Manchester United vs Liverpool: 5 Key Battles to watch out for | Premier League 2020/21

Paul Pogba vs Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool v Manchester United - Premier League

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.

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Mason Greenwood v Andy Robertson

Manchester United v Liverpool: The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round

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.

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Edinson Cavani v Ozan Kabak

Manchester United v Liverpool: The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round

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.

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