Liverpool will be looking to upset one of their biggest rivals, Manchester United, on Sunday in a mouthwatering Premier League clash.

1. Pass, pass, pass the ball!

Liverpool’s game plan centers around accurate passes. Putting this into perspective, Liverpool has a good chance of upsetting United if they play their passing game to perfection. Hence, a high number of accurate passes might be the key to victory for Liverpool in this one. Liverpool must past well under pressure. The players must not give the ball away even under intense pressure.

Also, the Merseyside team must be diverse with their passing. Simply crossing the ball into the box will not do. They will need to supply fine passes from the centre to their attackers. Steven Gerrard's movement will be key. He is the one who has to use his vision to help Liverpool move forward in this match.

2. Stop the supply to Robin Van Persie

This is easier said than done. United’s wingers and fullbacks are dynamic. They also have good eyes for crosses. If Sir Alex Ferguson opts to start Shinji Kagawa, this task will become even harder for Liverpool. However, Van Persie has supplied plenty of goals to his new club. Often enough, a team can be stopped by stopping the supply to their best player.

Inter Milan and Germany did so by stopping the supply to Messi against Barcelona and Argentina respectively. United is not dependent on Van Persie as much as Argentina is dependent on Messi. A team cannot obviously focus on one player; also Germany and Inter Milan were brilliant sides which Liverpool is not at this point. However, if Brendan Rodgers’ tactics involve stopping the supply to Van Persie, his side might be rewarded at the end.

3. Press the opposition into losing the ball

Pressing is a part of football that the best of teams aren’t comfortable with. Barcelona uses this tactic when they don’t have possession as does Bayern. Borussia Dortmund uses this tactic the most effectively. Not too many Premier League sides incorporate this part of the game into their tactics.

Pressing is easier said than done. Of course, Brendan Rodgers would like his team to have the lion share of possession. Often though, attacking can be done without the ball. This is the most effective method of doing so. United doesn’t have too many fleet-footed players; there are some exceptions such as Shinji Kagawa though. This tactic could work out perfectly for Liverpool but it will be difficult to execute.

4. Use Luiz Suarez for his talent only

Suarez has been at the center of almost every controversy surrounding Liverpool since his move to Anfield. His talent is often overshadowed by his theatrics. Keeping Suarez away from the referee and at the center of Liverpool’s game plan would be one of the best moves for Brendan Rodgers.

Suarez brings an added dimension to Liverpool’s current game style. He has the perfect attributes to be a great striker. He is exactly the kind of player who can trouble United’s leaky back four. As long as his focus is on scoring rather than diving and other theatrics, Liverpool can rely on him to produce up front.

5. Counter pace with pace

United brings plenty of pace to the table. The likes of Ashley Young are gifted with pace. To counter United’s pace down both the flanks, Rodgers should use reliable but fast players down the flanks. He could use Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge’s pace would keep the United fullback operating down that flank modest and would allow Liverpool to negate the pace of the United winger who would play on that flank.

Raheem Sterling isn’t short of pace himself and would be a useful player on the wing. How much damage Stewart Downing can do though is a bit doubtful. He played well for Aston Villa but hasn’t really produced his best for Liverpool. Glen Johnson’s pace would certainly aid their cause of course. If Rodgers fields the right players, he could negate the impact of United’s fullbacks and wingers with his own players.