Manchester United (8/11 favourites in the match betting) boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Rafael Benitez was lucky to last as long as he did at Anfield ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with arch-rivals Liverpool (4/1 to win, 5/2 the draw).
“I wasn’t surprised at all that Liverpool changed their manager in the summer. I think everyone expected it even though Benitez had signed a new contract,” Ferguson told The People
He added: “That was the only complication about it. If he hadn’t signed a contract the previous season then I am sure he would have gone before the end of the last season.”
Benitez signed a new five-year contract at Liverpool back in June of last year but his contract was terminated by mutual consent earlier in the summer and he left to take up the reins at Inter Milan in June of this year.
New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will welcome back captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres, after the players were rested for the Europa League win over Steaua Bucharest in midweek, for the game at Old Trafford, while Joe Cole is able to return after serving his three-match ban for his red card picked up against Arsenal on the opening weekend.
Hodgson, who has seen his Liverpool side register just five points from four games in their opening fixtures of their current campaign, said ahead of the clash: “The first thing to do when you go to Old Trafford is to defend well because there are some very good attackers.
“They are very dangerous offensively so if your defensive set-up is wanting then they will punish you.”
United, who already trail title rivals Chelsea by four points, are likely to welcome back Rio Ferdinand for his first Premier League start of the season, with in-from Dimitar Berbatov partnering England striker Wayne Rooney (4/1 to score first goal) up front, but will be without Anderson, Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves as well as Antonio Valencia, who suffered a horrific injury in the draw with Rangers in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed though that Nemanja Vidic will get the captain’s armband back, despite Ferdinand skippering the side in midweek, and will be keeping it for the rest of the season.
“He started the campaign as captain and it will stay that way,” Ferguson said. “What we wanted was someone who was consistently available for us.
“Everyone recognises Nemanja Vidic would always be there. He has been fit all season and you don’t leave him out of the team unless you are going to rest him.”
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