Man United legend: Liverpool look vulnerable right now and why Rio is better than Virgil

As the two giants of the North West prepare to lock horns this weekend, a former Manchester United legend and Sir Alex Ferguson stalwart, is optimistic that the Red Devils may be able to pull off a result at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

He was involved in several white knuckle ding dongs at Anfield, so Wes Brown is perfectly placed to offer an opinion on his former club’s chances this weekend. The United stalwart made over 200 appearances for the club and lifted five Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Although it’s been an up and down season for Amorim‘s United, the Red Devils travel to Anfield to face a Liverpool team that have lost three games on the bounce, giving Brown a sense of optimism that they may be able to come away with something.

Leave it all out on the pitch

During a recent interview with 10bet Casino, Brown urged the player of his former club to catch Arne Slot‘s men cold.

“Back-to-back league wins is what we’re all looking for. My hope is that we leave it all on the pitch out there at Liverpool, that we don’t hold back and have regrets.

“Liverpool have had a few defeats recently, but they’ve won plenty this season already, and their squad is really good. They probably have the strongest squad in the league at the moment, but I really hope we can catch them out and off their guard.

“They’re not playing as fluently as they have been in the past, but the task will be to go to Anfield and, first of all, put in a really disciplined defensive display. But if you get that right, you’ve also got to attack with freedom. Liverpool are looking a bit vulnerable, and they can be exposed, so that needs to be exploited.”

Brown conceded that Liverpool will be strong favourites for this one, despite their recent poor form, and laid down a challenge to Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbuemo to step-up after flattering to deceive after big money transfers to Old Trafford this ummer.

“Liverpool will be the favourites and it’ll be a tough game. Liverpool won’t take that game lightly as well. Their players, they’ll understand what it means. But Manchester United have to turn up and that’s what we’re all looking for, eleven committed performances. I want Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to hit the heights they haven’t quite reached yet, despite some promising signs. We need them to have an impact at Anfield,” Brown said.

Rio better than Virgil

When asked if Virgil van Dijk, who is widely regarded as the best CB in the Premier League, was better than Brown’s former United teammate Rio Ferdinand, Brown was conclusive in his response, labelling the ex-England international as the best CB to have played in the Premier League era.

“I’d 100 percent of the time pick Rio over Virgil van Dijk. Of course, I could be being biased, but if you’ve seen Rio you know he’s just different class.

“Individually he can do everything, and he has such poise that he’s rarely scrambling around for a slide tackle. He reads the game immaculately, has pace, is always in the right position to make his job easier. He won so many trophies to show just how important he was to the side.

“He and Vidic were the ideal partners for one another. Occasionally you just get partnerships like that which don’t come around too often. The two of them completely made each other work to the best of their abilities, and it spurred Rio on to get even better.

“If you talk about individuals, then it’s Ferdinand above Van Dijk for me every time, but it’s not by miles. I think Rio was the best defender to play for United, and perhaps in the league,” Brown said.

Would love Virgil at United

Despite naming Rio as the better defender, Brown confessed that if he could pinch one player from Liverpool and drop them into the United starting 11, it would be the Netherlands and Liverpool captain.

“It’s a tough one. I think there are at least a few that you’d take from Liverpool right now. I think up front, it has to be Mo Salah, even if he hasn’t had a brilliant start to the season so far. It’s dangerous to underestimate him, definitely. He’s a real threat.

“In defence, I think Virgil van Dijk. I talk about him all the time, he’s a great defender. He’s so consistent, and he might have made a mistake against Chelsea, or here and there, but that happens to everyone. If you look at the grand scheme of things, he gets almost every decision right, and he’s vital at the back for them. I’d love him at United,” Brown concluded.

Liverpool vs Manchester United takes place on Sunday at 16:30.