Wayne Rooney has issued a stark warning to Manchester United ahead of their clash with Liverpool while admitting he would gladly settle for a draw at Anfield. The Red Devils head into the fixture buoyed by their 2-0 triumph over Sunderland at Old Trafford before the international break.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are enduring a contrasting spell, having suffered three consecutive defeats across all competitions, culminating in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Chelsea courtesy of a stoppage-time goal. Yet Rooney reckons the Reds’ recent struggles could actually work in their favour when United come to town – and has told Ruben Amorim not just to sit back or Liverpool “will kill you”.
“Just with Liverpool losing three games, I think that pride kicks in and the fans will know, the fans are not stupid, they know and will get behind the team and push them,” he told The Wayne Rooney Show. “So for United, I think going there, if United come away with a point, I think that would be huge.”
The ex-United forward has also cranked up the pressure on Liverpool ahead of the encounter, highlighting just how crucial the match could prove for Arne Slot’s side. “I think the pressure for this game, I think purely because I don’t think United fans will be expecting three points in this game, where in other games they are,” he said.
“I think they’ll go in a say, if we can get a point we’ll be happy with that, where I think for Liverpool, if Liverpool lose four games in a row and they lose to Man United at Anfield, I think the pressure is definitely on Liverpool for this game.
“I think when you bring so many new players in, they’ve all probably got a bit of an ego in their own way, all wanting to do well and find that chemistry with each other.
“I think that hasn’t quite hit off yet, even though they won the first five games, I think the last three games has shown everyone and exposed those first five games. I think it’s a good reset time for Liverpool with where they are at the minute.”
Later in the show, Rooney again reiterated that he would be happy to see United take a point from the match. He also sent a message to Amorim over how he should approach the game.
He said: “There’s a chance we [Man United] can win, it will be very difficult, it always is, to go to Anfield and win, so hopefully the players go there with the right game plan, I hope he sticks with the two forwards playing closer to each other like the last game and goes for it. I think if you sit back against Liverpool, they’ll kill you.”