Going into Manchester United’s huge FA Cup fourth round match against Liverpool at Anfield, it would be a major surpise if Anders Lindegaard doesn’t start ahead of David De Gea in goal.

De Gea despite being only 21 was tipped to be the club’s first-choice goalkeeper this year. Fans always knew he would make mistakes, after all every goalie does… 

..However few would have imagined that Anders Lindegaard going into the New Year would start the year as the club’s first choice goalkeeper thanks to the Spanish goalkeeper having several jittery moments in an up and down season so far.

 Whilst it’s been disappointing to see De Gea have his troubles, Lindegaard has been a major surprise and has lived up to his own words of not wanting to just sit at Old Trafford ‘picking his nose’ and has looked solid behind the sticks. 

Yes it helped that he had a good pre-season tour of America and has kept quite a few clean sheets early on this season, but he’s kept his performance and it shows the faith Sir Alex Ferguson has now to stick him in goal in big games.

Getting the chance to play in big-matches, particularly away from home where goalkeepers will always come under the cosh will only make Anders a stronger keeper and that obviously will only benefit the club by having two top-notch keepers.

It will also benefit De Gea who will eventually get a chance to regain his starting place. Without wanting to sound negative, he was always going to make mistakes due to his age and our poor defensive form and whilst he’s made silly mistakes, some of his criticism has been very over the top.

Having time on the sidelines will not – as many pundits believe – hurt De Gea. It will give him the chance to build up his confidence in training, get advice from the club’s coaches and watch how other goalkeepers operate in the Premier League.

But for now Lindegaard has the gloves. Rightly or wrongly he will get criticised if he makes a cock-up for a goal, but he comes across as a gritty character and somebody who is not scared of failing, someone who wants to prove people wrong.

The odds are still probably against Lindegaard being United’s long-term no.1 but at least he has shown ambition to not just want to sit around and be a no.2. It’s an attitude like that will see hopefully go far in the game and that’s whether he’s at Old Trafford or not.

By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87