Kevin Kilbane was on Friday’s OTB AM and predicted that Man United will seriously struggle against Liverpool in Sunday's Premier League clash.
The sides have had dramatically contrasting fortunes so far this season, with Liverpool sitting eight points clear at the top while United are way down the table in 12th place.
While United may say that they’ll go out and try to control the game against the Merseysiders, the former Ireland international expects a conservative game from the Mancunian club.
“Can you see Man United going up against Liverpool and saying, ‘Right. We’re going to go and beat you. We’ll go toe to toe and squeeze high and go and push you.’
"No chance. Have they got players that can play in a counter-attacking way? Probably, yes. He got a certain amount of success from playing in a counter-attacking way but it was still progressive.
“It was actually exciting to watch when he first got the job. I think that’s the way he’ll go. He’s got no other option but to do that,” Kilbane said.
While trying to contain Liverpool may well be United’s best hope of either winning or drawing the match, Kilbane was still confident that it won’t be enough.
“The message of Solskjaer ultimately from what he says in press conferences, it’s always that, ‘We’re Man United. We will impose ourselves and our will.’ But United don’t have the players to do that anymore.
“They’re not the side that they were when they could have done that to sides. When they could have opened teams up, go and outpower them and outrun them… To do it this week he’s going to stop the supply line.
“I don’t think United have got the legs in midfield to compete with Liverpool. I don’t think they’ve got the legs in wide areas to compete with their attacking full-backs.
“And they certainly haven’t got the legs at the back to stop Liverpool’s attacking players,” Kilbane commented.
Man United are at home and take on Liverpool at 4.30pm this Sunday in Old Trafford however, anything but a win for the visitors is looking unlikely.
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