da winzada777： Manchester United host Liverpool in a huge Premier League clash on Sunday, with the former looking to extend their brilliant nine-match winning run in all competitions that has seen them close in on the top four, while the latter will hope to keep the pressure up on the top flight leaders Chelsea, whom they are currently five points adrift of.
da apostaganha： The Red Devils have won six in a row in the league with their latest triumph coming in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, when they were 2-0 victors against Hull City at Old Trafford to take Jose Mourinho’s men one step closer to a Wembley final.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were less successful, as they were lucky to escape from St Mary’s Stadium with a one-goal deficit against Southampton in the first leg of their League Cup tie, and the Merseyside outfit are without a win in three games in all competitions.
The clash between two of the most highly-rated managers in the world will be a fascinating one, while a number of in-form players on each side will be looking to make an impression in one of the biggest and most popular fixtures in world football.
Here are FIVE key battles that will decide where this massive match is lost and won…
Jose Mourinho vs. Jurgen Klopp
In big games over the years, Mourinho has been relatively conservative as he looks to avoid defeat, but it could be a different story at Old Trafford on Sunday with Man United in such good form and with Jurgen Klopp’s free-scoring Reds yet to win in 2017.
The Portuguese boss will want his in-form side to attack and press their Merseyside opponents from the first whistle in what could turn out to be a tactical game of chess, and it will be interesting to see which charismatic manager comes out on top.
Chris Smalling vs. Daniel Sturridge
As he has been in recent times, Sturridge is likely to be Liverpool’s main striker up top on Sunday and he will be looking to have more success than he did against Southampton in midweek, where he was on the periphery of the action for the majority of the encounter.
In fact Smalling, who is back in the starting XI following a spell on the sidelines because of injury, may well have been watching the performance of Saints’ Virgil van Dijk very closely, as the Dutchman completely won the battle against the Three Lions attacker.
Wayne Rooney vs. Jordan Henderson
The Man United captain drew level with Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer when he netted his 249th goal in the FA Cup third round win against Reading last weekend, but he failed to break the record when he came up against Hull in the League Cup on Tuesday.
However, after starting his career at Everton before heading to Man United, Rooney will be hoping that it is written in the stars that he breaks the record against Liverpool, and he will be determined to get on the scoresheet on Sunday.
Rooney will come up against a tough opponent in Reds skipper Henderson though, who has been missing with an Achilles problem in the last few games, but he will hope to be fit so he can shine in the centre of the park for Jurgen Klopp’s side as he has done all season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs. Dejan Lovren
With 18 goals to his name in all competitions this season, there is no doubt as to who is Man United’s main goal threat this weekend.
The Swede, who has been suffering from illness in the past few days and is expected to be fit for the huge clash at Old Trafford, has offered plenty more than goals, though, with his all-round play in the striker’s position proving particularly effective in his side’s brilliant winning run.
He will come up against Lovren on Sunday who, like Sturridge, will look to put in an improved performance to the one he put in against Southampton on Wednesday night.
The Croatian was given a torrid time by Saints duo Jay Rodriguez and Nathan Redmond – playing the latter onside for his decisive goal – and he could be in for another tough and physical battle at the Theatre of Dreams.
Paul Pogba vs. Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho made his return from injury as a substitute against Southampton at St Mary’s on Wednesday, but even though he failed to help his team get the goal they wanted, everything from an attacking point of view went through the Brazilian following his introduction to the pitch.
The attacking midfielder is definitely one of the main influences for Jurgen Klopp’s side, but he will come up against another impressive player in Pogba on Sunday.
After a slow start to the campaign, the Frenchman has been in imperious form during Man United’s winning run but with Rooney likely to be deployed in a more attacking position, the midfielder could be set for a more defensive role against Liverpool, and one of his jobs will be to keep a very close eye on Coutinho.