Sunday’s showdown between Liverpool and Manchester United will see a renewed rivalry between the two players, who had a violent clash earlier this year. Matheus Cunha and Milos Kerkes will be playing against each other for the first time since moving to Old Trafford and Anfield respectively in the summer. Both players will be desperate to secure bragging rights as they get their first taste of the biggest rivalry in English football.
They already know each other well, having clashed in last season’s FA Cup match between Wolves and Bournemouth. After Cunha scored the tying goal in the final minute of the game, he got into an altercation with Kerkes that sent the game into overtime. He was sent off for punching, kicking and headbutting a Bournemouth defender in a shocking tirade.
Cunha was then charged with assault by the FA and given a suspension of four matches, one more than originally scheduled, with the terms of a straight red card.
The incident left Wolves one player short and they ultimately paid the price, with Bournemouth winning on penalties and progressing to the quarter-finals. They were kicked out of the FA Cup by eventual runners-up Manchester City.
It remains to be seen whether there will be any bad blood between Cunha and Kerquez when they face each other at Anfield this afternoon. United will certainly want to avoid falling short as they aim for an unlikely victory over the Premier League champions.
Both players have struggled to hit their stride this season, with Cunha forced to settle for a spot on the bench in recent weeks.
He has lost his place in the side to Mason Mount, and that is likely to continue against Liverpool unless Ruben Amorim decides to throw a breaking ball at team selection.
Mr Kerkes, meanwhile, endured a tough start to life on Merseyside, with questions thrown at his quiet display. His worst moment was when he was substituted before half-time in Liverpool’s win over Burnley.
Gary Neville was among those to criticize the defender after the Reds lost to Chelsea before the international break, saying: “Boy Kerkes, to be honest, he looks like a youth team player at the moment.
“I know he’s a good player, but he looks like he’s playing for the youth team or the Under-21s. He looks very naive. He looks like a baby there.
“He has Premier League experience, he’s not from another country. He’s played a lot of games and he’s played at this ground before, so I expected him to come on.”
