Liverpool, United renew hostilities

ONE fixture stood out when the FA Cup fourth round draw was made.
It’s a game that pits the two most successful teams in history against each other, a game that represents the clash of two of the great industrial cities of the north-west.

Liverpool against Manchester United has historically been one of England’s bitterest rivalries, but this time it takes on an even more sulphurous aspect after the Luiz Suarez affair.The Uruguayan forward was found guilty of having racially abused Patrice Evra in the last league meeting between the sides and banned for eight games.Liverpool and Suarez reject the charge absolutely, and the build-up to the inquiry was marked by accusation and counter-accusation on both sides, with fans becoming overnight experts in the nuances of Uruguayan slang.Forward Wayne Rooney insists United have found their best form just in time.’Once we get into the new year we can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel,’ he said.’Every game is massive and we don’t want to be dropping points. But I always feel we are at our best around now because we can see the end of the season and that there are trophies there to be won.’Evra is sure to be targeted by the Anfield crowd, but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted he will pick the player who has captained the side since Nemanja Vidic suffered a knee injury in December.’I think one of your players who has been playing all the time should be in the forefront to be captain, and that was the case with Patrice,’ said Ferguson.’He’s a very popular player with a good personality, which is important to have if you’re captain of a club like ours. He’s very friendly and has got a good humour about him, but he’s also quite a determined lad.’TERRY FACTORUnited against Liverpool isn’t the only sensitive tie, with Chelsea travelling to Queens Park Rangers for a west London derby, the fixture that prompted an ongoing police investigation onto claims John Terry racially abused Anton Ferdinand.’We would remind fans that while we want to hear their passion, it’s a fact that hatred and abuse is not what being a fan of Chelsea or QPR is about,’ the clubs said in a joint statement.And there’s a derby in the north-east, as Sunderland, resurgent under Martin O’Neill, face Championship side Middlesbrough.Two US internationals, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, go head- to-head at Goodison Park on Friday when Everton face Fulham, while Watford host Tottenham Hotspur the same evening.Bolton Wanderers play Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion host Norwich City and Arsenal take on Aston Villa in the three other all-Premier League clashes.- Supersport.com