Gerrard starts for LFC, Carroll on bench
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard returns to the starting line up for today’s visit of Manchester United, his first start since the same fixture in March of last season. Liverpool won that day and Gerrard will be leading his team mates to try and do the same.
There’s no place in the starting 11 for Andy Carroll, instead Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez start. Joining Carroll on the bench is Craig Bellamy.
Martin Skrtel starts, with Daniel Agger on the bench having recovered from broken ribs, but Glen Johnson has not made a return to the match squad, Martin Kelly continuing at right-back.
Manchester United have left Wayne Rooney on the bench alongside Nani and Hernandez. Vidic misses out.
Subs: Doni, Robinson, Agger, Henderson, Spearing, Bellamy, Carroll.
Manchester United: De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Giggs, Young, Park, Welbeck
Subs: Lindegaard, Valencia, Carrick, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Hernandez
Initially disappointed we only drew but can take much satisfaction from Man Utd putting out a side designed to stop us playing rather than one setup to win the game. Is this a first from SAF?
Good performances from Kelly, Downing, Enrique, Adam, Gerrard and latterly Henderson. Defence was pretty solid bar the unfortunate slip by Skrtel. The fact that we continued to push forward after their equaliser shows how much more confidence there is. A few years ago we would have sat back and tried to cling on to the point.
Henderson and Kuyt could have won it in the last few minutes but for De Gae. Probably their best player. Say’s a lot for how well we played. Suarez looked tired after long flights. Hopefully by next weekend he’ll be chomping at the bit.
Disappointed not to see Carroll and Maxi not get any playtime yesterday. Hopefully that will be rectified next weekend.