Van Persie: These games are what you dream of
The Reds icon spent three years at Old Trafford between 2012 and 2015, and within a month of his arrival hade made his mark on this fixture, by scoring a decisive late penalty to ensure a 2-1 win at Anfield in September 2012.
Although he had played at Anfield many times before then, for his former club Arsenal, that win was Robin’s first experience of this mammoth fixture in the United calendar, and in a somewhat similar position this weekend is fellow Dutchman, Erik ten Hag.
Erik, too, comes into this one with prior experience at Anfield, having taken his Ajax side there in the Champions League late in 2020, but Sunday’s clash will provide his first taste of the derby between the north-west giants on Merseyside.
United’s 2-1 triumph over Jurgen Klopp’s side at Old Trafford in August was Ten Hag’s first competitive win as our manager, and he brings his players to Anfield for the 16:30 GMT kick-off today (Sunday), looking to emulate that success.
