A top-4 six-pointer against Manchester United. The only way it can get bigger than this is if it was a title race six-pointer or a cup final against them. And in a way you could consider it a cup final for the Fourth-place Trophy.

Our miserable season up until Christmas made a top-4 finish look hugely unlikely. A tactical change was long overdue and we saw it in the reverse fixture of this match. And lost 3 - 0 at Old Trafford. The scoreline, however, didn't tell the whole story. We looked much brighter in that game and created a host of chances, only for an amazing De Gea performance keeping us from scoring. The change in formation and the performance that came with it gave us some optimism, but a top-4 finish was still looking unlikely.

Yet now, should we be able to beat the Mancs on Sunday, we would find ourselves in the top-4 for the first time this season, apart from the opening rounds. Our form in the Premier League is second to none. Our previous defeat in the Premier League is that loss at Old Trafford, on 14th December. Beat the Mancs this weekend at Anfield to overtake them for fourth. Opportunities don't get sweeter than this. Football doesn't get more exciting than games like this.

A draw wouldn't be the end of the top-4 dream and I shall not mention the third option. United's form is good as well, they have won their last three matches and kept clean sheets in all of them. So, let's bang in a couple of goals and then a few more for good measure to remind them how miserable they are.


One big question about our line-up: Is Rodgers going to start Gerrard for sentimental reasons? That's my biggest fear that he will, but on the hand I'm sure he's seen during Gerrard's absence that we play better without him starting in the 3-4-3. His comments have also been along the lines that Gerrard won't just walk into the team. Stevie shouldn't start, imo.

Sturridge's form has been off, but he's still our clear first-choice striker, so I don't expect him to be dropped. Reportedly Lucas is also back, but Allen does much more with the ball, so I'd keep him. What I would play:


An enormous game. I'm feeling good about it. 4 - 0.

HEIL MEIN REDS wrote:
well the important thing is to start Moreno and Markovic so our wings are protected little more.

We've been defensively fine regardless of who has been playing wing-back, imo, so I'd rather start wing-backs with highest attacking potential, Markovic and Sterling.

Red Alert wrote:

Art Morte wrote:
One big question about our line-up: Is Rodgers going to start Gerrard for sentimental reasons? That's my biggest fear that he will, but on the hand I'm sure he's seen during Gerrard's absence that we play better without him starting in the 3-4-3.

They'd be nothing wrong with Gerrard playing. So long as he doesn't play in the middle 2.

He's still arguably our biggest goal threat. Still has the most goals for us, and is always fired up against the Mancs. I say let him have a free role in the final third. So yeah, I'd only be against him starting if he has to play a disciplined role in the middle of the park.

Gerrard's "free role in the final third" is nowadays jogging towards the ball and passing it first-time backwards or sideways because he can't keep a hold of it under pressure. And it's also goodbye to all pressing game if Gerrard is playing in an attacking role. And yeah, fired up, like he was fired up in his last Merseyside derby

A 34-yo Gerrard is not starting quality in our 3-4-3. Use him as a substitute against tiring players, but what ever you do, don't start him.

Two hours

We're unchanged from the previous game, so no Gerrard starting. I don't know what's the point of having both Gerrard & Lucas on the bench as Markovic isn't now even on the bench.

Anyway, an hour till kick-off, let's smash them