Man United ace Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of Sunday’s money-making and terribly exciting clash against Liverpool after a troublesome knee injury he picked up at training. It’s a small matter for the Red Devils because they’re counting on their newly-crowned Barclays’ Player of the Month for December himself, Robin van Persie, to save the day (right after a scheduled massive eye-rolling session from the Arsenal camp). He’ll also be simultaneously expected to create a ruckus against the Liverpool defence. Cometh the man, Cometh the hour?!
No pressure for RVP here, amigos más queridos – the services of Chicharito are not to be ignored. 8 goals in 13 games screams ‘Pick me, already, jefe!’
“Wayne Rooney is still out. I am hoping he will start training today actually, in which case he won’t be far away. I don’t think it is an issue, but we need to guide him along. In terms of the injury he had, it’s quite straightforward so if he starts today, I assume he will be available for Wednesday’s replay (against West Ham).” – Sir Alex Ferguson
United lead the Premier League by seven points from Manchester City while Liverpool are 14 points further adrift in eighth place. The betting boards all point to an easy United win – as do the pundits that you feign interest in – but the beautiful thing about football is its unpredictability. A draw at Old Trafford would be delightful, wouldn’t it?
Fresh from Luis Suarez’s handball goal controversy against Mansfield last Sunday, there has been talk that the Uruguayan could be making a swift exit from the Premier League. Crocodile tears falling down your cheeks already?
In what could possibly be deemed controversial, Liverpool’s former director of football, Damien Comolli – who brought Suarez to Anfield – said that the striker could be “driven out” of the league if he feels isolated. “It’ll be an absolute shame for English football if this victimisation drives him away. As the biggest league in the world you want to keep the biggest players, not drive them away for crazy reasons.“
It is admittedly difficult to imagine a Premier League without Suarez, because he’s like the Whoopi of all Sister Acts – the ‘show’ isn’t complete without his moves. Sure, he isn’t the first controversial figure English football has seen, but chatting about him over Sunday tea is “à la mode” at the moment!
At least Brendan Rodgers still loves his striker, so it’s clear that Liverpool are protecting their 25-year-old drama king in some aspect :
“His mental fitness is very strong. He is a player who, like most top players, can cope mentally and you have to because of the pressures they put on themselves to perform and the pressures of playing for a big club. But I think he has been admirable. He has never come in here any day not smiling and working hard. Like with all the players I always spend the time to make sure he is in a good way not just on the field but off it and he has been no different.” – Rodgers
The calm and perpetually pensive 
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