Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has acknowledged that if he were part of the Manchester United team ahead of their match at Anfield this Sunday, he would be feeling extremely motivated after their 7-0 defeat at the same ground last season. The Reds are aiming to maintain their position at the summit of the Premier League table when they face their Manchester rivals this weekend.
United will be seeking redemption for their previous humiliating defeat, but their confidence has been dented after their midweek elimination from the Champions League. In an interview with the Guardian, Alisson, who endured a 5-2 loss with Roma against Liverpool in 2018, expressed his sentiments if he were a United player gearing up for this fixture.
“I would be on fire and I would try to set my teammates on fire as well,” stated Alisson. He emphasized the intensity of playing at Anfield and how players from top clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City should relish such high-stakes matches. Alisson also hinted that United players might use the 7-0 defeat as motivation for their upcoming encounter.
United’s disastrous 7-0 loss last season came on the heels of their triumph in the Carabao Cup, marking the pinnacle of the Erik ten Hag era. However, they have since struggled and face the prospect of plummeting as low as ninth in the Premier League standings by the end of the weekend.
While United are reeling from a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in their final Champions League group stage game, Liverpool had the luxury of resting key players in their Europa League loss to Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday, having already secured qualification to the knockout stages.
As the high-profile clash approaches, the focus will be on how both teams respond to their recent setbacks and how United attempt to avenge their humiliating defeat from last season. This is expected to be a fiercely competitive and enthralling encounter between two bitter rivals in English football. Both sides will be looking to make a statement and secure a vital victory in a bid to achieve their respective season objectives. Evidently, Alisson’s comments have added an extra layer of intrigue to an already highly anticipated fixture.
