Shearer Says: “Liverpool can’t afford to lose to Man United”

Premier League legend previews the big game

Liverpool v Manchester United is always a big game on the calendar. I don’t think that anybody can dispute that, whether it’s at Anfield or Old Trafford, this is a huge fixture.

This weekend’s game is one that Liverpool can’t afford to lose, particularly with the start they’ve had. 

Their recent record against the big clubs, those around them in the League, is excellent, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Liverpool went out and put in another good performance. 

Liverpool must start scoring more

Yes, they’ve had the setback that Sadio Mane is out for six weeks with a hamstring injury, but Man United have their own problems with Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini out.

Defeat at Anfield probably ends Liverpool’s title hopes. Not that I think that they’ve got any chance this season now anyway. 

Defensively they have been very poor and going forward they haven’t scored as many goals as they should have.

I know they scored four against Arsenal but two weeks ago at Newcastle, they should have been out of sight at half-time. They missed chance after chance, dominated possession but just weren’t good enough going forward.

They are easy on the eye but they have to score goals to win games and they just haven’t done that.

This is the biggest test of the season so far for United. I would expect Mourinho to go to Anfield, get everybody behind the ball and hit Liverpool on the break if they can. 

Although he has a better team this season than he had last season, it could be a Mourinho masterclass in shutting up shop.

Games don’t get much bigger than this

The players are aware how big a game this is, there are enough English players in both squads to make sure their teammates know this is a big deal.

When I was playing, there was always an extra buzz in the week before the big boys came to your place.

It doesn’t get much bigger than Manchester United and it doesn’t get much bigger than Liverpool, nobody can argue that with the history they have in this country and in Europe.

On those match days, the whole atmosphere on the day draws it out of you, there’s anticipation, an excitement and an adrenaline rush within the stadium and that does bring a little bit extra out of you.