In light of the upcoming FA Cup fourth round tie between Liverpool and Manchester United, Soccer Central Philippines reached out to ESPN Star Sports's pundits Paul Parker and Steve McMahon in an exclusive interview to give their insights in the upcoming match.

Both sides will square off on Saturday, January 28, 2012 8:45pm.

What did Manchester United learn from their win against Arsenal that they can use against Liverpool?

Paul Parker (PP): Nothing, it’s a completely different game, it’s a different atmosphere. All they players know that, they been there before and Alex Ferguson should know best. It doesn’t matter if you’ve lost the previous 10 or lost the previous 10.

Steve McMahon (SM): They learnt that they have to be positive. If they think they’re the best side they have to play positive and beat them.
 
What did Liverpool learn from their win against Manchester City that they can use against United?

PP: Kenny learnt that Bellamy is a good player. He learnt that Bellamy gives him more than Carrol, Henderson and Downing. He’s going to have to use him more, the Liverpool fans will demand it. And when Suarez is back he can use him with Bellamy. So far Liverpool haven’t been all exciting, even Liverpool fans will admit it. But with Bellamy and Suarez together, now that will be something to watch.

SM: Liverpool play well against big teams all the time and continue doing that against United.
 
What will the crowd atmosphere be in the aftermath of Luis Suarez decision?

PP: They’re not going to be very nice for sure. Gerrard has come out and urged the fans to support the players and not focus on Evra. But by saying that, he’s already planted the thought in their heads. What I hope is that it won’t affect the Manchester united players. It won’t affect Evra as being French, he will have a certain arrogance about him and not be bothered by the fans. But I do hope it doesn’t affect United as a team because when Evra makes that first tackle, will the fans try to get him booked? If he makes the second tackle will they try to get him sent off?

SM: Evra’ll be tormented and Liverpool and be punished to death by them. The atmosphere of the crowd will be volatile towards Evra.
 
Who will be the player that could spring a surprise from either side?

PP: It’s going to have to be Bellamy. If you’re looking at a match winner, then there’s your match winner. Luckily for Dalglish he’s got Bellamy, and he’s the biggest attacking threat they’ve got. For United Wayne Rooney maybe if he fancies it. If I were to go for someone who could make a difference it could also be Valencia. He’s not a Silva or Rooney, but he helps defensively and can go up and score goals as well.

SM: If Rooney plays, he’s always a big game player. Especially being an ex Everton player as well.
 
Which team will face the bigger pressure this weekend?

PP: I think winning the trophy will be very important to Kenny Dalglish. I think FA Cup will paper over cracks. Because there are a lot of cracks at Liverpool at the moment especially with their buying and what they have bought so far, their best player has been Bellamy by a country mile and he didn’t even cost 7 million or 20 million or even 35 million. That being said though I think the cup is still really important to Manchester United. I think it’ll put too much pressure on United if they could only win the league. If they won the cup then at the end of the season at least they could say we’ve got a trophy in the cabinet. It’s good for any club at any football level to win a club and none would want to be knocked out especially to their bitter rivals.

SM: If you take the FA Cup out of this, this game in isolation is one of the biggest game in world of football. It’s all about the players individual pride and honour to win the match. There’s a rivalry between the two teams. But I think there’s more on Manchester United because I think Manchester City is going to win the league. This is the only competition that’s realistically left for them.
 
United say Phil Jones is available after his injury necessitating an early substitution. How important is he to the Red Devils?

PP: He went over his ankle in arsenal and though there’s strapping an all on his leg in this coming game, one sharp movement and his ankle is gone again,. If he is 100% fit for the match though he gives Manchester United something more going forward.  Defensively he’s very sound because he’s got good pace and he can sense when dangers around, which is very important especially at Liverpool who will break you down through sheer hard work.

SM: It depends on where they play him. They play him everywhere and most of the time as a right back. I think his specialty is at centre half. Manchester need everybody right now actually.
 
Can Antonio Valencia keep his form going?

