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Two of English football's most historic rivals, Manchester United and Liverpool, are set to face off in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Red Devils have been in stellar form this season and are currently on course to end the season in second place. It would be their highest finish since 2017/18, which was also the last time they beat Liverpool in the Premier League — a 2-1 win at Old Trafford, which saw Marcus Rashford score a brace.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds, however, have endured a difficult campaign so far. The reigning English champions have been forced to deal with several major absentees, including the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, leading to a massive crisis in central defence.
Liverpool face an uphill battle to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season as they currently sit in fifth place with 54 points, and need a win against Manchester United at all costs. On the other hand, Solskjaer is yet to beat Klopp in the Premier League and will hope to register a win against their rivals.
On that note, here, we take a look at five key battles that could define the outcome of the high-profile clash at Old Trafford.
Manchester United v Liverpool: Key Battles
Luke Shaw v Mohamed Salah
Luke Shaw has been the best left-back in the Premier League this season. The Englishman has been incredible at shutting down opposition wingers, and, more importantly, he has created more chances than any defender in the league. The Red Devils will be reliant on Shaw's lung-busting runs down the left, but he will have to be wary of Mo Salah's presence on the same flank.
Despite Liverpool's struggles this season, Salah has delivered for his side time and again with his surreal ability in the final third. His predatory instincts in front of goal and searing pace down the flank make him Liverpool's biggest attacking threat and will be another big test for Shaw.
The 20-goal Egyptian has been in red-hot form this season and scored twice during United and Liverpool's meeting in the FA Cup earlier in January. Shaw was absolutely sublime at Anfield, and will hope to replicate his display on Sunday.
Bruno Fernandes v Gini Wijnaldum
Gini Wijnaldum could be set to play a crucial role during the upcoming game as he will lock horns with one of the best midfielders in the world, Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese superstar has been magnificent over the course of the season and is the man powering Manchester United's free-scoring attack. With 16 goals and 11 assists to his name this season, Fernandes has made more contributions than any midfielder in Europe and has created more chances (99) than any player.
Wijnaldum's pressing and energetic presence in the middle will be vital for Liverpool to help keep Bruno Fernandes in check during the game. The Dutch star will have to keep the 26-year-old in check and avoid giving him too much time on the ball as he is capable of hurting defences with if afforded space in the middle.
Also read: 5 Players who have created the most chances in Europe this season (2020/21)
Paul Pogba vs Trent Alexander-Arnold
With every passing game, it's becoming more apparent that Paul Pogba playing on the left of the attack is not just a temporary measure. The French superstar has been sublime this season, and much of his rich vein of form has to do with his newfound freedom in attack due to a change in role. Pogba's contributed five assists and two goals in his last 600 minutes of playing on the left.
Should he reprise his role against Liverpool, he will be up against Trent Alexander-Arnold on Liverpool's right. The English full-back has been criticised this season for his lapses in concentration and put in a dismal display in the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid last month, where Vinicius Jr ran riot. However, facing Paul Pogba on the flank will be a different sort of test for the Englishman.
He doesn't have the Brazilian's searing pace, but Pogba is a hard man to dispossess and can ghost past players at will. With Shaw overlapping on the left, Pogba will look to exploit the space vacated by Alexander-Arnold, due to which the full-back must be at his sharpest to keep an eye on Pogba.
Mason Greenwood v Andy Robertson
After a phenomenal campaign last year, Mason Greenwood has had a poor 2020/21 due to a combination of issues on and off the pitch. That was, however, until just over a month ago as the English striker returned to form and came up clutch for Manchester United as he scored the winners against Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley, while creating the winner against Tottenham Hotspur.
Playing off the right, he will be up against Andrew Robertson, who has not been in the best of form this season, much like many of his teammates. Robertson has already come up against Greenwood earlier in the campaign and failed to prevent the 19-year-old from scoring against his side. He's one of the most attack-minded full-backs in the league, but he has to be careful not to leave any space in behind.
Robertson will hope to keep Greenwood out this time around, but he is surely set to face a sterner test as the striker has been in superb form over the last few games, scoring six and setting up one in his last eight games.
Edinson Cavani v Ozan Kabak
Ozan Kabak has been a timely addition to Liverpool's struggling defence. With the likes of Van Dijk, Gomez, and Joel Matip out injured, Kabak has had to learn on the job as opposed to being eased into action, and he's held his own against some of the best in the land and in Europe as well, barring a few odd errors in judgment.
Against Manchester United, Kabak will face another player who has been in surreal form in recent weeks, Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan is a master of movement in and around the 18-yard box and has run defenders ragged by dragging them out of position time and again. Cavani creates space for his teammates and is more than capable of scoring if afforded space in the box.
Kabak cannot afford to allow Cavani any time and space near the penalty area, and he would be tasked with handling one of the most unique threats that Manchester United have. Cavani came close to scoring against Liverpool in the FA Cup when his leaping header smashed the crossbar, and will look to make amends at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Also read: 5 Players with most nutmegs in Europe this season (2020/21)
