RVP to have last laugh on Liverpool

Christian Crowther uses some of Opta's nuggets to identify three appetising bets for Sunday's big game...

 

Manchester United v Liverpool (Sunday, 13:30, Sky Sports 1)

 

Only Liverpool v Everton (20) has seen more red cards than Liverpool v Man United of all fixtures in Premier League history (14)

As sure as Tuesday follows Monday, you can bet your bottom dollar that the Premier League's grandest rivalry will be a feisty affair. This coming together of England's footballing behemoths always produces drama, not least in the disciplinary stakes as the reverse fixture at Anfield in September demonstrated. That day, it was a turbo-charged Jonjo Shelvey who saw red for a full-blooded lunge on Jonny Evans, although replays revealed either party's afternoon could have ended in an early shower. The inexperienced Shelvey joined an illustrious cast of grudge match villains which includes Steven Gerrard, Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes, and it's safe to say he won't be the last.

 

Robin van Persie has scored five goals in his last six Premier League appearances against Liverpool

Fresh superlatives are hard to come by for Manchester United's goal-smashing genius. RVP has simply been sensational for his new club, following seamlessly on from where he left off in an Arsenal shirt last season. Right now, the Dutchman is in unstoppable form, bagging an astonishing nine goals from his last nine appearances for the Red Devils before the visit of the old enemy on Sunday. Like a so-called death bowler in one day cricket, van Persie's speciality this season is finishing off the opposition with vital last-gasp strikes, such as his derby day free-kick against Manchester City. In fact, it's now three games on the spin that RVP has had the last word on proceedings, post-87 minutes on each occasion.

 

The Red Devils are the only team in the Premier League not to drop any points from a winning position on home soil this season

Since completing a famous double in style with a 4-1 over United back in 2008/09, Liverpool have struggled at Old Trafford, losing there inthe last three seasons. Traditionally, the theatre of dreams has proved a theatre of nightmares for visiting teams in the league and this campaign has been no different. Only Tottenham have taken any points off Sir Alex Ferguson's men in ten home games thus far. Although Liverpool have shown some resurgence of late, they have actually failed to beat a single top-half team in the league this season, so a win at Old Trafford does not appear to be on the cards just yet.

 

Recommended Bets:

Back there to be a sending off @ 3.5

Back Robin van Persie to score last @ 4.7

Back Manchester United to win @ 1.96

 

Bet HERE

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