3 Manchester United stars who could torment Liverpool

Wayne Rooney

Sunday lunchtime sees the two most decorated clubs in English football history go head-to-head at Old Trafford when Premier League champions Manchester United host Liverpool. But this is by no means a normal derby between these two massive rivals. The storyline behind this one is a very different one to previous meetings.

The Red Devils are languishing down in sixth place in the table after a series of uninspiring performances and plenty of defeats to teams around them. In fact, out of the current top seven teams, United have only beaten Arsenal in the league this season.

Meanwhile, their Merseyside rivals have had a tremendously surprising year and have turned themselves from top four hopefuls into major title contenders in recent weeks. Win at Old Trafford on Sunday and there is no question that they have to be taken seriously in this title race, if they aren’t already.

United ran out 3-0 victors against West Brom last week but as we know, they have been anything but consistent this season. There were signs in that win, however, that they were beginning to find their feet again. They will be hoping to not only continue that form into this huge game but also halt Liverpool’s title push with a win against them.

Here are three Man Utd players that are the major danger-men to Liverpool on Sunday.

1. Wayne Rooney

It is safe to say, that after a fine start to the season, Rooney’s form has tailed off following his return from injury. He played well against West Brom last weekend, bagging himself a goal in the process, but it is in big games like this one that he needs to step up to the plate and earn his bumper wage packet that he has recently upgraded.

Rooney can do it all and when he is on form he it is very difficult to stop him scoring and creating. The England striker has scored 11 league goals in 2013-14 and created 48 chances, including 10 assists. Only Luis Suarez can match Rooney’s tally of Premier League assists this season and only Michael Carrick (654) can boast a higher Squawka Performance Score at United than Rooney’s total of 642.

2. Juan Mata

Juan Mata

United’s major, statement-making January signing will be a major threat to Liverpool on Sunday. Despite being forced to start from the right wing, Mata has had licence to roam across the pitch to pick up the ball and find those pockets of space that he loves to work in. He is likely to be given a similar role on Sunday as it is highly unlikely that either Rooney or Robin van Persie will be dropped from the team but he has proven that it is a role that he can perform admirably in, even if it doesn’t show off his full capabilities.

The Spanish magician has maintained a 90% pass accuracy in his six United games so far, higher than anyone at United in the Premier League, creating 17 chances at a rate of almost three per game.

3. Rafael

Rafael da Silva

United will be hoping that Rafael is fit to play in this one as he remains an injury doubt currently. The Brazilian may not have had the best of seasons but against West Brom, he was well and truly back to his best. United have struggled in the right-back area when Rafael has been missing, with Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia and Phil Jones all covering at stages this year, with none of them really convincing anyone that they can perform well in that role. There have been many times this season that you have seen these United right-backs out of position due to the simple fact that they just aren’t full-backs.

It would seem that Rafael’s return to form has come at exactly the right time. It makes a huge difference that it is his natural position so he knows how to play that role and can offer the correct balance on that side of the pitch. With Liverpool likely to be fielding either make-shift left-back Glen Johnson or Aly Cissokho, there is potential for Rafael to cause all sorts of problems on the overlap.

He has created 13 chances this season and has won an impressive 55% of his 51 attempted tackles.