Giving Rooney's track record in this fixture over the years, it should be quite a dilemma for manager 
Jose Mourinho as to whether Manchester United's skipper starts the game tonight at Anfield or not.

It is only sad these days watching Wayne Rooney play the role of a benchwarmer given the exploits
he has done on the pitch for the past decade and over for both club and country. This is arguarbly
the most popular name in the Premier League as far as the last 10 and over years are concerned.
He is also England's all-time leading goalscorer (with 53 goals) and most capped outfield
player for England for crying out loud.

Barring probably the first couple of games for United this season, Rooney has played awfully
resulting in Mourinho having to bench his captain. United certainly look slick, quick and more 
effective without Rooney playing, although he contributed to Martial's goal against Stoke last 
time to be fair.

The Mancester United-Liverpool fixture is certainly one that needs no introduction. Based on form,
the odds are against Rooney to be started for this crucial game especially for United who are
looking to return to winning ways.


On the flip side Rooney has 6 goals and 3 assists in this fixture, and in fact it was his lone
goal that separated the bitter rivals just last January. 

Mourinho has said that Rooney has been hurt these past few weeks having to watch on from the 
bench and enduring all the media backlash. He will be itching to regain his place in the starting 
eleven.

If Mourinho is to start Wayne Rooney, he starts a player who has lost his pace but one who also
boasts of a lot of experience in this fixture. Of course based on current form, the likes of
Rashford, Lingard and Mata have the pace to trouble the 'suspicious' Liverpool defense.

Repeat of Gerrard's...
If Wayne Rooney is to come on as a substitute also, he will have to find the right balance between
containing the passion in this fixture, wanting to silence his critics and being disciplined.

There is nothing as itching as being the captain of a side having to sit on the bench when
such a rivalry fixture beckons-- whether he starts or not, Rooney will want to play for sure.

One danger about this is that, as you sit on the bench, you sort of see the mistakes
of those playing and tend to think that, "I would have done better than that."

You may over think it through and when you get the nod to come on, want to do everything and 
end up overdoing it. It happened with Steven Gerrard when he was sent off less than a minute after coming
on after stamping on Ander Herrera in this very fixture a couple of seasons ago. Remember?