da apostaganha： Manchester and Liverpool are separated by just a few miles of motorway, but the two sets of supporters certainly share little in terms of neighbourly love. Indeed, the North West duo are, arguably, English football’s most prestigious clubs, and although they have fallen on harder times in recent years, when they meet the whole world stops to look on – hence why it’s our Fixture in Focus this weekend!
da betsson： Although the media narrative may be that the teams have had differing fortunes so far this season, a win for Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United will move them to within two points of Jurgen Klopp’s title-challenging Liverpool, which really would raise spirits at Old Trafford.
Alas, even though the Reds have wobbled of late, they will provide stern opposition for the Manchester giants. However, we’re sure Mourinho is confident and has a plan afoot to knock Liverpool off their 2016/17 perch, and if it looks a little bit like ours, he could be on to a winner.
So, what starting XI should ‘Mou’ field? Who will be his key man? How can Liverpool be nullified? We answer the above, and more, here…
Formation: 4-1-2-3
http://lineupbuilder.com/350×500/?p=11&a=1&t=&c=dc0000&1=GK_De%20Gea__388_174&2=DLL_Darmian__293_56&3=DCL_Smalling__327_138&4=DCR_Jones__327_211&5=DRR_Valencia__293_292&6=DMC_Carrick__258_174&7=MC_Herrera__196_209&8=MC_Pogba__177_138&9=WL_Mkhitaryan__116_64&10=WR_Mata__116_284&11=FCA_Ibrahimovic__80_174&c2=ffffff&c3=ffffff&output=embed
Mourinho seems to have stumbled upon a system that really works now, with the key factor being a balanced midfield. Much of the early weeks of the campaign were spent trying to crowbar Paul Pogba in alongside Marouane Fellaini to accommodate both the Frenchman and Wayne Rooney, but that has changed during the winter months, with Michael Carrick now the anchorman behind Ander Herrera and the aforementioned world-record buy. The set-up works as Carrick provides a cool head at the base and covers his defensive team-mates, while Herrera’s energy and tenacity allowing Pogba to stroll forward, where his mix of athleticism and technique is most dangerous.
Ahead of them, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will surely have recovered from the illness that kept him out of the midweek EFL Cup win over Hull, so he’ll lead the line, while either side, the creativity and attacking intent of Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan may win out over more defensive options given that Man United have home advantage and Liverpool are in a poor patch of form. The elephant in the room is Wayne Rooney, who is now chasing the goal that will make him the Red Devils’ outright all-time leading scorer, but Mourinho has rarely let sentiment overrule his judgement.
In defence, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are in line to pair up at centre-back with Eric Bailly away on AFCON duty and Marcos Rojo injured. Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian are very much Mourinho’s men in the full-back roles at the moment, and he’ll be wary of changing either given the relatively new double act he’ll have in the centre.
David de Gea remains David de Gea, so he’ll start barring a late injury.
Liverpool’s weakness: Lack of cutting edge
Liverpool’s last four games
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City
Sunderland 2-2 Liverpool
Liverpool 0-0 Plymouth Argyle
Southampton 1-0 Liverpool
Given that Klopp’s Liverpool are the leading scorers in the Premier League at the moment, it may seem odd to suggest they have a lack of cutting edge. But their last four games in all competitions have yielded just three goals and they have failed to find the net in their last 180 minutes of action, despite 90 of those being at home to a League Two side in the shape of Plymouth Argyle.
In short, the Reds seem to have lost their mojo, and with Sadio Mane away representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, they are devoid of pace too. Philippe Coutinho is likely to come back into the XI after returning from injury, but neither he, Roberto Firmino nor Adam Lallana are blistering across the turf, while Daniel Sturridge, who may start, has lost a little pace given his series of injuries – so the Merseysiders will lack threat on the counter-attack.
As a result of this, Mourinho can instruct his side to push up the pitch and look to keep Liverpool penned in, and with Ibrahimovic the sort of striker that thrives on aerial service, a higher platform will make it easier to get crosses into him and allow Pogba to support the Swede closely – their link-up play has been key of late.
The key man: Paul Pogba
The big money was spent for a player able to shine on the big stage, so a home match against Liverpool looks teed up for a Pogba masterclass. The Frenchman has actually been, despite the media narrative, a success in English football, and his stats (above) show that. In terms of his physicality, the 23-year-old has demonstrated what an athlete he is by winning 59 aerial duels and completing 54 dribbles, with his style of carrying the ball very much dependent on force and speed. On top of that he’s played 37 key passes, three of which have been made into assists by team-mates, and netted four goals.
There’s no doubt that he’ll be the man to link the midfield and attack, and with the Merseysiders known to struggle when opposing units make the battle a physical one, he could get some joy – especially with Jordan Henderson only just returning from injury.
Liverpool’s big threat: Adam Lallana
Adam Lallana’s progression this season has been staggering. The Englishman had largely been written off as – if not a flop – a big money signing that hadn’t fulfilled his potential since his move to Anfield from Southampton in 2014, but Klopp’s decision to drop him deeper has paid dividends. At the moment, he looks like Liverpool’s key attacking force, and the Reds may well move him into a more advanced role at Old Trafford, which will get him closer to goal where he’s been so dangerous – seven of his ten shots on target this season have gone in.
Mourinho will have to task both his full-backs – as Lallana will drift from flank to flank – with keeping a close eye on the playmaker, who, if given even an inch of space or time on the ball, can create opportunities that players such as Roberto Firmino will thrive from.