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Arguably the biggest match of the Premier League, United vs Liverpool has always managed to grab the headlines for either the right or wrong reasons. We look into the Strengths,Weaknesses,Opportunities and Threats of both the teams going into the weekend.
Strengths: The one standout feature of United this season has been their goal scoring prowess. RVP and co have run riot this season with goals going in from everywhere possible. Hernandez has been in a rich vein of form and he will be looking to add to his tally by poaching another goal on Sunday. The midfield has been solid if not spectacular with Carrick and Cleverely chipping in with good performances regularly. Young and Valencia also seem to have discovered some form lately and Liverpool need to be really wary of the United’s front six; a clear attacking threat.
Weaknesses: The Achilles Heel for United this season has undoubtedly been their defense. They have conceded 28 goals so far in the Premier League, twice the number they conceded this time last year. Their defense on set pieces has always looked a bit shaky this season and De Gea and Lindergaard have not been very good when they have been put under pressure. Their fullbacks too have been inconsistent and the pace of Sterling and Sturridge might cause them some real problems.
Opportunities: With 52 points from 21 matches, Manchester United are leading the table with a seven point cushion over their rivals Manchester City. The Red Devils have not been beaten in league in the last eight, with seven wins and one draw away at Swansea city. A win against their great rivals will give them a great boost and set them up well for an intriguing run of fixtures over the next month.
Threats: Liverpool are always fired up for a game against United and Suarez will also be looking to prove a point against Evra and the United defense. United should be careful of a feisty Liverpool who will look to give it their all. Gerrard also seems to always bring his A game against United and they should be well aware of Stevie G’s threat by now.
Liverpool:
Strengths: Liverpool have finally been getting their act together in the past few weeks and the man central to this resurgence has been Luis Suarez. With 15 goals in the Premier League this season, Suarez has been central to all things good about Liverpool. Gerrard also seems to have rediscovered some of his old form and with Lucas coming in, the midfield of Liverpool has a settled look about it. With improved performances coming in from all quarters including the much maligned duo of Downing and Henderson, Liverpool will be hoping that their glory days of old are not far away.
Weaknesses: The main weakness of Liverpool this season has been their over reliance on one man, Luis Suarez. He has been absolutely brilliant for them this season but the team lacks a cutting edge when he is not in form or not playing. They rely a lot on youngsters like Sterling, Suso and Shelvey, and though they might all be exciting talents, the lack of an experienced and calm head might prove to be a deciding factor in a match of this magnitude.
Opportunities: Inconsistency has been the story of the season so far for Liverpool, but new signing Daniel Strurridge should bring some life into the attack. The Reds have managed four wins from their last five games, with only a single defeat to Stoke City. Goals are finally coming as Brendan Rodger’s men have netted 13 in the last five games, having scored 5 in the last three . Defensively, the Reds have let in a mere 4 goals in five games, with 3 of those coming against Stoke on Boxing Day. A victory in this match might finally make Liverpool serious top 4 contenders.
Threats: Playing against United in Old Trafford has always been tough, but playing against them when they are in unbelievable form is a daunting task. United are top of the table for a reason and Liverpool will have to play out of their skins to get a positive result. With the next two away matches being against Manchester City and Arsenal, this month will be pivotal in deciding Liverpool’s season.
X-FACTOR:
The duel between RVP and Suarez, who are the top two scorers should be a mouth-watering clash.
Sunday will be yet another chapter in the intense rivalry between the clubs and only time will tell which set of supporters will be the happier lot .