PP: With the way he’s playing regularly, of course you’ll get that. He’s scored a good goal in the previous game and perhaps Kenny and downing can take notes from him because the way he plays as a winger is the way you should play as one. He keeps close to the byline and cuts inside and gets good crosses and the occasional goal.

SM: Valencia is a very good player. He’s been providing as well as scoring goal. So he’s one to watch.
 
Nani is doubtful for the match. How big of a loss is he?

PP: Well Ferguson still has, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs, he can put anyone of them out there. Nani not playing at Anfield is not always a bad thing. He’s struggled there and he’s done things like throwing himself on the floor and that doesn’t help him.

SM: He’ll be a big loss because at the moment, United need all the players they can get.
 
In a tie of this magnitude, it will be a battle of the managers. Will it be advantageous for Sir Alex or King Kenny?

PP: You’ve got to look at Alex Ferguson, without a shadow of a Doubt. Kenny has just got back into the game while Ferguson has been here the whole time. However, both of them would say that with this match, what they’ve done in the past doesn’t matter.

SM: Alex Ferguson should have the now how, but not necessarily the right team at the moment. Kenny on the other hand probably doesn’t know his best team.
 
How important will officiating be in deciding this match?

PP: That’s a million dollar question now is it? The way referees are in the spotlight now. Sometimes things could get bad quite early and if he acts on it he could set the tone on how things are handled with the cards coming out and players can or can’t do. So if he feels that a player’s tackle warrants a yellow card or even a red card, he’s going to have to deliver. We don’t want them to ruin games by insisting its always 11 on 11 but players can ruin games too by being arrogant and indiscipline and no emotionally involved. They should go out and try to play good football and make it a good cup tie, not a negative one. And not be worried about things that are said from the stand. 

SM: The referee is always important. This is one of the biggest games of the season and the referee can keep the game going or they can spoil it. I just hope the referee is sensible and takes the whole situation into account and have a good game.
 
How essential is the presence of Steven Gerrard for Liverpool?

PP: It’s really important but more importantly it’s what he does on the pitch. Will he go and play for Liverpool or play for himself where he tries to do everything.  Having him out there gives Liverpool fans some belief. If he doesn’t play, Liverpool fans will definitely feel a bit down. Having him back lifts the fans and the players as well.

SM: Well if you take Liverpool out of the team and Liverpool become very weak in the midfield.
 
The Reds will surely miss Luis, so who must lead the attack for Liverpool?

PP: Bellamy will have to because besides him Liverpool has no one left. Kuyt can provide all the hard work they need but at the end of the day, they need the cutting edge to finish in front of goal and Bellamy has it.

SM: It has to be Bellamy. After Suarez, he’s their next biggest threat.
 
Anders Lindergaard has been doing well at goal. Will it continue?

PP: Lindergaard appears to be the more confident one, being Danish and having that little bit of arrogance, a little like Peter Schmeichel, who always believed in his ability. Lindergaards’ gone out and said that De Gea has ability but he’s better. De Gea needs to really think to himself about how he can be a top keeper in the premier league. He also needs to be mentally stronger, in a sense that when he goes to crosses he needs to braver and not be afraid that people will nudge him. Maybe because of the pressure, Ferguson has given him some time away to watch the other foreign keepers and see how they play which is possible with keepers like Reina, Krul, Vorm. So for now it may be because of his age and the pressure to play for a top team like Manchester United.

SM: I’m quite sure he will. Sir Alex will surely want a player who can stand up to the Liverpool supporters at Anfield and not be fazed by them. And Lindergaard looks likelier than De Gea.
 
How would a win affect each team's domestic league campaign?

PP: Well they both want to win something. For Liverpool not so much, for United it might just do them a favour because they can concentrate in the Europa League and the premier league.

SM: I don’t think it will affect either side. Liverpool will have to try and get that 4th spot regardless
 
Who will be the Man of the Match?

PP: I think the person who scores the winning goal will always be man of the match.

SM: The one who probably scores the goal. It really is hard to predict but I would go with the player to score the goal, possibly Rooney and Gerrard.

Catch former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon and ex-Manchester United Paul Parker defender preview this Saturday’s FA Cup match at 8.40pm on ESPN and in high-definition on ESPN HD