Barclays Premiership
3rd March 2007, Kick-off 12.45pm
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has picked as strong a line-up as anyone can expect for today’s clash with Manchester United. Any thoughts anyone had that Rafa would put out a weaker team ahead of the crucial Champions League tie with Barcelona can be dismissed.
Kuyt and Bellamy start upfront. Sissoko and Alonso start in the centre of midfield meaning Steven Gerrard plays in his infamous right-side of midfield role. Gonzalez has the job on the other side of midfield.
Agger’s pace has been preferred to Hyypia’s experience in the centre-back positions, and Reina is back in the side again after his paternity leave last weekend.
Liverpool: 25 Reina, 3 Finnan, 23 Carragher, 5 Agger, 6 Riise, 8 Gerrard, 14 Alonso, 22 Sissoko, 11 Gonzalez, 18 Kuyt, 17 Bellamy
Subs: 1 Dudek, 4 Hyypia, 12 Aurelio, 15 Crouch, 16 Pennant
Man Utd: 1 Van der Sar, 2 Neville, 5 Ferdinand, 15 Vidic, 3 Evra, 7 Ronaldo, 16 Carrick, 18 Scholes, 11 Giggs, 8 Rooney, 17 Larsson
Subs: 29 Kuszczak, 6 Brown, 9 Saha, 22 O’Shea, 27 Silvestre
Referee: Martin Atkinson