Anthony Martial is a big game player for Manchester United. Jose Mourinho must start him against Liverpool
By Ali Akbar
Anthony Martial’s goals against the top six clubs in the Premier League this season prove that he’s a big game player for Manchester United. Jose Mourinho would be crazy to drop him against Liverpool.
Every Manchester United fan knows that Anthony Martial should start for Manchester United when they face bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
So why do I get the feeling that Jose Mourinho is going to drop the young forward instead?
Such a decision would appear ludicrous to anyone in their right minds – but this is Mourinho we’re talking about.
The Portuguese is known for making odd, and at times downright inexplicable, team selections from time to time.
Not playing Martial would be right up there with some of the worst tactical decisions the manager has ever made during his time at the club.
The Frenchman is United’s top goalscorer heading into the Liverpool clash, with seven goals in the Premier League.
And he’s no flat-track bully either, as a number of his goals have been against top six sides – two against Chelsea and one each against Manchester City and Arsenal.
However, Mourinho may ignore all this and decide to play Romelu Lukaku up top against Liverpool with Marcus Rashford on the left-wing, as both of them have been in fine form in recent games.
This would mean Martial would be relegated to watching the game from the bench for most of the game. This would be an utter travesty.
Lukaku and Rashford are known to go missing in big games from time to time. Martial, on the other hand, rises to the occasion.
Lest we forget the 23-year-old’s debut for the club, in which he famously dribbled past Martin Skrtel and unleashed a curled effort to seal a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford.
This is why Mourinho should ignore current form and keep Martial in the starting XI – either up top or on the left. A humiliating defeat at Anfield may be the consequence if he doesn’t…
Catch Liverpool vs Manchester United on Sunday 16 December at 16:00 GMT live on Sky Sports.