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Manchester United face the daunting task of playing Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend. Jurgen Klopp's side have won every game so far and sit first in the table, while Manchester United are languishing in 12th place.
Liverpool are heavy favourites to beat United but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side can get a positive result if they focus on certain areas. United need a collective effort from the whole side, play their best team, and maintain focus the entire game if they are to stop the Liverpool juggernaut.
Here are the three areas they should focus on to beat Liverpool.
1) Defend with numbers in the wide areas
The main dilemma for sides facing Liverpool is whether they should defend with width or narrowly.
By defending narrow, sides run the risk of giving Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold the time and space to whip in fierce crosses. Liverpool's full-back duo are arguably the best in world football at the moment and are an integral part of Liverpool's attack; their pace and accuracy of crossing are extremely dangerous.
If United are to keep Robertson and Alexander-Arnold at bay, they need to ensure a numerical advantage and prevent them from enjoying space and time. This would require United's wingers and full-backs to communicate and aid each other defensively.
An added upside of this would be that United can utilize the same numerical advantage on the counter-attack and catch Liverpool's full-backs out of position.
Nullifying Robertson and Alexander-Arnold is no easy task, but it is essential that United maintain numerical parity in the wide areas. In games where Liverpool have struggled, such as their matches against Sheffield and Leicester, their full-backs were kept quiet by the opposition.
The same blueprint will be an effective solution to keep Liverpool from scoring.
2) Man-mark Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino
Few players are as all-rounded as Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian starts Liverpool's press from the front, can drop deep to influence play and is the focal point of Liverpool's attack.
Similarly, his teammate on the left-wing, Sadio Mane, has been in red-hot form this season, having scored eight goals in all competitions. The Senegalese forward has blistering pace, quick feet and clinical finishing, which can punish the opposition if they concede even the slightest bit of space.
United need to make a conscious effort to reduce the influence these two have on the game. While Mohamed Salah is another threat, the Egyptian is not as influential in the buildup as his two teammates.
Solskjaer needs to have his players constantly pressurize Firmino and Mane. When Mane picks up the ball on the flanks, United's players must deny him shooting opportunities.
United also need to be alert in tracking Firmino's stealthy runs into the box and keep him as far away from goal as they can.
3) Play on the counter-attack
It would be suicide for United to take the game to Liverpool by pressing them. Liverpool's press-resistant players like Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum would cut through United's press, opening up space for their dangerous trio to make merry.
Instead, United need to be pragmatic and intelligent. There is no harm in pressing if they manage to do so in the right situations, but they shouldn't do it blindly.
United must sit back and absorb pressure. The presence of Rashford, Daniel James and possibly Martial is United's best chance of scoring, and Solskjaer must instruct his side to rely on the pace they have on the flanks.
Considering how high Liverpool's full-backs commit themselves, there will be no dearth of opportunities for United to capitalize on in the wide areas. United must be compact centrally but flexible on the flanks.
Their full-backs and wingers will need to be at the top of their game to contribute both offensively and defensively.
If United follow their plans perfectly, they can definitely get a result. The question now is whether they can remain committed to the right strategy.
