hard and make sure this doesn’t drag on.

“You can do two things: moan about it and let your head drop or be positive and work as hard as you ever did to get back into the team and that’s what I did.”

Mignolet may see Saturday’s game as a landmark of redemption for his disappointing form in the first half of last season.

“Looking back, I’m very happy with how I responded to that. 2015 has been a good year for me so far – both on and off the pitch.

“Keeping those clean sheets and I saw a stat that over the past four years I have made the most saves in the Premier League.

“I think a lot of it is down to confidence coming back into my game.

“When you keep a couple of clean sheets, you don’t really hesitate or doubt yourself any more. I stopped thinking twice and went with my feeling instead.”

Rodgers’ side go looking for a much-needed victory after two wins, a draw and a defeat from their opening four games of the 2015/16 campaign.

Keep an eye on This Is Anfield throughout Saturday for more build-up and previews. Follow us on Twitter @thisisanfield for further updates:

• MAN UNITED v LIVERPOOL BUILD-UP
• LFC – MUFC Combined XI
• LFC’s Top 5 Old Trafford Moments
• 3 key battles
• View from the opposition
• QUIZ – test your knowledge of previous encounters

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Brendan Rodgers: Liverpool loss at Man Utd was “best defeat” of my career

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers rates last season's 3-0 loss at Old Trafford as the best defeat of his career.

The Reds created far more chances against Manchester United in December but the now-departed Raheem Sterling, in particular, found goalkeeper David de Gea, who is set for his first start of the season after signing a new contract after a failed transfer to Real Madrid, in top form.

However, the reverse proved to be a catalyst as the Reds went on a 13-match unbeaten run in the league which was only ended by United at Anfield in March.

It replicated a pattern which is developing with Rodgers' teams which has seen them play their best football at the turn of the year.

"It was probably the best defeat I've ever had," said the Reds boss.

"You never want to lose the game but I saw enough in that day to know we had actually got our identity back.

"We should have scored goals but ultimately lost the game because we didn't defend well enough.

"From that moment we then kicked on and had a good spell.

Defeat at Old Trafford would increase the pressure on Rodgers but he remains confident in his ability to get the best out of a squad which has seen B£80million of new recruits added in the summer.

"We still have quality and we still have players we can bring in with a high-level of technique," he added.

"I think this team will show its worth over the course of the season not just in the first four or five games.

"We are still only early in September. Even the season we nearly won the league (2013-14) we didn't play that brand of football until December time.

"When you can go into these types of games, play well and get a good result it can really help your confidence level and coming off the back of our last result that is something we want to do.

"We have the talent and focus."

With playmaker Philippe Coutinho suspended Rodgers has to make a change from the side which lost 3-0 at home to West Ham last time out.

Striker Danny Ings, who arrived in the summer from Burnley, made a good impression coming on as a substitute in that game and could be set for his first start.

"Danny scored there (Old Trafford) last season and he has been a real bright spark since he came in," said Rodgers.

"I would have no qualms about picking him in the team because he is a threat to the goal."

• MAN UNITED v LIVERPOOL BUILD-UP
• LFC – MUFC Combined XI
• LFC’s Top 5 Old Trafford Moments
• 3 key battles
• View from the opposition
• QUIZ – test your knowledge of previous encounters

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Man United v Liverpool: Five Pre-Match Talking Points

Manchester United host Liverpool in one of the biggest matches of the season on Saturday. Here, Press Association Sport looks at five key talking points ahead of the match.

1) WILL DAVID DE GEA PLAY?

De Gea is back in the squad after his proposed move to Real Madrid fell through and he signed a new four-year contract worth £200,000 a week.

Louis van Gaal said the goalkeeper can now focus his mind properly so it would come as a surprise if he did not replace Sergio Romero, who struggled against Swansea.

2) CAN ANTHONY MARTIAL CUT IT IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE?

United made Martial the most expensive teenager in world football last week when they signed him on deadline day from Monaco.

Van Gaal regards him as the best teenage forward on the planet, but he will not be rushed into the starting XI and is likely to be on the bench on Saturday.

3) HOW WILL LIVERPOOL LINE UP?

Brendan Rodgers is missing a key player in Philippe Coutinho, who is suspended following his red card against West Ham.

With Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana both injured, Rodgers is expected to replace the Brazilian with either Danny Ings or Jordon Ibe.

Rodgers must decide whether to stick with Dejan Lovren after his poor display against West Ham.

• Rodgers’ Pre-Match Presser: Rodgers defends Dejan Lovren after West Ham errors

4) WILL EITHER OF THESE SIDES WIN THE TITLE?

On the basis of the their respective performances so far this season, no. United have looked ponderous and toothless at times during their first four matches, and their defensive frailties were exposed in their last outing – a 2-1 defeat at Swansea.

Liverpool started the season well, impressing at Arsenal after beating Bournemouth and Stoke. Their progress came to a shuddering halt before the international break when they were hammered 3-0 at home to West Ham.

5) IS THIS STILL THE BIGGEST MATCH IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE CALENDAR?

In terms of the outcome of the title, no. Manchester City and Chelsea are the main two challengers for the Premier League and the outcome of meetings between those two will have a bigger bearing on the destination of the trophy.

But there is no doubt that this fixture means more to United and Liverpool fans than any other. Pride and prestige are on the line.

