Manchester United visit eternal rivals Liverpool in the Premier League's early kick off on Saturday. Club football is back and what a way to welcome back the highly engaging league. The meetings between these two last season lacked a lot of the usual buzz and flair that surrounded it in the past, in January a mysterious Paul Pogba handball in the penalty area that gave Liverpool the lead in the first was the major incident that got pundits busy after the game, well that was nine months ago, this new season has seen both teams begin their campaigns on different gears. Romelu Lukaku has proved to be an inspirational signing for Jose Mourinho and Manchester, Mohammed Salah is attempting to do likewise for Liverpool. The Egyptian has taken to life better at Merseyside than he did in London three years ago, maybe it could be down to the different management styles of Jurgen Klopp and Mourinho. Manchester United have started stronger this season but there are certain factors that can swing the outcome of this game against the red devils or in their favour.
Liverpool Should Rely On The Counter
The Liverpool's defence under Klopp is not famed for seeing out games with a clean sheet and on Saturday they will be up against a certain Romelu Lukaku who has been a handful for most defences in the 7 games played so far this season. Considering Manchester United's form and swagger at the moment it is only natural that they take the game to Liverpool and unlike last season this time around it will be Klopp's men who will need to do the 'bus parkin' exercise. Why? Well as much as Liverpool have goal minded players such as Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Mohammed Salah and Daniel Sturridge, starting the game with attacks will be ill advised because Liverpool have proved in recent weeks that they do not have a reliable defence and it might come down to a game of who outscores the other.
Southampton Stopped Manchester United From Scoring More Than Once
As mundane as it may sound Klopp may want to realistically consider the option of sitting back and attack the opponents on the counter i.e giving Jose a taste of his own medicine, IF the reds dedicate more bodies to do their defensive duty and also attack in numbers it's not gonna be smiling faces at the end of the day for Manchester United, like in the game against Southampton where United only scrapped through. Liverpool will need to do a Southampton.
Distances Travelled During The International Break And The Injuries
Coutinho Was In Action For Brazil Two Days Ago
Klopp and Mourinho will be welcoming their players back from International duty, this first task will be for club medics to asses the fitness of these players yeah? but we all know that the final round of the South American qualifiers stretched into Wednesday morning and Coutinho who is a key element of Jurgen Klopp's side played 86 minutes of that game and was replaced by club colleague Roberto Firmino. Mohammed Salah will also be jetting in from Egypt, by the time the game between Liverpool and United kicks of the likes of Coutinho and Firmino of Liverpool and Antonio Valencia of Manchester United would have had exactly 60 hours to travel, rest, train and get ready for the game. This is not a factor to be overlooked as both teams could be forced to play a slow paced game, tired legs will surely count in the second half and it could be down to the club with the most rested players winning the day, Talent and Ability will be hardly count in circumstances like this.
Total Distance Travelled By Liverpool Players - 75,484 miles
Total Distance Travelled By Manchester United Players - 69,691 miles
Manchester United have the likes of Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Ashley Young who were not involved in any game these past two weeks so the break puts United slightly at an advantage. The injury blow to Sadio Mane and Marouane Fellaini are both significant at the moment but it has not always been so, this is because Fellaini who hasn't been a fans' favourite has suddenly become prolific in front of goal and gives United the added aerial threat when it's needed. Aside from the other long term absentees from both sides there's no fresh concern, so is it safe to say Fellaini's injury cancels out Mane's?
Manchester United Shouldn't Change The Recipe
It is typical for managers to tamper with their usual formations, name different players in the starting line up and may even go ahead to change their training regimes just to overcome a difficult opponent. The results of Manchester United's games this season prove that things can change quickly in football. The positive thing about Mourinho's second season is that he has managed to turn the draws of the previous season into victories this season. The plan of introducing Anthony Martial in the latter part of games have worked like magic and it is only sensible for the manager to stick to the script knowing that there is European football by midweek.
Anthony Martial Has Scored Three Goals From The Bench This Season
While it is typical of a Mourinho team to park the bus in games like this, It will only make for a boring game as Liverpool will likely accept such an approach from Manchester United and may now search for a mistake that might help them overcome the red devils for the first time since 2014. The key for Manchester United on the day will be to play they way they've played all season.
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