Red Devils or Reds for the Big 1?
It doesn’t matter how many times they meet, Manchester United versus Liverpool is still one of the red-letter days on any sporting calendar. So who will win today? says it’s Liverpool. says it’s United. See what you think...
INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE OF PAUL POGBA AND MAGIC OF MARCUS RASHFORD UP FRONT
The rebirth of Pogba under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made Manchester United a force to be reckoned with.
He has become an imperious figure in a rejuvenated United side that is playing with a lot of freedom. Pogba creates and score goals. He is also doing it in big matches, and consistently. Pogba will be a major threat to Liverpool.
The likes of Naby Keita, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson will have to be at their best to keep Pogba quiet.
If he is in the game, then Rashford will always cause havoc for Liverpool’s defence. He is lethal and on form these days. But if you want to keep him quiet, close the supply.
BIG TEMPERAMENT OF DAVID DE GEA
De Gea has been chosen as United Player of the Season three times in the past four years. He has saved the Red Devils in difficult situations on many occasions. He has won them games with his saves.
De Gea is United’s pillar of strength at the back. He will be key in keeping the Reds attacking trio of Saido Mane, Mohamed Salah and Fermino at bay.
Man United defence was exposed against Paris Saint-germain in the last 16 of the Uefa Champions League.
They lack pace and that’s why De Gea is important for the Red Devils. He will also be needed today.
WINNING THE MIDFIELD BATTLE AND SILENCING THE MENACING TRIO:
The attacking trio of Mane, Salah and Fermino is very devastating and lethal. On their day they are difficult to stop.
They are Liverpool’s source of inspiration. But they need supply in order to cause problems for opposition defences.
If you want to keep them quiet, you must ensure you close the supply in the middle of the park and don’t allow the likes of Alexander Arnold and Andrew Robertson to storm forward from the flanks.
Liverpool use various ways to penetrate the opposition. They can penetrate through the middle using the pace of Salah and Mane. They can also use width and allow the full backs to storm forward and deliver those quality balls into the box.
HIGH PRESSING GAME
Liverpool love to build from the back but they do panic if you put them under pressure.
There were a few occasions on Tuesday against Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Uefa Champions League where they committed mistakes trying to build from the back.
It was the result of pressure and high-pressing tactic that Bayern used to force those mistakes.
The Red Devils must also apply the same strategy. Press them high. Force them to play long balls.
Pogba and Nemenja Matic can win those long balls in the middle of the park with their height.
LIVERPOOL’S POOR FORM AGAINST TOP SIDES AWAY FROM HOME
United haven’t lost when they have scored first under the tenure of Solskjaer. They have won all the games where they have scored first since Solskjaer took over the reins from Jose Mourinho.
So, they need to put pressure on Liverpool by scoring first and see how they respond.
Liverpool have struggled against top sides away from home this season. They have lost against Manchester City (in the league) at the Etihad Stadium, PSG (Uefa Champions League) and Napoli (Uefa Champions League).
They also shared the spoils with Chelsea and Arsenal on the road.
That should give United more hopes that they can get a positive result this afternoon. THE WEIGHT OF THAT FAMOUS DATE April 28, 1990 is the last time Liverpool won the league title in England. On that day, the Anfield club defeated Queens Park Rangers 2-1 to claim their 18th championship.
Since then, it has been a journey of constant pain and inconsistency.
Now, faced with an opportunity to overturn nearly three decades of hurt, Liverpool will certainly need no motivation to defeat their arch-rivals today.
The benefits of victory for Liverpool include going back to the top of the log standings, gaining massive confidence in putting one over the old enemy, and sending a strong message to title-contenders Manchester City that they won’t falter during the final dash to the tape.
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM
Cast the mind back to Manchester United’s recent limp performance and defeat to Paris St Germain in the Champions League.
The French team’s victory was founded on an industrious, highly intelligent midfield axis. United rely heavily on Paul Pogba, who tends to drift in and out of the action, a destroyer in Nemanja Mati and a runner in Ander Herrera, but they were no match for the slick movement and passing range of PSG’S Marco Verratti and Marquinhos.
So, too, I believe today’s clash will come down to who dominates the midfield. Undoubtedly, Liverpool have the edge: in a name, the super-talented Wijnaldum.
The Dutchman, known simply as “Gini”, has been the best midfield operator on show this season, impressing with his calmness in possession, work-rate, support play, passing skill and football brain par excellence.
THE FRONT TRIO
So Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane shot blanks in the 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich on Tuesday. But don’t read too much into it – the attacking trio will be desperate to get on track again.
As a unit they remain the best front-three in the Premier League.
Contrast that to a United side who have struggled defensively all season. They may have undergone a revival under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the defensive frailties still hover.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK
For Liverpool’s glory years in the 1980s, despite some having some glorious goal-getters, their success always hinged on central defenders of character, like Phil Thompson, Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson.
During the suffering of the subsequent years of title-drought, there have been times when Liverpool came close to winning the championship.
Somehow or another, though, they always fell short. One of the main reasons for this was the lack of an imposing presence at the back – they needed a leader in defence.
They found it in Van Dijk. He may have cost £75 million, but it certainly has been money well spent.
The Dutchman has infused the team with confidence with his solidity, composure, stature, command and dominance in defence.
SEND GARY NEVILLE TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Who can forget former United rightback Gary Neville’s vulgar celebration in front the Liverpool crowd in 2006?
In recent times, as a media pundit, Neville has often been critical of Liverpool, making no secret of the fact that for him, even after his playing days, the rivalry still beats strongly within his heart.
In short, Neville has become the embodiment of the enmity between United and Liverpool. So much so that he recently quipped: “I do fear that this could be a season where Liverpool could win the league and I might have to move to Papua New Guinea or somewhere remote.”
Now wouldn’t that just be dandy? For Liverpool to beat United today and then go on to win the title – and that, thankfully, will shut Neville up and dispatch him to some remote Pacific Island.