Manchester United vs Liverpool – Three Key Battles
After two long weeks of international football, Premier League is back this weekend as Manchester United gear up for their biggest match of this season as they play host to Liverpool on Saturday.
Manchester United and Liverpool have the same number of points and only the goal difference separates them in the league table. The two rivals went into the international break in a disappointing way as they tasted defeat and both will be looking to bounce back with victory in their biggest games of the season.
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It will be a game of individual battles all over the pitch, with some more important than others.
Juan Mata vs Joe Gomez
Louis Van Gaal has been using a conventional winger on left hand side in the form of Memphis Depay for the majority of this season. On the other side he has been using Juan Mata. The boss has described Mata as a false winger who generally drifts from the flank into the centre and contributes to the chance creation for the team. Mata has improved his positioning both on and off the ball as he is now also contributing while defending. He has started well this season with one goal and two assists so far.
Joe Gomez, the summer recruit for Liverpool has impressed a lot in the left back position. Rodgers has preferred him over the likes of Alberto Moreno and Jose Enrique and the young versatile defender has performed.He has used his physical attributes perfectly to shrug off the opponents and his positional sense has been a big part of Liverpool’s decent defensive record.
Gomez will be up against a very clever player in Saturday’s match as Mata has a tendency to drift all over the pitch. He drags the defenders towards him which creates space for Matteo Darmian to go ahead and put the ball in the box or stays wide and gives Herrera plenty of space centrally. Gomez will have his biggest test of the season so far while Mata will be keen to provide another match-winning display like last season at Anfield.
Chris Smalling vs Christian Benteke
Manchester United have kept three clean sheets in four matches in the league and conceded only twice, both times to Swansea. The defensive unit has been very impressive for the Red Devils and Chris Smalling has been the stand out player in the back four. The England international has improved vastly in one year as he reads the game well and makes key interceptions. Smalling has been very good with his passing range and doesn’t allow the strikers any space when they are attacking, making him one of the best centre-backs in the league over the last 12 months.
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Liverpool used the money from the sale of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City to buy Christian Benteke from Aston Villa. The Belgian has not had the best of the starts at his new club but still managed to score once, although it was a controversial goal. Benteke is physically a threat from set-pieces and could outmuscle the defenders to create space to have a go at goal. He will likely try to pin himself to Smalling’s defensive partner Daley Blind, so the England man will have to be aware of that and try to deal with the situation before any danger arises.
Smalling will have to be ready with all the answers for any questions that Benteke will ask.
Luke Shaw vs Roberto Firmino
Luke Shaw has been back to his best after a very disappointing debut season. The former Saints defender has been very neat in every match up to now and looks fitter than last year. He has linked up very well with Memphis on the left flank and showed his ability when he grabbed an assist against Swansea. While defending he has been rock solid with his positioning, covering well for Daley Blind and not allowing the wingers to get past him.
With Philippe Coutinho suspended for the fixture, the lead creative role will be fall to his Brazilian colleague Roberto Firmino. The summer signing has had a slow start at the club but has shown promising signs with his individual skills.
Shaw will have to provide zero space for Firmino so that the latter is not able to create chance and will have to be wary of the threat the former Hoffenheim man will provide on the counter attack.