Manchester United’s woes to deepen as rampant Liverpool seek repeat of big win at Anfield
Meanwhile, Thailand are favourites to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Vietnam in the Asean Championship final
OF THE many football fixtures on the busy calendar this weekend, two in particular stand out. The champions of South-east Asia will be crowned when Thailand and Vietnam square off in the second leg of the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup in Bangkok on Sunday (Jan 5) night.
And not long after the final whistle is blown in that match, Liverpool and Manchester United – the two most successful teams in English football history – will lock horns at a jam-packed Anfield in what is sure to be another feisty battle.
Ahead of the big kickoff, BT Weekend takes a closer look at what is at stake in these two massive games.
Thailand vs Vietnam (Sunday, 9pm)
When Vietnam defeated defending champions Thailand in the first leg of the 2024 Asean Championship final in Phu Tho on Jan 2, the result was significant in more ways than one.
The 2-1 win at a raucous Viet Tri Stadium was Vietnam’s first over the War Elephants in eight attempts, with their last success coming five years ago at the King’s Cup. It is little surprise that Vietnam celebrated wildly that evening, for it was just the fourth time they have triumphed over Thailand in 30 matches since 1995.
Of course, it’s only “half-time” in this two-legged final, and there are still 90 minutes left to play before the trophy can be given out – or 120 minutes, if there is a need for extra time.
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Vietnam know that their backs will be against the wall for most of the return leg at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, although they do know they have the personnel to hurt Thailand on their own turf.
The Golden Star Warriors’ progress in the tournament has largely been due to their prolific Brazil-born striker Rafaelson, a 27-year-old who has already netted seven times and is hungry for more. He managed a brace in the space of 15 minutes in the second-half in Phu Tho, adding to the three goals he scored against Singapore in the semi-finals.
Thailand are seven-time winners of the regional championship, and they know they have the firepower to overturn the scoreline. Thailand’s Japanese coach Masatada Ishii has plenty of weapons in his arsenal to do so, including the sibling pair of Suphanat Mueanta and Supachok Sarachat.
Suphanat has four goals and four assists so far. Ishii also has Chalermsak Aukkee to thank, for it was the defender’s late header in the first leg that halved the deficit and gave the Thais a much-needed lifeline to take home.
While the tie is evenly poised, home advantage will prove the deciding factor. The smart bet is on Thailand to overwhelm Vietnam and lift the trophy for a record-extending eighth time and become the first team to win the tournament three times in a row.
Liverpool vs Manchester United (Monday, 12.30 am)
The gulf in class between these two English giants is growing by the week. Liverpool are flying high in the English Premier League (EPL) and Champions League, and are in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
United, meanwhile, cannot seem to get any sort of win at the moment, much less score a goal. The Red Devils have lost their last four games, including the last three in the EPL without netting a single goal.
New manager Ruben Amorim has failed to ignite any sort of spark since arriving at Old Trafford, and with his team sitting in a lowly 14th place, he has even admitted that there is the unthinkable possibility of England’s 20-time champions being dragged into a relegation fight if the results do not improve soon.
Liverpool are 23 points clear of their opponents and can do no wrong at the moment. The Reds have already beaten United 3-0 at Old Trafford in September, and the bookies seem to think a repeat of that scoreline – or even a wider margin – is on the cards this weekend.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been a revelation since arriving in the summer. He has guided his team to the top of the EPL, six points clear of their nearest challengers Arsenal and having played a match less. If Liverpool maintain their winning streak, they will equal United’s tally of 20 titles in May.
Slot has overseen a 23-match unbeaten run in all competitions, and that is largely due to the goals from the EPL’s top scorer Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian has scored 17 times and made 13 assists this season, and he will be licking his lips in anticipation of facing United, a team he has regularly scored against over the years.
Statistics show that Salah has scored more goals (12) and made more assists (six) against the Red Devils than any other player in EPL history.
Liverpool won 7-0 in this same fixture in 2023, and every suffering United fan will be fearing a repeat of that scoreline.
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