Jan Molby: United on Sunday, Medals at Last and Memories of Warkie
Time for Liverpool to Step Up Against Manchester United
We face Manchester United on Sunday at Anfield, and I’ll be honest, it makes me a bit uneasy. They are not great, but they are dangerous. They have players who can hurt you if you let them. Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Sesko, Amad, they can all carry the ball and make things happen. Even if the rest of the team is underperforming, those individuals can still change a game.
We’ve just come off three straight defeats, and then you throw in the international break. It messes with your rhythm. Players have gone all over the place, played different minutes, travelled different distances. Some are coming back carrying knocks. Konaté didn’t finish the Chelsea game, went away with France anyway, and came back without playing. Ryan Gravenberch reportedly has a hamstring issue. You are looking around and thinking, who is actually ready?
I think Arne Slot has done a decent job, and I’ve got full faith in him, but he’s got a few big decisions to make. You can’t keep chopping and changing the back four. We need to pick a right back, stick with him. Pick a left back, stick with him. The same goes for the midfield. You either back these new lads, or you don’t. And I think you should. That’s the future.
The last 20 minutes against Chelsea really bothered me. The game became chaotic. We ended up with Gravenberch at centre half, Szoboszlai at right back. No control. That’s not how Liverpool should play, especially not against a young Chelsea side who were desperate for the game to open up. We made it easy for them. If you go a goal down, fine, but you don’t go and throw the whole structure out the window.
Against United, we need to keep our heads. If we score first, manage the game. Don’t chase the second goal and leave the door open. Show class. Show control. We’re the better team. And that should show.
My prediction? Liverpool 3-2 Manchester United. It won’t be comfortable, but it’s winnable.
A Medal for Seven Games, and About Time Too
Not long ago, a group of us old Reds were invited back to Anfield to receive retrospective medals for league titles we played a part in, but never got the silverware at the time. It was a proper do, held during the League Cup game against Southampton, and it was a brilliant evening.
The club had checked back through the records and realised that with the rules now saying you only need five appearances for a medal, quite a few of us qualified. I got one for the 1987-88 season. I only made seven appearances that year. I broke my metatarsal twice, and by the time I got fit again, Kenny had decided that McMahon and Whelan were better options. I told him on the night, “It’s your fault I didn’t get more games.” He just laughed. He’s a wind-up merchant, Kenny.