Liverpool vs Manchester United Half-Time Update

One of the hottest rivalries in British football has reached half-time, with Liverpool currently having the advantage over Manchester United, the score currently 2-0.

Both sides came into this match on the back of league defeats – Liverpool to West Ham, and United to Chelsea. Both sets of fans will be hoping their side will pick up a maximum amount of points this afternoon, to retain the bragging rights until the sides next meet.

Liverpool started the brighter of the two sides, with half-chances from Luis Suarez and Maxi within the opening five minutes – Dalglish’s game plan appeared to be to test the weakened United defence early on, a decision that they kept up as United misplaced passes and struggled to maintain possession in front of a noisy Anfield.

The Red Devils have the best Premier League record of any club against Liverpool, with 20 wins and a grand total of 67 points, and they came close to opening the scoring on 16 minutes – after a one-two with Wayne rooney, Dimitar Berbatov hit a first-time effort that clipped the outside of Pepe Reina’s far post.

Liverpool replied just a few minutes later - Luis Suarez sent over a cross that found the head of Raul Miereles, the ball floated back across to the back post, but Dirk Kuyt couldn’t beat goalkeeper van der Sar to make contact.

The Liverpool opening goal came after 34 minutes, after a fantastic piece of work from Luis Suarez, dribbling past three United players, before slotting a pass between van der Sar’s legs for Kuyt to tuck home from inches out.

Liverpool bagged their 2nd just five minutes later, with Kuyt again netting it after a horrendous error from Nani, who headed back towards his own goal.

The team news highlights the stresses on injuries and match fitness for both sides. For Liverpool, £35m striker Andy Carroll is included in a Merseyside team sheet for the first time, though currently only on the bench. Steven Gerrard also starts, despite rumours about a groin injury that could have possibly ruled him out.

Fabio Aurelio’s game lasted just 23 minutes, as he has suffered a hamstring strain - Sotirios Kyrgiakos replaced him.

For Manchester United, Javier Hernandez is swapped with Dimitar Berbatov, as Sir Alex retains a 4-4-2 formation. Darren Fletcher has been down with a cold for most of the week, so Carrick and Scholes are paired together in the midfield. Chris Smalling and Wes Brown make up the makeshift defence in the absence of the suspended Nemanja Vidic and the injured Rio Ferdinand.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Aurelio (Kyrgiakos 23), Carragher, Skrtel, Kuyt, Rodriguez, Meireles, Gerrard, Lucas, Suarez

Substitutes: Gulacsi, Carroll, Cole, Ngog, Spearing, Poulsen

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Rafael, Brown, Smalling, Evra, Nani (Hernandez 45+3), Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Berbatov

Substitutes: Kuszczak, Fabio Da Silva, O'Shea, Fletcher, Obertan, Gibson