Wayne Rooney will end his 10-year goal-scoring drought at Anfield: Louis van Gaal

Wayne Rooney hoping to end his goal scoring drought at Anfield

Louis van Gaal is optimistic that Wayne Rooney will end his decade-long goal scoring drought at Anfield by finding the back of the net this Sunday. The Dutchman was left wondering if it was a mental block that has stopped the Scouser from scoring at Liverpool.

Rooney has played for two of Liverpool’s major rivals Everton and Manchester United, and is one of Manchester United’s top goal scorers, having scored 229 times for the club. But the 29-year-old has not found the back of the net against Liverpool at Anfield for 10 years.

While United boss Louis van Gaal believes certain players can have bogey grounds, he feels his captain will end the goal drought by scoring for United this week.

“I had the same experience in the Netherlands as a manager,” he said in a news conference. “A player has it also. It's strange because I'm not superstitious so we have to change that feeling also with Wayne.

“I have grounds where I never won as a manager or a player with a certain club. But then with another club I always won, for example. It's strange but it can be like this – and I hope I can change it with Wayne.”

“Rooney won’t be influenced by the fans at Anfield”

The Dutchman was quizzed if a mental block was the reason behind Rooney’s goalscoring drought at Anfield.

Van Gaal said, “It can be, it can be, I cannot deny that but I don't think that Wayne has a block of that.

“He's a very experienced player, he has played on all, I think, the grounds in the world, so I don't think that he shall be influenced by the fans at by the stadium or something like that.”

Rooney will definitely be hoping to overcome his dry spell at Anfield, because a victory against Liverpool could solidify United’s position in the top four.