iafrica.com's Tim Human and Barend Prins look ahead to Sunday's mouth-watering Premiership clash between Man Utd and Liverpool, with both men giving their predictions amongst all the chaos.

As a neutral observer ahead of Sunday's Premiership clash between Liverpool and Manchester United, I hope Liverpool win.

In fact, everyone besides the 'Red Devils' fans wants a Liverpool win. Chelsea fans want it, Arsenal fans want it, City fans certainly want it and the Premiership certainly needs it.

Unfortunately for all of us, it just isn't going to happen.

The already infamous 'beach ball goal' was the best indication yet that this just isn't going to be the Merseysiders' season. All the expectations that came with a second-place finish in 2008/09 have quickly been extinguished by a distinctly average start to this season's campaign... Sunday, it seems, is destined to be the nail in the coffin of another failed domestic season for the 'Reds'.

With seven months to go in the League season, you might think it a bit premature, but even Rafa Benitez will find it hard to be optimistic (and thereby secure in his job) after a third-straight defeat in the Premiership.

Add their recent defeats in Europe and the Merseyside giants could be staring down the barrel of a six-match losing streak.

Those same fans will be about the best thing going for their team come Sunday. The 'Kop' will be in full-voice and confident of once again inspiring their beleaguered team to an upset victory over their bitter rivals, but not even the most spine-tingling rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' will save them this time round.

Goal-machine Fernando Torres is doubtful and skipper Steven Gerrard almost certainly ruled out ? it is becoming abundantly clear, in their absence, how much this team relies on the talismanic duo. (And with Alonso buddying it up with his old foe Ronaldo at Madrid, it's difficult to see where the moment of magic is coming from.)

To be fair, United have hardly been at their best this season either, but they have maintained the excruciating (or wonderful, depending where your loyalty lies) habit of grinding out wins and scoring match-winning goals LATE in the game.

Michael Owen's winner in the Manchester Derby was a spectacularly late, and certainly an important effort in the greater scheme of things, and it looks as if the former Liverpool hero has rediscovered his penchant for scoring the 'big' goals.

What would be bigger than a winner in front of his old fans?

By Tim Human

  • On page two Barend tells as to why Liverpool cannot be written off