On the eve of the pre-season friendly against Liverpool in Miami last year, United’s chef Mike Donnelly told Van Gaal it would be inexcusable if he lost the match.

Fortunately for the United manager, his team won 3-1, and then did the double over the Reds in the league.

• MAN UNITED v LIVERPOOL BUILD-UP
• LFC – MUFC Combined XI
• LFC’s Top 5 Old Trafford Moments
• 3 key battles
• View from the opposition
• QUIZ – test your knowledge of previous encounters

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Steven Gerrard reveals Tottenham interest

Steven Gerrard has claimed Tottenham wanted to sign him from Liverpool before he decided to join the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The former England and Liverpool captain was coming towards the end of his Anfield career last season and was flattered by the Spurs interest.

But Gerrard felt there “would not have been much of a buzz” in a move to White Hart Lane, and was determined he could never play against his beloved Liverpool.

Gerrard opted for Major League Soccer, having also turned down big money from Qatar plus approaches from French, Spanish and Turkish sides, he writes in his autobiography.

With whispers emerging of his possible availability, Gerrard said: “The first offer came from Besiktas, then managed by Slaven Bilic. Monaco were next. They came in strong. Paris Saint-Germain were also very keen. David Moyes called my agent a couple of times, to see whether I would be interested in playing for him at Real Sociedad.

“A few English clubs called but I wouldn’t play against Liverpool. There was interest from Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. It was good to know he still rated me. I was sure I could play in the Premier League for another year but there would not have been much of a buzz doing the same thing all over again with Tottenham.”

In the book, being serialised by the Daily Mail, Gerrard suggests “a perfect scenario” would have seen him offered a one-year contract at Liverpool that could have seen him split playing and coaching duties.

But when it came to negotiating a possible new deal, with a 40 per cent pay cut and performance-incentive bonuses, he said: “It was pretty much a case of ‘this is the offer’. It seemed as if I wanted them more than they wanted me.”

Gerrard said he accepted less money in Los Angeles than Liverpool were prepared to put on the table, because he sensed the quality of life would fit his family’s needs.

“It’s also why I turned down a 13.5million euros (around £10million) net deal to play in Qatar for two years,” he said.

“That would have been more than I’d ever earned, but Qatar wasn’t the right place for me and my family.”

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Video: Liverpool loanee Allan scores a beauty on SJK debut

Making his loan debut for Finnish side SJK, Liverpool midfielder Allan Rodrigues de Souza marked his entrance with a top-class finish.

After making the move from Internacional to Liverpool this summer, Brazilian midfielder Allan Rodrigues de Souza was sent on loan to Finnish Veikkausliiga side SJK, and the 18-year-old marked his debut with a sensational strike.

Being brought on in the second half for SJK, Allan found the ball on the edge of the Kuopion Palloseura penalty area, cut onto his favoured left foot and curled beyond goalkeeper Tomi Maanoja.

Wearing the No. 28 shirt, this bright cameo display showed the quality Allan can offer SJK this season.

Though the game finished at 1-1, manager Simo Valakari was pleased with Allan’s performance, describing it as “a fine display.”

Brendan Rodgers will be hoping he can develop and replicate that on Merseyside in the future.

• Read more: Allan Rodrigues de Souza: The lowdown on Liverpool’s new Brazilian youngster

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Brendan Rodgers defends Dejan Lovren after West Ham errors

Liverpool go into Saturday’s game against Man United having been humiliated 3-0 at home by West Ham before the international break which saw them concede their first goals of the season.

Having only scored twice in four matches – with those coming in the opening two games – the side are also struggling up front. Last season they went to Old Trafford and enjoyed the majority of chances only to lose 3-0, but Rodgers is confident there will be no repeat of the shambolic defensive performance against the Hammers.

Dejan Lovren came in for most criticism as his mistake led to the crucial second goal but his manager has backed the Croatia international, who endured a tough start to his Liverpool career last season, to bounce back.

“Like all the players know we performed below our level in that game but it was a collective,” added Rodgers.

“We can’t isolate any performance on to one player. Dejan knows he made a mistake and you have to live with that as a player.

“We never stick the blame on to one player. We fell below the standards in that game.

“In his first three games he showed he has that quality and consistency to defend well, so the key is letting go of the mistake and showing your character.”

Liverpool will be without suspended playmaker Philippe Coutinho on Saturday after his red card against West Ham, so striker Danny Ings or winger Jordon Ibe are in contention to start.

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Video: Brendan Rodgers’ pre-Man United press conference

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers‘ pre-match press conference ahead of his side’s match at Old Trafford against Man United.

Much of the attention was on Daniel Sturridge‘s recent return to full training, with Rodgers saying the striker looks “really, really sharp” and probably the fittest he’s been for 18 months.

Rodgers didn’t put a timeline on the 26-year-old’s return though.

There was also a question on Dejan Lovren – who made two errors for goals against West Ham. Rodgers said that the team must accept collective responsibility for the defeat and that Lovren now needs to show character.

Liverpool provisional squad: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Can, Lucas, Milner, Firmino, Benteke, Ings, Bogdan, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Rossiter, Ibe, Origi.

• MAN UNITED vs. LIVERPOOL BUILD-UP
• LFC – MUFC Combined XI
• LFC’s Top 5 Old Trafford Moments
• 3 key battles
• View from the opposition
• QUIZ – test your knowledge of previous encounters

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