Liverpool's Arbeloa: Ronaldo's Absence Doesn't Make Saturday Any Easier

One of our biggest games of the season will be played out this weekend and already my stomach is doing flips. There aren’t many things that compare with the excitement and sickness that come with the anticipation of a match against Liverpool.

Playing at Anfield has been a bit like playing at Villa Park for United recently, we always seem to get a result there. The last time we were beaten in the league at Anfield was 2001, meaning United fans either have the right to fancy a result, or should face the fear that Liverpool are due a win against us.

However, with our squad looking very strong at the moment, Arbeloa concedes that even without Cristiano Ronaldo, it is going to be a difficult game for Liverpool.

Liverpool’s fullback, Alvaro Arbeloa, who joined the dippers last summer, has nothing but bad memories of his dealings with United. In his first season at the club, we beat them home and away, as well as winning the league and Champions League.

“That was a really bad experience,” he said, reflecting on last season’s meeting at Anfield, when Carlos Tevez got the winner. “I know how much of an important game it is for us and our supporters and we were all really disappointed. It is just as important for me as the supporters. I think this game is worth much more than three points. If we beat Manchester United at home, we will have 10 points and much more confidence, but everyone will also be very, very happy.”

United are still without key man Cristiano Ronaldo for the game, but Arbeloa believes the team’s strength in depth means it will be just as hard to get a result.

“United don’t have Ronaldo, but they still have really good players like Nani, Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and now Dimitar Berbatov,” he added. “I really don’t know if it will be easier without Ronaldo.”