Mazraoui relishing derby game against rivals Liverpool

By Sameer Naik29 August 2024

Mazraoui relishing derby game against rivals Liverpool

Manchester United face off against archrivals Liverpool on Sunday, 01 September 2024, at 17:30 at Old Trafford. The game, which will be shown live on Showmax Premier League, sees Dutch managers Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot once again renew their rivalry, this time on English soil.

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Manchester United’s new Moroccan signing Noussair Mazraoui is no stranger to big derby games.
Having played in the Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund derby, as well as the Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord derby, the defender knows how to deal with the intense pressure that comes with games of this nature.

So come Sunday, Mazraoui says he will be ready for anything that his new archrivals Liverpool will throw at him and his teammates.

The two biggest clubs in England face off for the first time this season, in what is expected to be an intense affair.

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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United FC during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Manchester United FC at Amex Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

The game has an added layer of intrigue to it, with Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag and Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot renewing their rivalry on English soil.

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AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 20: Arne Slot Coach of Feyenoord Rotterdam and Erik Ten Hag of AFC Ajax looks on during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax and Feyenoord at Johan Cruijff Arena on March 20, 2022 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Michael Bulder/NESImages/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Mazraoui says he is relishing the derby game. “I heard about the rivalry between the two teams in the past couple of days,” says Mazraoui.“After the game, there is a two-week international break, and so we either will have very happy Man United fans or very happy Liverpool fans. This game is something really big because the two teams are so close to each other, they are two big clubs that have history. I am looking forward to it.”

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BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United passes the ball under pressure from Billy Gilmour of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Manchester United FC at Amex Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

The Moroccan says that his new teammates have spoken to him about the rivalry between the two clubs.
“They didn’t make mention of anything specific, but did say that it is a game which sets the mood for the upcoming weeks for everyone including the players, the manager and the whole of Manchester.”

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COLUMBIA, SC – AUGUST 03: Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch (38) during a soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool on August 3, 2024 at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The defender says his experience in past derbies will help him deal with the pressure of Sunday’s game.
“It will help a lot. Every game is important; however these derby games have something special about them, something you cannot describe.

“Having played these types of game, you kind of know what to expect, so that you’re not really surprised by it and fall into things you don’t want to be in.”

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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 03: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool in action during the pre-season match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Williams-Brice Stadium on August 03, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Asked how him and his teammates planned to keep Liverpool’s main man Mohamed Salah quiet during the game, Mazraoui says: “I think everyone knows his qualities. He’s a really good player, but I don’t think we are going to focus on each player of theirs. We are not going to sit and analyse individuals. We know they have individual class players. We are going to focus on ourselves, and that’s the main thing to do.”

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 16: Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Fulham FC at Old Trafford on August 16, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

He says he also expects the fans to lift the roof off Old Trafford come Sunday. “I have already experienced one home game, when we played the opener against Fulham, and that was crazy. But from what I heard about this rivalry, I expect it to be way crazier this weekend.”

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