New Moroccan signing Noussair Mazraoui is no stranger to a massive derby and will not be overawed in the biggest of them all when Liverpool visit Manchester United.
Having played in the Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund derby, as well as the Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord derby, the defender says he knows how to deal with the intense pressure that comes with games of this nature.
Noussair Mazraoui is ready to face Liverpool and Mo Salah
Mazraoui says he will be ready for anything that his new arch-rivals Liverpool will throw at him and his teammates come Sunday.
The two biggest clubs in England face off for the first time this season, in what is expected to be an intense affair.
The game has an added layer of intrigue to it, with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot renewing their rivalry on English soil.
Relishing the derby
Mazraoui says he is relishing the derby game.
“I heard about the rivalry between the two teams in the past couple of days,” says Mazraoui.
“After the game, there is a two-week international break, and so we either will have very happy Man United fans or very happy Liverpool fans. This game is something big because the two teams are so close to each other, they are two big clubs that have history. I am looking forward to it.”
The Moroccan says that his new teammates have spoken to him about the rivalry between the two clubs.
“They didn’t make mention of anything specific, but did say that it is a game which sets the mood for the upcoming weeks for everyone including the players, the manager and the whole of Manchester.”
The defender says his experience in past derbies will help him deal with the pressure of Sunday’s game.
“It will help a lot. Every game is important; however these derby games have something special about them, something you cannot describe.
“Having played these types of game, you kind of know what to expect, so that you’re not really surprised by it and fall into things you don’t want to be in.”
How do you solve a problem like Mo Salah?
Asked how him and his teammates planned to keep Liverpool’s main man Mo Salah quiet during the game, Mazraoui says: “I think everyone knows his qualities. He’s a really good player, but I don’t think we are going to focus on each player of theirs.
“We are not going to sit and analyse individuals. We know they have individual class players. We are going to focus on ourselves, and that’s the main thing to do.”
He says he also expects the fans to lift the roof off Old Trafford come Sunday.
“I have already experienced one home game, when we played the opener against Fulham, and that was crazy. But from what I heard about this rivalry, I expect it to be way crazier this weekend.”
The biggest match
Robert Marawa has picked out Manchester United vs Liverpool as the game of the weekend in the Premier League.
“Long before I even had dreams of becoming a broadcaster, Liverpool was front and centre of my world. Liverpool were the team I supported,” said Marawa.
“I supported them mainly because of John Barnes. He was an exceptional football player. He was part of a trio of players at Liverpool at the time. It was Barnes, John Alridge, Peter Beardsley. I call them the three musketeers. They had Anfield bouncing each and every week. Anfield was filled to the rafters. The Kop was buzzing all the time, especially when they played against Manchester United.
“It is for those reasons that I maintained my love for this team. I got to meet John Barnes. I got to work with him as well. I got to meet Michael Thomas back then.
“He got signed by Liverpool after he scored a very famous last-minute goal. Liverpool snatched him up after that. When I saw Michael Thomas, I asked him for an autograph and he kindly obliged. I found him to be a very wonderful person. Talking about Michael’s, I also met the great Micheal Owen. I met Steve McManaman and got to work with him too. I got to meet Bruce Grobbelaar. Those are some of the great Liverpool individuals that I looked up to and got to brush shoulders with. I just never looked back in terms of my love and affiliation to the team.
Back to the weekend
“So back to the big game of the weekend. We have seen Man United struggle a little this season. It’s not the kind of start that they would have wanted. Erik ten Hag is under a lot of pressure to produce great results, but we didn’t see that happening with their opening two games. They barely played well against Fulham. They huffed and they puffed and eventually earned their three points. And then they lost to a very sprightly looking Brighton and Hove Albion in the last week.
“But when you look at how Arne Slot, the new Liverpool manager, has been able to kick start the first two matchdays. He has shown with the many players he has used in the two games that he has depth in this squad. That is why in terms of the transfer market it hasn’t been very important for him to delve into that. They got two good wins in the opening two games, kept two clean sheets. But now the big one is upon Slot and his men.”
Referee in focus when Liverpool face Man United
“Funnily enough, the main focus will be the man in the middle. Anthony Taylor is the person who is going to be refereeing the clash. I tried to count earlier on. It’s going to be his fifth game in charge between Man United and Liverpool. Liverpool fans hate him, but you look at the record, and Liverpool are unbeaten in games that he has overseen in this fixture. So, I’m not too sure why the guys are fearing his involvement in the game. From me, it’s a game that I would look at as a fan of Liverpool and then maybe post that, we will get back into the analytical side of things. But it’s an exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to it. They may have changed the kickoff time slightly by thirty minutes to accommodate the fans and all the trouble that comes with these games, but it’s going to be a confident Liverpool marching to Old Trafford with their heads held high. The Slot era has kicked in with a great deal of confidence, so it’s all three points and nothing less.”
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