Scholes still gets a kick out of Liverpool rivalry
English football's two most successful clubs meet again in the
Premier League this weekend when Manchester United face north-west
rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.
And for United great Paul Scholes, no other fixture quite comes close
even though it's now 23 years since Liverpool were last crowned
champions of England.
In that time United have surpassed what was Liverpool's national
record of 18 championship titles, although the Merseysiders still have
the edge when it comes to the Champions League, having lifted the
European Cup five times compared to the Old Trafford club's three final
victories.
However, there is no denying the current domestic gap between the two
clubs with Premier League leaders United a huge 21 points in front of
eighth-placed Liverpool heading into Sunday's match.
United's closest pursuers are cross-town rivals Manchester City, the
reigning English champions. City too are in action Sunday but could be
10 points behind by the time they kick-off against Arsenal if United
beat Liverpool.
Now, as was the case in the late 1960s, the Manchester derby has
become a pivotal fixture in the destiny of the title, with Chelsea key
players as well, but for 38-year-old midfielder Scholes, who came out of
retirement last season, the rivalry created by the Liverpool match still
matters.
"Liverpool historically are our biggest rivals, they're always the
biggest games and the best atmospheres," Scholes told Inside United
magazine.
Sunday's match will be the first time United have met Liverpool at
Old Trafford since Luis Suarez refused to shake Patrice Evra's hand in
last season's corresponding fixture.
However, the pair did manage to get through the return clash at
Anfield in September without incident.
"Last year it was unfortunate with the Suarez behaviour," said United
manager Alex Ferguson. "I think hopefully it is behind both clubs now
and we can just look forward to the game." Liverpoool great Steven
Gerrard would love nothing more than to bolster a seasonal tally of four
goals in 21 Premier League appearances thus far by scoring at Old
Trafford and the midfielder believes he's nearing top form.
"I think my performances are getting closer to where I want them to
be so if I can add goals to those performances then maybe people will
start saying the old Steven Gerrard is back," he said.
Only a week ago temperamental Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli
had to be pulled away from manager Roberto Mancini during a training
ground row.
But the 22-year-old forward was quickly welcomed back into the fold
and this latest spat could recede into the background should Balotelli
help City win away to Arsenal in the league for the first time since
1975.
AFP |