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Venue:
Old Trafford, Manchester
Kick Off:
Saturday, 12 September
17:30 (BST)
22:00 (IST)
Transfer Window: Closed. International Break: Done. With all squads finalised and players back to training with their respective clubs, the Premier League is set to return to entertain football fanatics worldwide for Gameweek 5.
One such clash that steals the limelight this weekend is that between historic rivals Manchester United and Liverpool. The pair, with 38 Premier League (First Division) Titles between them are set to face off for the 193rd time on Saturday night with the team from Merseyside hoping to settle scores with the Red Devils after having suffered a double at their hands last season.
Form
Coming into this weekend’s fixture, both teams have endured identical results from their opening 4 games this season (WWDL). Louis van Gaal’s side will be looking to return to winning ways after a masterclass tactical switch by Garry Monk’s Swansea saw them concede twice in 5 minutes to suffer a 2-1 defeat at the Liberty Stadium.
Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, on the other hand will be looking to bounce back after an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat at the hands of West Ham, where their defence once again came in the media’s firing line.
Team News and Possible Lineups
Manchester United will be encouraged by the absence of a few key Liverpool players to suspension or injury. Philippe Coutinho serves a one-game ban owing to his sending-off against the Hammers, whereas Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana remain major doubts due to respective foot and thigh injuries.
Henderson’s likely absence means Brendan Rodgers will be likely to stick to the same 4-3-3 formation he deployed against West Ham, with Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren set to be given another chance to redeem themselves after a forgettable display against Slaven Bilic’s side. 19-year old Jordon Ibe is set to replace Coutinho in the starting XI, with Roberto Firmino operating on the other side of striker Christian Benteke.
Liverpool are expected to stick to their ‘long-ball to Benteke’ tactics, with make-shift centre-back Daley Blind the Belgian’s primary target. It worked with Swansea when Gomis was operating upfront, and Liverpool fans will be optimistic about Benteke giving Blind a run for his money on Saturday.
Apart from Michael Carrick, who sustained a calf injury over the international break, Man United have no fresh injury problems and should be able to field a full-strength squad, with new signing Anthony Martial set to start in an attacking midfield role behind Wayne Rooney. Ander Herrera is expected to start of Schweinsteiger in a box-to-box midfield role.
The Red Devils will also be boosted by the return of their star goalkeeper David de Gea, who has sustained a turbulent month regarding the transfer saga surrounding his future at the club. Phil Jones, recovering from a blood clot is unlikely to start, whereas Marcos Rojo - whose future at the club was cast into doubt following a bust-up with van Gaal- is set to miss out once again.
Manchester United will also be looking to catch Liverpool on the counter-attack, with the pace of Memphis and new arrival Anthony Martial set to put Skrtel and Lovren on the back-foot in the same manner as they were pegged back by an attack led by Manuel Lanzini in the West Ham game.
Key Players
Liverpool
Christian Benteke
Having won the most aerial duels in the league this season, the 24-year-old striker will be expected to do no different at Old Trafford. Like Bafe Gomis, Benteke is set to use Daley Blind as his prime target while dealing with aerial balls coming in from the wing. His strength to hold off opposition defenders could cause many problems for Man United, and the centre-back pairing of Chris Smalling and Blind will do well to counter the Belgian’s threat inside the penalty area.
Emre Can
Having played last season at right-back, Emre Can has found himself a new position on the right of central midfield, where he has been able to show his versatility, making simple and clean passes from the centre of the pitch, while also posing a threat up front, setting up attacks for Liverpool’s front three.
After impressing in his senior Germany debut last Friday, Can will be determined to leave an impact on this historic fixture. He has already announced his intentions of adding goals and assists to his game, and Brendan Rodgers will be expecting exactly the same at Old Trafford. The boss of midfield duel between Can and Schneiderlin will be an intriguing one to watch.
Manchester United
Memphis Depay
The 21-year old Dutchman has struggled to make a decisive impact in his first 4 league games with Man United, failing to register a single goal or assist. He had the dubious stat of being dispossessed and giving the ball away the highest number of times in the 0-0 draw against Newcastle. His long-range shooting technique is yet to cause opposition defenders any major issues.
With an uncertain centre-back duo of Skrtel and Lovren, this fixture provides the ideal opportunity for Memphis to regain his form and start getting himself involved in the build-up to scoring goals by delivering crosses from the left-wing (testing Skrtel and Lovren aerially) and also working the ball into the box, rather than pull the trigger himself. That is left up to Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial.
Luke Shaw
One of the contenders for Manchester United’s Player of the Season so far, Luke Shaw has been absolutely thriving down the left flank for Louis van Gaal this season. While carrying out his defensive duties, the 20-year old has been an asset going front for United, delivering sublime crosses and outpacing opposition full-backs for 50-50 balls. His creativity with the ball at his feet has also fetched him the most successful dribbles for any Manchester United player this season.
Former Southampton team-mate Nathaniel Clyne, Liverpool’s right-back, who has had a quiet season so far, will have to be prepared for a testing 90 minutes when he comes head-to-head with this rapidly developing left-back for Man United and England. After a Man of the Match performance in the European Qualifier against Switzerland, Shaw will be hoping to carry his form into Saturday evening and instigate a match-winning performance for the Red Devils.
Key Facts
- This is the 193rd overall meeting between these 2 sides. Manchester United have won this fixture 77 times, whereas Liverpool have been victorious on 64 occasions.
- Manchester United did the double over Liverpool in the 2014-15 season( 3-0 at home, 2-1 away). Liverpool were unbeaten in the Premier League between these 2 fixtures (10 wins, 3 draws)
- Memphis Depay has failed to register a single goal or assist in his opening 4 Premier League games for the Red Devils
- Louis van Gaal’s side have scored more than 1 goal just once in their last 10 Premier League games (2-1 against Crystal Palace, May 2015)
- Wayne Rooney has failed to score in his last 10 Premier League appearances.
- Liverpool have won just one out of their last 7 away games( 1-0 vs Stoke, August 2015), losing 3 and drawing 3.
- Christian Benteke has scored 8 goals in his last 12 Premier League appearances( 7 for Aston Villa). He has also scored in each of his last 2 league appearances against Manchester United.
Prediction
Man United 2-1 Liverpool
Christian Benteke’s presence could well be an Achilles Heel for the Man United centre-backs, but with David de Gea back in goal, I am expecting him to keep Benteke at bay with his key saves and catches to frustrate the Belgian. With Coutinho also absent, long-range shots are unlikely to test the Spanish keeper.
A now high-on-confidence Wayne Rooney (who is now England’s all-time top goalscorer) and Monaco recruit Anthony Martial is expected to create havoc against an uncertain Liverpool defence, which makes me hinge towards a Manchester United victory at Old Trafford. Expect a close encounter at the M62 on Saturday, with both teams gunning to reverse their misfortunes from their previous matches.
Match Officials
Match Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt
Assistant Referee 2: Gary Beswick
Fourth Official: Lee Mason
