Manchester United vs Liverpool: 4 Tactical factors to watch out for

#2 United would look to increase numbers is the final third

Marcus Rashford

United supporters would hope that the attacking duo of Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard are fit to face Liverpool. If either of those two plays in Sunday’s game, United would start with a 4-3-3 formation, with Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku being the other two forwards.

However, if both of them are out of Sunday’s match, United might start with a 4-4-2 formation, with Rashford and Lukaku upfront and Juan Mata filling in as a side midfielder. Either way, United would want to have numerical superiority in the final third during their attacks, as they have had in most of their recent matches.

Pogba and Ander Herrera’s attacking instincts have allowed United to do so, and Liverpool midfielders would have to fall back very quickly in order to prevent it. Moreover, Liverpool usually do not play the high line too often, and the United players would have ample opportunities to make forays into the Liverpool penalty box.

Rashford, in particular, might get a few scoring opportunities if United are able to crowd the final third and thereby engage the Liverpool defenders. The agile Rashford might sneak through the gaps between the Liverpool defenders to get himself into a goal-scoring position quite often.