We’re less than 24 hours from one of the biggest games of the season and despite shots being fired from both sets of fans that Monday’s clash at Anfield isn’t anything to worry about, the reality is it’s a game neither side can really afford to lose if there to realistically hope of challenging for the title.
It may seem a tad melodramatic to claim any game in October can have an affect on who lifts the title in May, but if United were to suffer their third league defeat of the season at this stage, or if Liverpool were to suffer their second and at the hands of their arch rivals- at home, it would cast severe doubts on either side’s chances of aiming for anything other than the top four.
For United the big talking point is whether club captain Wayne Rooney will start, having found himself dropped in recent weeks for both club and country and if Jose Mourinho were to omit him from the starting line up for such a crucial game, we’d know once and for all his time as a first-team player was well and truly over- but he won’t.
Rooney will start and it’s expected Mourinho will move Daley Blind over to left back and go with a centre back pairing of Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly. In midfield, Ander Herrera should start alongside the returning Michael Carrick, with Paul Pogba being used in a more forward role. Rooney could operate on the right side of an attacking three alongside Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Here’s how the Reds could line up:
[4-2-1-3] David De Gea, Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Do you agree that will be the line up? How should United start? Feel free to reply below: