De Gea exclusive: Liverpool is a game to savour

It was Sergio Romero enjoying the limelight during Monday's stellar win at Chelsea, with David De Gea proudly watching on from his place on the bench.

But the Spaniard is likely to return to the starting XI for Sunday’s mammoth Premier League match against Liverpool, as United look to halt the Anfield side’s charge towards a first title in 29 years.

It’s a fixture De Gea has often excelled in, and the outstanding goalkeeper admits that it’s one that always gets the senses tingling - whatever position the two clubs find themselves in.

“It’s the biggest game in England,” our no.1 told United Review. “It’s a very special game, for the fans, the club and the players and, above all, when it’s at Old Trafford, it’s always even more of an occasion. It’s just a massive game.

“We aim to enjoy and, of course, we’ll be trying our best to win it!”

De Gea hails from Madrid - a city all too familiar with epochal football fixtures. The derby between David’s former team Atletico Madrid and their neighbours Real Madrid has taken on even greater intensity in the last decade, while Real also take part in arguably Spain’s equivalent fixture to Sunday’s match-up: the El Clásico with Barcelona.

“When I was in Spain, you always used to hear talk of the big rivalry and the huge game, or Clásico, between Manchester United and Liverpool,“ he said. ”You have two very big clubs, and it’s a game to really savour.”

De Gea has many great memories of playing against the Merseysiders, particularly at Anfield, where he has made famous saves to deny Philippe Coutinho and Joel Matip, among others. But the 28-year-old, who is looking to keep his 100th Premier League clean sheet this weekend, plumped for a victory in M16 when asked for his favourite memory by United Review.

“I’ve played quite a few games against them now, so I don’t know…” De Gea pondered. “Maybe the game at Old Trafford when we won 3-0 [14 December 2014]. I recall a few good games but maybe that 3-0 win at Old Trafford is the one that stands out, as it was a good experience. But every game we play against Liverpool is a special one.”

Supporters of both teams might argue that the circumstances surrounding this weekend’s meeting make it even more special, with Jurgen Klopp’s side seeking a first title since 1990, and many United fans are keen to see that eventuality avoided. But, for De Gea, United’s aspirations are the only concern.

“No matter what each of the two teams are playing for, this game is always very different and unique,” he says. “Both teams are competing on various fronts but we are playing at home, we want to win and want to keep battling to get into the Champions League next season.”

To achieve that win, De Gea will likely be required to keep Liverpool’s 44-goal hero of last season, Mohamed Salah, quiet. But the four-time winner of the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award believes obsessing about the Egyptian’s undoubted goal threat would be a misstep.

“You don’t just focus on the one player,” proclaims David. “They have got a good side with some good players individually. You prepare like you would for any other game, knowing that you are up against a very good side with some top players.“