Manchester United will be hoping one loanee can inflict further damage on Liverpool’s previously unblemished season.
After last week’s 2-2 draw at Anfield, Manchester United will surely be full of confidence that this weekend will see further encouraging signs against Arsenal.
It is the FA Cup third round and United are heading to the Emirates with revenge in mind for December’s 2-0 defeat.
The defending champions will hope to use the momentum of last week to kick on and progress in the cup which could give Ruben Amorim a chance of silverware.
However elsewhere, back at Anfield, United will be hoping to see one academy star have the game of his life and knock out Arne Slot’s side.
Sonny Aljofree set to face Liverpool in FA Cup
This season sees 19-year-old United Academy centre-back Sonny Aljofree on loan with Accrington Stanley – who have coincidentally been drawn to face Liverpool
Now, speaking with the Manchester Evening News – Aljofree has been discussing the tie against Liverpool which is the biggest game of his career.
When asked if he had spoken to United staff since the draw, he revealed one message.
“Just win.”
“They’ve told me to sure that I take it in and not just let it go by, so just as much as it is a massive experience and there’ll be nerves around it, just trying to take it in and appreciating the kind of magnitude of the game that I’m hopefully going to be involved in.”
Aljofree has been shining for Accrington on loan but this will no doubt be the biggest challenge he will face.
Aljofree paid special attention to Manchester United against Liverpool
Aljofree is not going into this game blind to what to expect, as he also revealed that he had been watching United’s draw with Liverpool to take notes from Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt.
“United are playing a similar formation to what we play,” he said, “so I was putting myself in the shoes of Yoro and De Ligt and the defenders, of what I’d be doing and picking up the little things that Liverpool do when they win the ball back or lose the ball and making sure I’m kind of manifesting what I’m going to be doing in that situation.
“It kind of put me in my head where I’d be on the pitch against those types of players, even if they don’t play that same team they’re going to be playing a similar style, so it was really good to watch.”
Hopefully, Aljofree has learned enough from watching United to have the game of his life on Saturday.
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