
"It's three points and no less for Liverpool" says Robert Marawa
- Pick of the week: Manchester United vs. Liverpool
- Kickoff: Sunday, 01 September; 17:30
- Venue: Old Trafford
- Live on Showmax Premier League

“Long before I even had dreams of becoming a broadcaster, Liverpool was front and centre of my world. Liverpool were the team I supported. I supported them mainly because of John Barnes. He was an exceptional football player. He was part of a trio of players at Liverpool at the time. It was Barnes, John Alridge, Peter Beardsley. I call them the three musketeers. They had Anfield bouncing each and every week. Anfield was filled to the rafters. The Kop was buzzing all the time, especially when they played against Manchester United.

“It is for those reasons that I maintained my love for this team. I got to meet John Barnes. I got to work with him as well. I got to meet Michael Thomas back then. He got signed by Liverpool after he scored a very famous last-minute goal. Liverpool snatched him up after that. When I saw Michael Thomas, I asked him for an autograph and he kindly obliged. I found him to be a very wonderful person. Talking about Michael’s, I also met the great Micheal Owen. I met Steve McManaman and got to work with him too. I got to meet Bruce Grobbelaar. Those are some of the great Liverpool individuals that I looked up to and got to brush shoulders with. I just never looked back in terms of my love and affiliation to the team.
“So back to the big game of the weekend. We have seen Man United struggle a little this season. It’s not the kind of start that they would have wanted. Erik ten Hag is under a lot of pressure to produce great results, but we didn’t see that happening with their opening two games. They barely played well against Fulham. They huffed and they puffed and eventually earned their three points. And then they lost to a very sprightly looking Brighton and Hove Albion in the last week.
"But when you look at how Arne Slot, the new Liverpool manager, has been able to kick start the first two matchdays. He has shown with the many players he has used in the two games that he has depth in this squad. That is why in terms of the transfer market it hasn’t been very important for him to delve into that. They got two good wins in the opening two games, kept two clean sheets. But now the big one is upon Slot and his men.

"Funnily enough, the main focus will be the man in the middle. Anthony Taylor is the person who is going to be refereeing the clash. I tried to count earlier on. It's going to be his fifth game in charge between Man United and Liverpool. Liverpool fans hate him, but you look at the record, and Liverpool are unbeaten in games that he has overseen in this fixture. So, I’m not too sure why the guys are fearing his involvement in the game. From me, it’s a game that I would look at as a fan of Liverpool and then maybe post that, we will get back into the analytical side of things. But it’s an exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to it. They may have changed the kickoff time slightly by thirty minutes to accommodate the fans and all the trouble that comes with these games, but it’s going to be a confident Liverpool marching to Old Trafford with their heads held high. The Slot era has kicked in with a great deal of confidence, so it’s all three points and nothing less.”
Sign up for the Showmax Premier League mobile plan for R69 p/m at www.showmax.com for all the Premier League action.
More like this

Showmax Premier League weekly watchlist: 14-22 October 2025
Stream every Premier League and PSL game on your mobile device live on Showmax Premier League.

Bafana Bafana composed for Durban showdown against Zimbabwe
Bafana Bafana take on Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, 10 October, in a must-win FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Live on Showmax Premier League.

Arsenal and Liverpool early front-runners ahead of Premier League international break
Arsenal looks sharp, Liverpool looks hungry. Who’ll keep it going after the international break? Watch live on Showmax Premier League.

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red
Catch all the action from the Chelsea v Liverpool game live on Showmax Premier League on Saturday, 4 October at 18:30.

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade
Will Arsenal's Gyökeres or Newcastle United's Woltemade secure a victory for their club on Sunday, 28 September? Watch live on Showmax Premier League.

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend
We have a thrilling line up of football games on Showmax Premier League this weekend. Catch all the action live.

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue
Its Red v Blue this weekend, with three blockbuster fixtures lined up to keep you on the edge of your seat. Stream them all on Showmax Premier League.

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham
Ahead of the London derby between Spurs and West Ham, defender Micky van de Ven chats about his journey to the top.
Laugh Africa Comedy Festival S2 on Showmax
Youngins S3, coming soon to Showmax
What to binge this weekend

MobLand S1
Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan propel this gripping, gritty crime drama series that follows two powerful families engaged in an intense power struggle.
Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax
Not everybody can be the Godfather. From MobLand to The Cleaning Lady to Gangs of London, we look at 11 small but essential jobs that take care of the organising behind organised crime.

Must-watch trailer: The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa brings together Housewives from across the continent, landing on Showmax on 28 November 2025.

Showmax Premier League weekly watchlist: 14-22 October 2025
Stream every Premier League and PSL game on your mobile device live on Showmax Premier League.
Latest Stories

Bafana Bafana composed for Durban showdown against Zimbabwe

Arsenal and Liverpool early front-runners ahead of Premier League international break

Married at First Sight's Portia Baloyi on the reunion and her ex
Must-watch trailer: Slay Queens doccie coming to Showmax

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red

Relebogile Mabotja to host the two-hour Married at First Sight reunion special

South Africa in third place at International Emmys, with four MultiChoice nominations

What to watch on Showmax in October 2025

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade

Married at First Sight: Themba on his "stunning" wife Nelisa

June Squibb wins Best Actress award at age 95 for Thelma

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue

Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr chat about Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

Where to see the cast of Levels on Showmax

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham

Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax

Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist

Uncover the soul of South African football with the boxset of Giants

Rianza Snyman on Vaal Riviera and being a stay-at-home mom

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

SA siblings’ debut film chosen for BFI London Film Festival

Simo Magwaza on his challenging role as De Klerk in Youngins