Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Sports

United and Liverpool renew rivalry

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Manchester, England – English Premier League play resumes this weekend with the latest installment of one of the country's fiercest rivalries.

Manchester United and Liverpool meet at Old Trafford on Saturday, and while the result could have major implications in the league table, bragging rights on the line.

The storied clubs have met twice at Anfield so far this season, once in the league and once in the FA Cup, and there has been no shortage of controversy and drama in the 180 minutes played.

In the first meeting this season, United rallied behind a late goal from Javier Hernandez to save face and earn a point in a 1-1 draw in Premier League play.

The result was overshadowed by the events that transpired in the following weeks, as Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was handed an eight-match ban and a hefty fine for racially abusing United's Patrice Evra.

Evra was the subject of a chorus of "boos" during the FA Cup tie at Anfield in January, a match that saw Dirk Kuyt steal a dramatic 2-1 win for Liverpool with a goal in the 88th minute.

With the intense nature of the rivalry, players and supporters alike will be on edge. But Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish hope that this clash will be remembered for the play on the field as opposed to its surrounding plot points.

"Everyone involved, including the media, the supporters and both teams have a responsibility to ensure this weekend is remembered as a cracking game of football between two very good sides, rather than for anything else," said Dalglish.

Manchester United is coming off of a 3-3 draw at Chelsea that will certainly feel like two points dropped, but battling back to claim a point after surrendering a three-goal lead is much more of a moral victory for the Red Devils. United sits second in the table with 55 points, two points behind Manchester City.

Dalglish's men sit seventh in the table on 39 points. A win would momentarily send the Reds level with fifth-place Newcastle United, while a draw would see the Merseysiders go level with Arsenal for sixth place.

Newcastle and Arsenal take the pitch later in the day Saturday and will have a chance to extend their lead over Liverpool should the Reds lose at Old Trafford.

The Magpies face a stern test at White Hart Lane against Tottenham with Spurs looking to put a dent in Newcastle's aspirations of a top-four finish.

The Gunners are also zeroing in on a spot in the top four. Arsene Wenger's men hope to inch closer to their goal by picking up three points at the Stadium of Light against a surging Sunderland side that has won three straight.

Despite taking only three points from its last three Premier League games, Chelsea is unbeaten in its last five matches. The Blues, clinging to fourth place with 43 points, will head to Goodison Park on Saturday to face Everton, which is unbeaten in its last four league games.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Swansea City hosts Norwich City and Fulham welcomes Stoke City, while two relegation six-pointers will take place as Blackburn hosts QPR at Ewood Park and Bolton welcomes Wigan to the Reebok.

Premier League play rounds out on Sunday as Wolverhampton hosts West Bromwich at the Molineux and Manchester City heads to Villa Park to face Aston Villa.