From a historic perspective, Liverpool versus Man United is always compelling. The Reds and Red Devils are the most successful clubs in English football history with 38 titles between the two (Man United-20, Liverpool-18).
That would be enough for most football fans, but there is so much more to this classic Northwest derby which make it almost as thrilling as El Clasico in Spain. In years past, both sides would arrive at the fixture with a large amount of swagger. This time around, questions about the quality of the sides dominate the pre-match landscape. Lots of thrills to expect, then, ahead of Sunday's showdown. Here are five aspects of the game which should give you five reasons to not miss Manchester United vs Liverpool.
Van Gaal's first Merseyside Reds test
Can Louis Van Gaal become the first Man United manager, not named Sir Alex Ferguson, to beat Liverpool since Ron Atkinson led the Red Devils to victory on March 31, 1985?
Van Gaal appears to have righted David Moyes' sinking ship after early struggles as Manchester United are owners of five straight league wins and currently situated third in the Premier League.
Will Man United’s backline continue to improve?
The Red Devils' defensive personnel went from a “who’s who” during the 2013 League Championship run with familiar names Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra to a “who’s that?” earlier this year. Early injuries to Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling found Man United fielding “unknowns” in the defensive backfield with youngsters Luke Shaw, Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett playing heavy minutes during the fall.
De Gea's solid performances have redeemed Man United several times this season
Even with goalkeeper, David De Gea, playing his very best, the Red Devils conceded multiple goals to Swansea City, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. They also let in four goals against MK Dons in the League Cup.
The return of Evans and Smalling and the maturation of McNair have steadied the backline and kept the opposition away from De Gea but Smalling has picked up another knock and will miss the game. McNair, meanwhile, appeared a little shaky against Southampton. Van Gaal may have to drop Michael Carrick back from his traditional midfield role to bolster the backline. How likely are the hosts to keep a clean sheet?
Will Luis Suarez’s departure continue to plague Liverpool?
A quick look at Liverpool’s statistics between this year and last year’s team that scorched the Premier League for 101 goals tells the story of their season. Liverpool struggles to score. At this point last year, Liverpool had scored 34 league goals. This year, the Reds have 19.
The scoring drop-off could be partially blamed on injury as Daniel Sturridge, the second leading goal scorer in the Premier League last year, has missed substantial time and only tallied one goal before injuring his thigh early this season. But the most critical focus is on Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli and their low production.
Lambert and Balotelli, summer signings brought in by manager Brendan Rodgers to replace Suarez, have one Premier League goal between them (Lambert’s header against Manchester City). Balotelli has failed to find the back of the net even though he leads the team in shots, with 35. Rodgers must get his striking duo to produce much-needed goals.
Can Liverpool shake off the disappointment of crashing out of the Champions League and start a run back towards the top?
Liverpool currently sits in ninth place in the Premier League, but the fourth place and an invite back to the Champions League is only 6 points away. It has been a shaky start but the Reds have 23 games left to move up the table. Nothing would supercharge that ascension as much as victory at Old Trafford.
Will an unexpected player make the difference?
The star power on either side is undeniable. Liverpool is paced by the unstoppable Raheem Sterling who is complimented by a strong midfield of Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson, the diminutive Phillipe Coutinho and the forever Red captain, Steven Gerrard. Manchester United sports an offensive lineup with such riches as Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Radamel Falcao heaping immense pressure on the other side. Yet, sometimes in the biggest matches a relatively unknown lad rises to claim glory.
A potential hidden hero for Liverpool could be Lazar Markovic. The Serbian winger will still be smarting from a highly questionable red card he received against Basel on Tuesday. Markovic has the strength, speed and ingenuity that could give Man United defenders fits.
Also look for Antonio Valencia to push the Man United attack from the right side with his incredible pace and strength. The Ecuadorean is looking for his first goal of the year and with Liverpool’s defenders focused on the likes of Rooney and Van Persie, Valencia may just get one in the biggest League match of the year in England.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Follow the game on-the-go
Download our iOS and Android apps to follow soccer on-the-go. It comes packed with features - live scores, fixtures, results, tables, line-ups, stats, TV schedule and much more! Sorry, no live streaming within the app.
