There is only one Manchester United player who would get in the Liverpool team – AND he could be a star too (can you guess who that is?)

• Manchester United face a seriously daunting trip to Anfield on Sunday
• Another 7-0 is unlikely but Liverpool’s squad is better in every single position
• Do Man United have what it takes to exploit Liverpool’s defensive vulnerability? It’s All Kicking Off

It might not be 7-0 on Sunday, but I’m convinced once again that Liverpool will beat Manchester United. Why? Because they have the better players in every position.

Tell me, who would Liverpool take from Man United? Bruno Fernandes, perhaps. I think he would be a star in Liverpool’s team, because he has all the qualities you need to be a top player. Right now, however, there is something missing from his game.

That is why, from the 22 who line up at kick-off, I’d say the best 11 players will all be in the red of the home team. That was the reason for my confidence in March when, before the game and live on Sky, one or two maybe smiled when I said Liverpool would win by two or three goals. In the end, I was wrong – it was seven! And according to Gary Neville afterwards, Liverpool didn’t play well.

As a pundit, I enjoyed that day very much. It was one of those games where you came away thinking, “Wow, I was there”. It was such a special day and confirmed what I thought at the time – and still believe now – about the respective quality of the two squads.

I played against Man United many times, but we never had it that easy. Not once. They had fabulous players, even though they could never really get close enough to us in the league. Still, it was always a fiercely competitive fixture.  They had Bryan Robson, don’t forget.

Bruno Fernandes is the only Manchester United player that would get into Liverpool’s team

Liverpool’s squad is packed with goalscorers such as Mohamed Salah whereas United’s isn’t

Graeme Souness believes Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are joint-favourites with Man City for the Premier League title this season

It might not be 7-0 on Sunday, but Souness is convinced once again that Liverpool will beat Manchester United

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But, in March, some of their players threw the towel in. After a few goals, they just said, “Nah, this isn’t for me”. And this was supposed to be their biggest game of the season, at Anfield. What does that tell you? That would be the concern, if I was a Man United supporter, because they’re going to Liverpool now with their season falling apart. 

Liverpool, meanwhile, have even more confidence than they did then, and they’re top of the Premier League. Look at the goals scored – Liverpool have 36, Man United 18. That is double and tells you everything about the difference between them. 

Liverpool have so many players competing to get on the scoresheet. Man United are relying on Scott McTominay more than anyone else, and he’s a holding midfielder by trade!

Goals change the whole atmosphere in a football club. They can camouflage shortcomings. You don’t have to play well every week to win matches if you have goalscorers, and that’s where Liverpool are at right now.

I would make them joint favourites with Manchester City to win the Premier League. They’ve got players who have done it before, and that helps enormously. They know how it’s won. Add that experience to those goals and they will be right there. They are a very, very dangerous team, for any opponent.

Contrast that with Man United. They have only beaten opposition currently in the bottom half – other than Fulham, who have jumped to 10th in recent weeks. They’re in the top six but without looking capable of beating anyone up there with them, and it’s only sides in the bottom six who have scored less than them.

This brings me onto Rasmus Hojlund. He cost £72million in the summer and still hasn’t scored in the league. I go back to when his fellow Dane, Christian Eriksen, was asked about him and all he said was that he’s quick and very aggressive. I thought that was a tell-tale sign, because someone who knows him should have been kinder and far more complimentary.

I have written a lot about Erik ten Hag and, having been a manager, I would never call for another to lose their job. But everyone at that club has to look over their shoulder with a new co-owner coming in. It needs a total revamp.

Erik ten Hag is under pressure at Man United following a disastrous campaign so far this season and a trip to Liverpool on Sunday is unlikely to change that

United midfielder Scott McTominay is his side’s main source of goals this season and he’s a holding midfielder

The football decisions have left them £1billion worse off and with this group of players, who simply aren’t good enough for where the club should be.

Manager wise, they have tried everything – the serial winners in Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, the club legend in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and now Ten Hag.

But it doesn’t matter who they have if they continue to sign average players. That is why, for me, Liverpool will beat them again this weekend.

Saying all of that, if ever there was a game to resurrect your season and gain confidence, this would be it, winning at Anfield. I just can’t see it happening.

Newcastle’s new stadium plans is something we have to accept 

When I was manager of Newcastle, I suggested to their hierarchy that they should light up St James’ Park every night. It is such an iconic stadium and dominates the skyline. Imagine it illuminated all the time? Anyway, that was one of the many things they did not listen to me about!

So I read with interest this week about the possibility of Newcastle moving to a new stadium under their new owners. Ideally, you would never leave St James’. But progress is progress, and fans there would still support their team no matter where they played.

The whole idea of moving is to increase revenue, and you do that by ramming as much corporate hospitality in there as possible. Instead of charging £50 for a seat, you can charge double and beyond. There is no real scope to develop that corporate side at St James’. 

Newcastle fans would still support their team no matter where they played if they leave St James’ Park

So, while I would be sad to see St James’ go, I do see the business need to explore the possibility. They want to be a Champions League club and, having watched their defeat against Milan in midweek, it is clear some of their players have found that experience a challenge, and that is fair. 

It was always going to happen. It’s new to them and they’ll be richer for the experience. They gave it a good go and, but for some fine margins across the six games, they might have made the last 16. 

Newcastle want to be a regular Champions League club and having watched their defeat against Milan in midweek, it is clear some of their players have found that experience a challenge

They’re well ahead of where they thought they would be and, in just two years, Eddie Howe has done a fabulous job. Now, he has to prioritise getting back into the top four this season, not winning the FA Cup or League Cup. The club’s owners want the Champions League and they need it for the journey they’re on. 

They might also need a new stadium, and that will be something we all have to accept.

Good luck to Michael Beale 

Michael Beale looks set to take over as the new head coach at Sunderland, and I suspect that job will be just as difficult as he found it at Rangers.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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It was a gamble going to Rangers and it did not work for him. Sunderland will be something similar in that it is a huge club with big expectation. 

They are a Premier League club, in reality. One of his early games will also be against Newcastle in the FA Cup – I wish him all the best!

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