Manchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson's "Masterclass" Will Best Liverpool

Sleek graphics, realistic defending and natural player movement.

To an average football fan, these terms probably don't mean much. But to an avid fan of EA Sports' FIFA series, these characteristics represent the three major qualities distinguishing FIFA 12 from its predecessors.

After spending the pass two weeks eagerly awaiting the game's US release, I was thrilled when my copy finally arrived on Friday.  Before playing a single game, I began the manager mode as Manchester United.  Armed with a £31.5 million war chest, I was stoked by the idea of making some key transfers to make my squad the best in the English Premier League.

Then, suddenly, I realized that my efforts would be in vain.  I already had the best team in England and arguably the world.

With so much talent and depth at every position, and enough versatility to shuffle players in the event of a major injury crisis, I could really only make gratuitous transfer market moves.  Even after selling Darron Gibson, Kiko Macheda and Mame Biram Diouf for a total of roughly £20 million, I wouldn't allow myself to spend any of my now £50 million transfer fund on a new player.

Would it really make sense to spend £30 million for a player who is two or three overall rating points more than the current incumbent?

Even in the virtual world, my answer is still, "no."

After finishing the preseason without adding a single new player, I began my first game only to realize that any losses would be attributable to my skill (or lack thereof) since I would field a superior team against 99 percent of my CPU opponents.

Crap—why did EA Sports have to ruin my FIFA experience by making Man U so godly incredible?

Quite simply because the 2011-2012 United side is the best team Sir Alex Ferguson has ever assembled. 

Collecting 19 points and building a plus-19 goal differential over the opening seven games of the young EPL campaign, the Red Devils look breathtakingly unstoppable.

However, come Saturday, United will travel to Anfield to face by far their toughest opponent in a Liverpool squad stripped to the core and refitted to win an EPL Title.  Coming off of a six-month spending spree which saw the Merseysiders add a slew of talented young players, Liverpool is rumored to have a decent chance of defeating mighty United.

To help formulate my own prediction, I returned to FIFA to simulate the derby match in five separate six-minute half games.

The results were surprisingly unilateral:

Game 1: Manchester United 4 Liverpool 1

Game 2: Manchester United 3 Liverpool 1

Game 3: Manchester United 1 Liverpool 1

Game 4: Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2

Game 5: Manchester United 2 Liverpool 0

Could United actually best Liverpool five consecutive times at Anfield?

Probably not.

Nevertheless, the simulation emphasized Man U's ruthless efficiency.  Just as they do in reality, the United players moved the ball smoothly from their own box to the opposing box.  Liverpool would stack at least nine players behind the ball, but United would continue passing around the box until someone (usually Chicharito or Young) would make an incisive run. 

After receiving a perfectly-placed pass, the cutting player would then either shoot or send in a low cross.  In both cases, the ball usually ended up either in the back of the net or rolling out for a goal kick.  In the rare instances where a Liverpool defender actually tagged his opponent, the United player went to ground and drew the penalty.

With Nani and Rooney preventing the Liverpool markers from sagging off too far with an occasional long range blast, the Merseysiders never looked comfortable.

Already favoring United before running these simulations, I am now wholeheartedly convinced that Fergie's "masterclass" will march victoriously from the not-so-friendly confines of Anfield.  While I'll refrain from making a final prediction, I can only hope the game is as boring as the simulated versions. 

In case you were wondering how Michael resolved his FIFA dilemma, he relinquished the reigns at United and took over as the boss at Everton.  He thinks David Moyes would have been proud with his eighth-place finish.