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Manchester United vs Liverpool -- Manchester vs Merseyside is arguably English football's most fierce and old-age rivalry in the Premier League. From the likes of legends, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kenny Dalglish to Ryan Giggs and Steven Gerrard, this ever-exciting tie has become more intensified over the years.
The Red Half of Manchester faced the Red Half of Merseyside at the International Champions Cup in Michigan, USA on Saturday. Though, it was a friendly fixture, more than 100,000 supporters wearing red outfit's of Liverpool and Manchester United, turned out for the game, while on the field their teams eschewed their traditional outfits.
Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho have recently clashed over the matter of transfer-spending and predominately these series of clashes enhanced the importance of the friendly match.
It ended as Manchester United lost 1-4 to Liverpool after the conclusion of 90 minutes and the Anfield club thrashed the Red Devils and turned out to be the deserving winner. Their new signing, Xherdan Shaqiri became the biggest star of this intense fixture, finding the back of the net by a superb overhead effort and stole the headlines of the show.
A fully entertaining meeting between these European elites has left the football world with lots of things to discuss.
Here are the 5 major talking points we have derived from Saturday's game:
#5 Does Andreas Pereira deserve his chance?
The 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder, Andreas Pereira, who spent the last two years on loan with the Spanish sides, Granada and Valencia, has returned to Manchester and his struggle to earn a place in the Red Devils squad continues. Pereira, who is currently plying his trade as a No. 6 player, has come out as one of Manchester United's most vibrant players in pre-season friendlies.
The Brazilian midfielder came on the scoresheet in the friendly fixture against Liverpool as his exquisite free-kick effort hit the back of the net. He is definitely doing everything he can to impress his boss, Jose Mourinho and with Paul Pogba yet to return, Nemanja Matic out of the squad with injury issues and new signing Fred having just joined the Manchester club, Pereira may get some chances to prove his worth in the starting fixtures of the next campaign.
The Brazilian could offer the trait of creativity to the Red Devils XI that they so need.
#4 Daniel Sturridge and Sheyi Ojo showing propitious signs
Liverpool's struggling man on the front, Daniel Sturridge and young winger, Sheyi Ojo have been the Reds' most vibrant players throughout the pre-season and are showing some statement of intent through their consistent performances. Both appeared on the scoresheet in a friendly fixture against Manchester United on Saturday as the Merseysiders ripped their arch rivals apart.
Previously, when it came to Daniel Sturridge, it appeared to be the case of when he would leave rather than if. But the tide has turned and in an unlikely turnaround, the 28-year-old English striker looks to have reignited his Liverpool career to some extent. Sturridge became successful in finding the back of the net in Saturday's tie against Manchester United, which saw his side regain the lead.
On the other hand, Sheyi Ojo scored a penalty and seemed very cool and calm on the spot. He has been a continuous threat from the right flank in pre-season matches and has shown what he can offer to the Anfield club.
#3 Injury problems mounting around Jose Mourinho
The Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho is already unsettled as some of the regular starters including Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia suffered injuries. Moreover, new signing, Diogo Dalot was found wobbling with the help of crutches and has indicated an injury threat to the manager.
The 23-year-old English full-back, Luke Shaw, who joined the Manchester Club in 2014, becomes the latest man to appear on that growing list of unavailable players to Mourinho. Both Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw sat on the bench against Liverpool in the friendly fixture.
The Portuguese tactician may turn to out-of-favour full-back Matteo Darmian, who has almost confirmed that he will leave Manchester. Mourinho has targeted Leicester and England's star man of the backline, Harry Maguire as well as Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld. But full-backs remain his most concern, with his personnel reportedly decimated in these positions.
#2 Stunning introduction to big man Xherdan Shaqiri
The star man of the show on Saturday was Liverpool's new signing, Xherdan Shaqiri, who stole the entire show with simply a 'moment of magic'. The 26-year-old Swiss international came off the bench in the second half and stunningly introduced himself with a superb overhead strike.
The Swiss winger instantly coped up with the pace of the game and provided an assist to Daniel Sturridge, which saw the Reds regain their lead over Manchester United. The 26-year-old converted Ben Woodburn's cross into a goal in an acrobatic style and it led to the demolition of the Red Devils.
Liverpool's move of signing the Swiss from Stoke City in a deal amounting to the extent of around £13 million, had previously elicited mixed reactions. But now the new signing looks a very promising one and his incredible performance against Manchester United gives a slight indication about what he can offer to the Red half of Merseyside.
Xherdan Shaqiri has an immense trait of creativity and can ply his trade on both the flanks. The winger is widely said to be a bargain buy by the Anfield club and can also work as an excellent stockpile in crucial and decisive fixtures.
#1 Liverpool - A genuine threat this season
The Merseyside club has run rampant in the transfer window and has come out of the orthodox spending style and is not hesitating to splash gigantic amounts of cash on world-class talents. Roma's acrobatic shot-stopper, Alisson became their latest addition, whom Liverpool made the world's most expensive man of his position.
Other recruitments -- Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri provide Jurgen Klopp with a variety of options in the centre of the park and in the frontline as well.
Adding the trait of reliability and firepower in the squad was on the cards for Jurgen Klopp and those missing links look to have been healed. The arrival of Virgil Van Dijk last year saw the Reds' error-prone backline getting considerably stronger and the new man, Fabinho offers a perfect blanket for the defense line.
Naby Keita is set to uplift the number 8 role and Shaqiri provides a much-needed cover for the PFA Player of the Year, Mohamed Salah, besides offering a perfect compliment to the Reds' sizzling forward line of Firmino, Mane, and Salah.
The Reds' pre-season is going on very well as they thrashed their arch-rivals Manchester United, thanks to the goals by Sadio Mane, Daniel Sturridge, Sheyi Ojo and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Jurgen Klopp looks to have added a pinch of reliability in every department and has strengthened the squad in a very comprehensive way, due to which they have come out as a genuine threat.
With the essence of perfectionism in the midfield, backline and the frontline, the Merseyside club will approach Premier League's new edition of 2018-19 with a colossal potential to clinch their long-awaited title.
