Manchester United’s fixture with Liverpool on Sunday has dominated the headlines this week for all the right and wrong reasons.
It’s been a week of chants, handshakes and people forgetting that United have three points to collect at Anfield. There’s also been a few idiotic suggestions that we should sing You’ll Never Walk Alone as a sign of respect. Yeh, alright. Like that’s going to happen.
There are other ways of showing respect. Easier and as effective. Whether Liverpool decide on a minute silence or applause before kick off, I expect Reds to show respect and not put shame or embarrassment on the club. Ferguson has urged fans to be on their best behaviour in an open letter which will be handed to every traveling supporter as they pass through the turnstiles at Anfield.
However, Tom Cleverley has his eyes set on the game. The 23-year-old sees the North West derby as being the biggest game of his Manchester United career so far. Speaking to ManUtd.com, Cleverley explains what a game like this meant at youth level:
“It was still a crunch match. You always looked forward to the Liverpool and Manchester City games. There was something extra about those games and winning those games always felt better, especially away from home. There was always a lot of satisfaction when you beat Liverpool on their own turf so it would be nice to feel that again. Hopefully I’ll be having that feeling again on Sunday night.”
Having beaten Liverpool in the past with the youths, Cleverley is hoping to get his first victory over the scousers with the senior team this weekend. He also speaks about Liverpool witnessing a slow start to the season.
“Yeah, it’s fair to say this would be the biggest game I’ve played in for United if I’m involved. But it’s not just a big game for me, it’s a big game for the club and of course there’s a lot of focus on this particular match. Liverpool haven’t started so well so I’m sure this will be like a cup final. Meanwhile, we’ve won our last three games so we’re hoping to build on that. It’s important we maintain that momentum. It’s a massive game for the team.”