CLOSE your eyes, take a deep breath and taste the air – for anyone living in the north-west of England, there's the scent of battle on the wind as hordes of Liverpudlians make the short journey into the rain-soaked hovels of Manchester.
Make no mistake, this is as big a derby as there is and this one ought to be an absolute cracker.
Man Utd v Liverpool (2.05pm)
It's a bitter hatred between these two teams that transcends football and is sod all to do with religion; this one is about industry and pride.
The Mancunian swagger grates for many reasons but for the folk on Merseyside in days gone by it was borne out of anger after some very clever (and downright dirty) politics diverted goods coming into the world renowned port of Liverpool courtesy of the Manchester Ship Canal thus bringing decades of trade straight through to the fleshpots of Manchester and bypassing those original landing points.
I mention it only because that bitter anger between these two leading lights in world football often forgets its roots and passion and it is that very passion that has made this one of the world's top derbies which may well be on show again today.
A resurgent Solskjaer-led United looked great against Chelsea after their PSG comeuppance but Liverpool will pose an entirely different threat to Sarri's Blues.
The Reds under Klopp are just a purring engine of a side and put a foot wrong, they will tear you apart, that attacking prowess and forward-thinking momentum is a beast that's hard to tame once you let it loose.
But here's the kicker – United have momentum on their side and even a draw would see their former supersub set a new Premier League record for the number of points gained in the first 10 games of a managerial tenure with Solskjaer tied with Guus Hiddink on 25 points. That's some turnaround from Mourinho's reign of misery.
I sense the battle may well be won by how the players react to the occasion and although passion will be critical, it may also prove pivotal if that commitment to the fixture spills over into tackles that warrant a venture into what could be a busy referee's notebook and I can't help but wonder if on-form and on-fire Pogba may fit the bill.
He's a maverick and an awesome player for sure but he's always inclined to hit the headlines for both good and bad – with the levity of this particular fixture I can see him making an impact and in the Old Trafford arena stirred into a cauldron, his own passion may well get the better of him!
I just can't see either side coming away with a clean sheet and am leaning towards a bet that encompasses all of the above.
Recommended Bet
- Both teams to score
- Pogba booked
(5-1, bet365 – Betbuilder) – 1pt
KÁRI VS. TINDASTÓLL (12.00pm):
Two of the lower leagues highest scoring teams with 3-7-7-5 mgs in the last 4 H2H’s since February 2017 and large current goal counts to boot.
Yes, they have eliminated most markets (no betbuilder total goals) and have full time asians needing 5 goals for a profit BUT they have potentially left the door wide open for first half goals…I’ll take it:
- Over 1.5 FHGL
- (9/10, bet365) 2 Points
Born and bred in Bury but now exiled to Hull: long-suffering Shakers supporter and member of Mr. Fixit's site since 2013. Football mad with a depth and breadth of knowledge including specific focus on South American football, the Icelandic Leagues and English Lower League football.
AMA Tail on this one …. GL
Very entertaining read Hull! I’ll have go at this or maybe even Pogba score and booked
Are they still classing this as a derby
Why wouldn’t they?
Not a derby in my opinion, not even the same county nevermind city but we all have different opinions on the definition of a ‘derby’
Liverpool v Man Utd has also been regarded as the biggest game for both clubs.
A derby in the traditional sense was teams from the same city but that’s evolved.
For example Aberdeen v Dundee Utd became much bigger than Dundee v Dundee Utd and as you know was then branded the New Firm derby.
Best tage is Ipswich-Norwich – the New Farm derby.
Apologies for bring a traditionalist ? just an intercity rivalry in my mind. Either way let’s hope for a goal fest ? BTTS and o2.5gls for me
very start of the word derby. The word derby originated from LORD DERBY who owned land in St helens (Merseyside) and Wigan (greater Manchester) at he time they were both in Lancashire .He owned farmland industrial land housing between the 2 towns .There was great rivalry between his workers from the two areas so he arranged a match between the 2 groups so they could take out their grudges on the field and it was called the DERBY match.
And ever since games between local teams got the name DERBY match.
Have heard this before Busstop ? Also similar stories it originally came from Derby v Nottingham match in late 1800’s – both in different cities but an ongoing rivalry through the years.
yeah but the word Derby had to come from somewhere and to be named after an individual who arranged the game seems right to me .Like The Derby horse race was also named after Lord Derby after he won a race between himself and Lord Bunbury.
Anyway good luck to day always look at your football tips .
Best of luck mate ??
Mr H – since when is it not a derby?
The term ‘derby’ is based around the notion of a longstanding sporting contest – a ‘local derby’ is based on geographical proximity and regional boundaries (not just cities).
Given both United and Liverpool both politically sat within Lancashire until the mid 1970’s and are around 30 miles apart I’d say it covers both.
By your measure, El Clasico isn’t a derby either as both teams lie 400 miles apart!
Good shout Hull but if your looking for a nailed on yellow card look no further than herrera ??
? – I know Newts – was either him or Pogba. To be honest I just miss Fellaini’s regular starting days ?
We call pull definitions of ‘derby’ to prove a point but there is no strict definition of it. My interpretation of a derby is 2 teams from the same city. The rest are rivalries
Derby – a sporting fixture between two teams from the same town, city or region, particularly in association football.
Like I said, until very recently they WERE in the same region – Lancashire!
Anyway, good discussion and focus on the footy now – best of luck Mr H ??
I’ll need it after yesterday Hull… I felt like spurs yesterday, finishing 3rd in two horse races all day ?
The definition is irrelevant – it’s the reality that counts and Man Utd v Liverpool is regarded as a derby.
How can the definition of a word be irrelevant, that’s the basics of structuring a sentence ? regarded by some as a derby, too others it’s a historical rivalry. We’ll leave it there as its down to opinion
Fair enough – let those who want to call it a derby do so.
Others can call it what they like.
On an aside a personal message to HullShaker did you attend BRGS in your school years ??
dont know what BRGS is but if its a young offenders institution i’m sure the answer will be YES…………
Haha Crane – nowt wrong with a bit of Borstal ?
Shug, I didn’t mate no ?