An oft used footballing cliche is describing a game between two relegation threatened teams as a relegation six pointer. Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, then, could be known as Champions League six pointer.
In the context of the respective teams seasons, a win on Sunday could be a significant psychological foundation to build the rest of their season on. Should United win, they would open up a ten point lead on their perennial rivals and strengthen their grip on a prospective Champions League qualification berth for next season. Liverpool, on the other hand, managing to grab a win would be a significant fillip for a team badly struggling for confidence and conviction.
In many ways, United’s resurgence in recent weeks-the Old Trafford side have won five games on the bounce-resembles Liverpool last year. Louis Van Gaal’s side look as ramshackle at the back as Liverpool did last season, but, like the Sturridge, Sterling and Suarez equipped Anfield side of season 2013/2014, they have enough firepower further up the field to compensate, with Wayne Rooney & Robin Van Persie showing signs of returning to form of late.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Much to the collective horror of Liverpool fans, this season has seen the Reds tactical system, or straitjacket, mirror the restrictive set up that defined the much derided David Moyes’ solo campaign at Old Trafford. Due to a combination of poor signings and Daniel Sturridge’s almost perpetual injuries, last seasons Premier League runners up have jettisoned their break neck attacking tempo and have attempted to instil a more rigid and defensively pragmatic 4231 system. Unfortunately for fans of the Reds, the transition from last seasons dynamic and fluid 442 diamond has been anything but successful; indeed, Brendan Rodgers’ charges have regressed to the sterile possession based game of his first six months in charge, with the team looking bereft of both incisive movement and passing.
Defensively, Liverpool have inherited last seasons trepidation and collective panic; although Dejan Lovren’s exclusion in favour of Kolo Touré has seen a tangible improvement in the defensive third in recent weeks. The 32 year old Ivorian brings the priceless defensive authority, communication & leadership that the Croat, Lovren, was supposed to bring upon his lucrative summer transfer from Southampton.
Luis Suarez causing havock. Source: liverpoolfc.com
News that the Red Devils will be without their attacking lynchpin, the Argentinian midfielder Angel Di Maria, will provide a boost to both Liverpool’s morale and chances. Without the former Real Madrid & Benfica man, United’s midfield becomes pedestrian, and, with the right team selection, Liverpool could have the ascendancy in this area.
For this game, it is imperative, in my opinion, that Rodgers’ chooses both Emre Can and Jordan Henderson in Liverpool’s midfield. The athletically prominent duo could act as the legs and gusto in Liverpool’s midfield and could compensate for Steven Gerrard’s relative immobility at the base of the midfield, much like the system Juventus employ with Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba ahead of the deep playmaker, Andrea Pirlo.
At the tip of the diamond, Phillipe Coutinho, the Reds player most adept at threading through-balls, would be my selection to provide the ammunition of the front two of Raheem Sterling & Lazar Markovic. Whilst both players have limited experience playing as out and out forwards-Markovic at points in his relatively short career has played as a second striker-and their pace and direct bloody minded nature that Liverpool have sorely lacked since Tottenham away in the last days of August. It’s not a critique of Rickie Lambert, but, at his age, 32, the former Southampton striker shouldn’t be used as extensively as he has been in the last few weeks.
At back, provided he’s fit, Kolo Toure is surely an absolute certainty to start. Alongside the former City & Arsenal defender is likely to be Martin Skrtel, although, unlike Brendan Rodgers, Mamadou Sakho would always be my choice. Similarly, another one of Rodgers’ favourites, Glen Johnson, would lose his pace to Javier Manquillo, if it were up to me. At left back, Alberto would retain his starting place from the Basel game.
With the uninspiring Simon Mignolet in goal, and a defence that often looks unorganized and flustered, the Reds are always likely to concede. So, knowing this, Brendan Rodgers’ should mitigate the risk by playing an expansive attacking brand of football that brought the Reds’ to the cups of last season’s title, especially against the similarly porous Manchester United rearguard.
John O'Sullivan
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