Liverpool vs Man Utd: Five key battles ahead of the Premier League clash at Anfield this weekend
Manchester United travel to Anfield this Sunday in what is a staple fixture in the English football calendar between both Premier League giants.
Sunday, October 19, at 4:30 pm will commence the 1000th anniversary Man United have faced Liverpool at Anfield.
In this article, Sports News Blitz writer Will Thomas looks at five key battles to look out for ahead of the big game.
Arne Slot vs Ruben Amorim
The Red Devils haven’t won in this fixture since 2016, when Wayne Rooney grabbed the only goal of the game to give Van Gaal’s side a 0-1 win.
Arne Slot will be looking to bounce back after a 2-1 loss to Chelsea cemented the first time the Dutchman has lost three consecutive games in his Liverpool tenure.
Liverpool have conceded nine goals so far this season, which is triple the number of goals they conceded at this point last season.
Ruben Amorim is yet to lose against Liverpool as United snatched a point at Anfield last season with a late goal from Amad Diallo to tie the game 2-2.
Amorim hasn’t won two consecutive games since being Man United manager. With a shock win at Anfield, the ex-Sporting manager could put to bed questions on his tactics and whether he’s the right man for the job.
Since a shock 7-0 defeat to Liverpool in 2023, United are yet to lose at Anfield, as the team from Manchester have blunted Liverpool’s attacking force on the last two occasions -both times coming away with a draw.
Both managers will feel like they can win as Amorim will be looking to take advantage of what’s been a shaky defence for Liverpool this season.
And Slot will want to take advantage of what will be a raucous crowd on Sunday night and show the quality they have over United in this period of time.
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Mohamed Salah vs Patrick Dorgu
Mohamed Salah has made an unusual start to the Premier League, scoring on only two separate occasions so far this season.
However, if there is any game he can find his goalscoring form, it’s this one.
The Egyptian loves playing United. He currently holds the all-time scoring record for goals against United for Liverpool after slotting his 17th from the spot in the last fixture between the two teams at Anfield.
Despite scoring from a penalty, Salah couldn’t inflict much pain on Patrick Dorgu in the last game, and the Danish wing-back will need to be at the same kind of level if he is to stop the 2024 PFA Player of the Year from scoring his seasonal goal against United.
Benjamin Sesko vs Virgil van Dijk
Benjamin Sesko’s confidence will be high after bagging two goals in his last two starts for Man United. However, playing well against Virgil van Dijk is a whole different level.
Van Dijk has been the shining light in a worrying defence for Liverpool so far this season, as the Dutchman netted a late winner against Atletico Madrid in September.
Van Dijk has already silenced a new Premier League signing in Victor Gyokeres this season and will be looking to do the same to the Slovenian in what could be a matchup which decides the result.
Florian Wirtz vs Bruno Fernandes
With newcomers such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha coming into Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes has had to drop into a deeper role in midfield with Casemiro.
Florian Wirtz has shown glimpses this season of receiving the ball in dangerous pockets of between the defensive line and the midfielders, so the United No 10 may have to prioritise his defensive work if he is to deny the German’s creative threat.
Despite finding it difficult early on in his debut season at Liverpool, there is no game like the one on Sunday which could change opinions and boost the confidence for Wirtz.
Fernandes, like many other United players, will be looking to break the rot against Liverpool, and as the captain, his leadership and threat going forward could be crucial if the Red Devils are to receive anything from this game.
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Bryan Mbeumo vs Milos Kerkez
Mbeumo has found it difficult to carry his goalscoring form from Brentford over to Manchester United.
But with Milos Kerkez also struggling to bed into this Liverpool team, it promises to be an intriguing matchup.
The Cameroonian has started every game on the right wing for Man United so far this season, and his pace on the counterattack could prove a dangerous outlet if United are going to trouble Liverpool.
Kerkez’s attacking ability has been shackled so far this season, as the Hungarian is yet to show the dangerous overlapping runs which helped him be in the PFA team of the year for Bournemouth.
If Liverpool loosen the shackles of the Hungarian, he could expose a makeshift wing-back in Amad Diallo.
Summary
Although Liverpool have been far from their best this season, I believe the international break came at a perfect time and they will capitalise on an immense atmosphere at Anfield on Sunday night.
Match prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Man Utd
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