Liverpool and the Manchester United - Rebound Time

Article first published as Liverpool and Manchester United - Rebound Time on Technorati.
Liverpool and Manchester United will both be looking for a Victory after disappointing defeats in their last matches.

by Rhydon Atzenhoffer
March 2, 2011

Kelly Out for 4 Weeks. PA Images

Liverpool crashed to a devastating 3-1 defeat at Upton Park to West Ham on Sunday. After an eight game unbeaten run Kenny Dalglish's side finally looked to have run out of gas. There was a lack of passing aptitude, and creativity, and in many cases some of the lads just looked plain tired and out of sorts.

The Reds squad was also facing injuries that hampered selection before the match, and the loss of two more players during the coarse of play did not help either. Martin Kelly has been a shining star for Dalglish and the youthful marauding right back will now be sidelined for at least a month according to Liverpool's official site. Daniel Agger and Fabio Aurelio were already missing before Kelly and then Raul Miereles went out with a knock to the knee just around halftime.

Deputy left back Danny Wilson was not up to calibre and a Jaime Carragher that looked not himself slumped the Liverpool back-line to a mixed up mess. The induction of Joe Cole for Kelly failed to spark the offense, and David Ngog for Miereles did provide more attacking options but still no progress. Suarez and Johnson combined for one moment of brilliance in a day that the Reds will want to forget as Scott Parker, Demba Ba, and Carleton Cole all netted to cap their best performance of the season in the presence of possibly Liverpool's worst.

David Luiz More Goals than Torres. Getty Images

Manchester United took it to Wigan Athletic at the weekend with Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez putting in quite a display with a Brace in the 0-4 victory to earn a spot next to Wayne Rooney in their Tuesday clash with current English Premier League Champions Chelsea.

The Blues again deployed their newest striking option up front as Fernando Torres looked to test his prolific goal scoring record against the Manc's. However, it was not to be so as once again Torres failed to truly impress just as he has since the middle of last season when still a Red. His high price tag continues to look as though Liverpool more than got their money's worth for an out of sorts star. Loads of talent but he just hasnt been their mentally in quite some time.

Manchester United took it to the Blues in the first half but their failure to kill off the game allowed David Luiz to score his first goal for the Blues, and then Frank Lampard notched the winner from the spot on the 79th minute. In true form Nemanja Vidic found his Red Card as he has so many times in big games, this one right at the death in the 93rd. This could be a much bigger blow to United than many believe as their back line is seriously in trouble due to injury with a Sunday trip to Anfield Looming.

Gerrard and Suarez Key to Future. Getty Images

Both Liverpool and Manchester United will be looking for their rebound victory. Liverpool responded from their last loss with an eight match unbeaten streak. United responded to their first League loss at Wolves with a Manchester Derby victory, but their injury and discipline woes will look to continue.

The Reds need the victory desperately to try and fight back from what is now an eight and nine point gap between Tottenham and Chelsea in 4th and 5th with both having a game in hand, and the Champions League now looking completely lost to us for next season.