5 key battles to look out for during Manchester United vs Liverpool

Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday in what is the standout fixture this week in the Premier League. Arguably, there are no rivalries more intense in the league for fans and players alike.

The two clubs are separated by just 2 points in the table as the second and third placed teams face off. This will be a golden opportunity for Jurgen Klopp's men to go above their bitter rivals in the table.

Both sides are currently in purple patches of form and are looking to cement a top-four spot as we reach the business end of the season.

Even though 22 players will take the field come Saturday, the outcome of the match will depend heavily on certain individual battles. On that note, here are 5 key battles to look out for in this weekend's premier clash:

---

#1 Alexis Sanchez vs Trent Alexander-Arnold

The battle between Sanchez and Trent-Arnold promises to be intriguing

New recruit Alexis Sanchez has not impressed instantly for United, but he is now coming up to speed. He is most likely to be employed on the left side of a front-three, which will pit him against Alexander-Arnold.

Sanchez can run any defender ragged on his day, and Liverpool will definitely look to marshal him. However, the majority of the responsibility will be on their right-back.

Alexander-Arnold has started 4 consecutive league games and has impressed in all of them. He is great going forward and provides a handy offensive outlet for Liverpool. However, his defensive game will be certainly tested at Old Trafford.

Alexander Arnold has the most number of tackles per game for Liverpool at 2.8 per match and also leads the chart in interceptions - 1.7 per game. He also has 3 goals and 5 assists to his name.

He will have to be at his absolute best to handle Sanchez and nullify his threat while also putting in an offensive shift. It is going to be a rivetting contest.

#2 Mohamed Salah vs Ashley Young

Stopping Mohamed Salah will be key to United's game plan

Every left back who has faced Liverpool this season has had the near-impossible task of containing Mohamed Salah. Salah has had an unbelievable first season at Liverpool, scoring 31 goals in all competitions already. The Egyptian is top of the Golden Boot chart and has played a key part in propelling Liverpool to third place in the process.

His sheer pace, trickery, and skill have left many defenders trailing in his wake. Ashley Young will be tasked with the near-impossible job of stopping Salah on Saturday.

Young has enjoyed a resurgent season, lining up as a makeshift left-back for Jose Mourinho ahead of specialists Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian. He has put in solid performances consistently in defence, and his experience has proved key for United.

But he clearly lacks the pace to compete with Salah. It will be interesting to see how he copes in that department. Liverpool are deadly on the break and Young will have to deal with Salah's pacy runs behind the United defensive line.

Ashley Young will have to rely on his some positioning and remaining close to Salah at all times, thus keeping him devoid of space.

Perhaps Mourinho will assign someone else to mark Salah too. Either way, Young will have his hands full on Saturday. How he will cope with Salah will be fascinating to watch, and key for United if they are to win the game.

#3 Paul Pogba vs Emre Can

This battle will decide who dominates the proceedings in midfield

Pogba is still arguably United's best player, but he has not been able to demonstrate that consistently. To be fair, injuries have restricted his game time, but he still has failed to impress. This game could be the perfect platform for him to shine.

On his day, the Frenchman can dominate a game individually - spraying long balls, making marauding runs and running the team from the midfield. But he will come up against a man in great form in the form of Emre Can. Can has been a consistent performer for Liverpool in recent months, doing the dirty work from midfield and initiating attacks for the deadly trio ahead of him to finish off.

Can and Pogba like to get forward but they will have defensive duties as well. As both teams will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, they will be directly matched up with each other. Expect these encounters to be feisty, as neither has the tendency to shy away from a challenge.

This contest will decide who takes control of the possession and subsequently the game. It is certain to be a cracking one.

#4 Romelu Lukaku vs Virgil van Dijk

It will be a physical battle between van Dijk and Lukaku

Lukaku has enjoyed a change in form recently after a long dry run. He was impressive in the 2-1 win against Chelsea, scoring one and setting up the winner. The Belgian has scored four in as many games and his confidence is certainly on the rise. He was also impressive in the comeback win at Crystal Palace where he scored the equaliser.

He will come up against the most expensive defender of all time on Saturday - Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool's new signing has endured a mixed start to his career at Anfield, but now he is looking to be worth the money.

The Dutch international has brought stability to the Reds' backline and his arrival has coincided with a great run for Jurgen Klopp's men, as they have won all but three games since the turn of the year.

Both these players are physically dominating in the air and it will be a fascinating battle. Van Dijk is capable of keeping any attacker quiet on his day, and he certainly needs to do the job on Lukaku. Lukaku won't give him a comfortable afternoon though, that is for sure.

This duel will certainly go a long way in deciding the outcome of this game.

#5 Jose Mourinho vs Jurgen Klopp

Mourinho will adopt a defensive approach against Klopp's attacking side

In spite of all these individual battles, it will come down to the managers' tactics. These tactics can make certain duels inconsequential due to change in formation, position and so on.

Mourinho is infamous for adopting a defensive approach against the bigger teams. 'Parking the bus' certainly did work for the United boss the last time he faced Liverpool, a game which ended 0-0. Considering the Mersey siders' hot form, one cannot really blame him if he adopts a pragmatic approach once again.

Klopp on the other hand, has found it difficult to break down teams who defend deep and are happy to let Liverpool have the ball. An open and flowing match is better suited for the German, but Mourinho will not do him any favours in that aspect.

Jose could also ask one of his midfielders to man-mark Salah, a tactic which he employed successfully against Chelsea's Eden Hazard - last season with Ander Herrera and with McTominay this season.

There are quite a few ways in which the game could pan out from a tactical perspective. One thing is for sure - the battle between the two adversaries in the dugout will be the most crucial in deciding the final outcome.