IT took just one word for Daniel James to swap the beaming smile for a steely stare — and some fighting talk of his own.
The prospect of stepping out at a packed Anfield, in front of a baying Kop, faced with the most daunting challenge in the Premier League.
Dan James has no fear as Man Utd travel to rampant leaders LiverpoolCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Derailing a Liverpool side threatening to turn the title race into a procession, daylight between them and the rest, and without a loss all season.
It has brought plenty to their knees already, even before they have arrived on Merseyside — with Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal all despatched with minimum fuss.
Yet suggest to James Manchester United are underdogs in this afternoon’s battle of the East Lancs Road and the eyes narrow and chest immediately puffs out.
For the Welsh forward sees it differently.
After just six months at Old Trafford he doesn’t do inferiority complexes — and isn’t about to start today, whatever the table may suggest.
United may be outsiders to halt Jurgen Klopp’s side’s 38-game unbeaten Prem run.
Yet James hit back: “We are United and don’t go into any game feeling like that. It is going to be tough, but we go into it feeling positive.
“It has always been like that. Since day one, everyone knows we go into no game as underdogs. I’ve never played at Anfield before but we will go into it with no fear.”
On paper it is no contest. The leaders are 27 points the better team, the goal difference is over three times superior and they average approaching three goals in every home match.
But that means little to James, for success for United this season would be finishing in the top four.
The 22-year-old prefers to look back at the October meeting at Old Trafford, when it took an 85th-minute equaliser by Adam Lallana for Liverpool to escape with a draw.
He added: “We are the only team to have taken points off them this season so will go there full of high hopes.
“Everybody is going to be ready. Whoever is picked will be ready to step up. It will be a case of doing exactly what we did last time.
“Everyone performed really well, worked hard and, in the end, we were unlucky just to get a draw with them scoring late.
“I’m relishing going there and getting a result, but for me that ‘no fear’ attitude is like going anywhere else.
“Of course it’s going to be tough but I am really looking forward to it.
“That attitude of no fear is one we’ve all got in this team and this club has always had. If you don’t have it, you don’t play for them.”
INSTANT HIT
It is one James took on board the second he stepped through the door last summer, and has made him a quick-fire hit with United fans.
Yet 12 months ago a transfer to Old Trafford wasn’t on the horizon. The move everyone expected him to make was from Swansea to promotion-chasing Leeds.
An initial £7million fee was agreed, a medical passed, pictures of him holding a Leeds shirt were taken and he even signed signed some paperwork on his contract.
Yet with the hours ticking by on deadline day, Swansea decided they didn’t want to cash in. And despite the best efforts of all at Elland Road, he ended up staying in Wales.
In the end, the Swans banked a much bigger windfall as United bought him in a deal that could be worth £18m.
And even James, as full of self-belief as he is, sometimes has to pinch himself.
He admitted: “What happened on deadline day was out of my hands. It was simply a case of staying calm, going back to Swansea, keep believing and that is what I did.
“But, yes, it has been a crazy 12 months. Every day I think of what I was doing a year ago today.
“At the start of last season I hadn’t played a game for Swansea and I am so thankful to everyone who has helped me along the way.”
James helped his cause with a debut goal off the bench against Chelsea on the opening day — and his ecstatic celebrations made him an immediate cult figure.
There is a clearly a long way to go before he is spoken of in the same breath as his national team boss and United legend Ryan Giggs, but he is heading in the right direction.
And a winning goal at Anfield today would certainly help the cause.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
