When Liverpool and Manchester United clash at Anfield on Sunday,
there will be more at stake than just the usual bragging rights.The
bitter rivals are engaged in a battle for the Premier League title,
with leaders United sitting three points clear of second-placed
Liverpool.
Here
is a closer look at three duels – from goals and crosses, to
set-pieces, penalty banter, injuries, pressing, high lines, running,
possession, scoring late, and conceding early – that will define the
vital showdown:
Jordan Henderson vs Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has played a major role in transforming Manchester United from also-rans to title contenders.
Widely
credited with reviving United with his fierce will to win and positive
attitude, as well as his classy performances, the Portugal playmaker’s
next mission is to stamp his authority on the biggest game of his time
with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Fernandes, signed from Sporting
Lisbon last January, will head to Anfield as the first star to win the
Premier League Player of the Month award four times in a calendar year
after earning the prize for December.
Overall, he has 15 goals and nine assists in all competitions this term,
making it 27 goals and 17 assists in 48 United appearances.
No wonder Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is a huge admirer and will task
Reds captain Jordan Henderson with subduing the midfielder on Sunday.
“He’s
an outstanding player. Before he joined United, we played against
Sporting in the USA on the tour and in that game already you could see,
‘Wow!’,” Klopp said.
“He is settled, he is a very influential player for United obviously,
involved in a lot of things. So, yeah, a good signing, unfortunately,
for United.”
Mohamed Salah vs Eric Bailly
With
17 goals in all competitions this season, Mohamed Salah will pose the
biggest threat to United, but the Egypt forward can expect a stern
challenge from the revitalised Eric Bailly.
Bailly has struggled
for form and fitness throughout his United career, but the Ivory Coast
centre-back has been key to their winning streak.
In six games with Bailly in the team, United have won five and drawn once, conceding just three goals.
Harry
Maguire looks more comfortable alongside Bailly, whose out-going
personality kept his team-mates relaxed during their difficult periods
earlier this season.
United manager Solskjaer could also revert to the three-man central defence he has deployed against Liverpool in the past.
Salah,
Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are a formidable test for United’s
rearguard, although they have gone through a barren patch of late, with
Liverpool netting only once in their last three league games.
Fabinho vs Marcus Rashford
Ravaged by injuries to his top centre-backs, Klopp will be forced to
deploy Brazil midfielder Fabinho as a makeshift defender once again.
Virgil
van Dijk and Joe Gomez are long-term absentees, while Joel Matip has
spent the last week battling to return from the adductor injury the last
three games.
Matip has returned to training but if he is not
deemed ready then Klopp will have to choose between youngsters Rhys
Williams and Nat Phillips to partner Fabinho.
That puts the onus
on Fabinho to maintain his solid form at the position, but it won’t be
easy against a lively United attack led by Marcus Rashford.
Rashford and Anthony Martial have the pace and poise to hurt
Liverpool, while Edinson Cavani’s experience and physical presence make
him an intriguing option.
“We know that we can beat anyone,
anywhere on any given day, so to go into a game like this feeling that
if we play to our best we can win is a good feeling,” Solskjaer said.
“It’s
a test and reality check of where we’re really at because we’ve won
many, many tight games, scored a few goals in injury time, showed that
mentality.”
Styles of play
Goals, shots and through balls – The general
narrative appears to suggest United are fortunate to go into this
fixture at the summit, or even close to it, but they certainly deserve
to be among the higher rungs – ranking second for goals scored and shots
on target, behind only Liverpool.
Both sides are also among the most prolific for threading balls between
defensive lines, so expect intricate passes or exchanges with runners
and breakaway attacks this weekend.
As has been the case for several seasons, Liverpool’s top scorers are
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, while midfield maestro Bruno Fernandes and
winger Marcus Rashford lead the way at United this term.
Man Utd score late, both concede early
– Rashford’s late winner at Wolves was just the latest example of
United striking in the final moments of games this season. They also
scored stoppage-time goals to grab points against Southampton and
Brighton. The graphic below also shows how they have scored 21 of their
34 goals in the second half, equating to 62 per cent.
That is not the case for Liverpool, who have scored in equal measure
during both halves. However, both teams have been prone to conceding
early this season.
Klopp’s side have conceded 14 of their 21 goals
in the first half – although the majority of these came during the
opening eight fixtures and they still managed to secure wins in most of
those games.
Source: Skysports and AFP
