Spotlight On: Liverpool vs Manchester Utd, Sunday 25th October

Striker Wayne Rooney is a doubt with a calf injury, so Dimitar Berbatov will have to provide the attacking threat up top. The Red Devils are set to welcome back Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra from thigh and heel injuries respectively while Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park are set to miss out. Owen Hargreaves is facing a few more weeks on the sidelines after a long-term knee injury.

So while both squads have problems with injuries, Manchester Utd are certainly better equipped to deal with them. On paper, at least, they will most likely be the stronger side.

Possible Line-ups
Far be it from me to second guess a Rafa Benitez line-up, but here's what the Liverpool starting XI could look like:
------------------------------Reina------------------------
Johnson-------Carragher----Agger--------Aurelio
Kuyt-----------Lucas--------Mascherano-----Babel
------------------------Benayoun-------------------------
-----------------------------Torres-------------------------

Manchester Utd are likely to field an attack minded team, having been out gunned in this fixture last term.

-----------------------Van Der Sar----------------------
Neville-----------Vidic-------Ferdinand------Evra
Valencia--------Scholes----Carrick---------Nani
---------------------------Giggs--------------------------
--------------------------Berbatov-----------------------

Both teams are very much subject to change, but these starting XI's are as close as we can get without knowing the full extent of specific player's injuries.

Tactics
Liverpool are likely to stick with a tried and tested 4-5-1 formation. We will look to Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel to provide service to Fernando Torres from wide areas, with Yossi Benayoun charged with the task of being the inspirational spark between the lines. Javier Mascherano will be deployed as a shield in front of the back four and will look to break up any attacking threat from Manchester Utd before it gets a chance to develop.

The away team are likely to adopt a similar formation.

Luis Antonio Valencia and Nani, who both impressed in midweek, will give Liverpool's attack-minded fullbacks a lot of food for thought. Ryan Giggs will look to add some energy to the attack in and around Dimitar Berbatov's position.

This game will be a battle won in midfield and whoever prevails there is likely to come away with the points.

Liverpool key men
We will all be hoping Javier Mascherano can rediscover the form that saw him Captain Argentina to World Cup qualification. The energetic midfielder will be charged with the task of protecting a vulnerable defence. If we are going to get anything out of this game we are surely going to have to nullify the threat of Utd's strong attacking contingent.

 

Fernando Torres has the ability to make even the most established defenders look foolish at times. He had the beating of Vidic last time the two teams met, scoring once as we romped to a 4-1 victory. Vidic was sent off in this fixture home and away last season, so must look to keep his temperament in check if his team are to avoid a repeat of last seasons embarrassment.

A key battle elsewhere on the pitch will be Luis Antonio Valencia vs Fabio Aurelio.

Valencia possesses the pace and trickery to bypass people as if they aren't even there. He might switch sides during the game, but I expect him to get at Fabio Aurelio right from the off. His quality of delivery will be problematic for our defence so Aurelio will have to look to cut off the threat at the supply.

The view from Anfield
Liverpool fans will be forgiven for approaching this fixture with caution. Coming off the back of four straight defeats, confidence at Anfield has hit a new low. We are likely to be without our inspirational skipper and coming up against the league leaders at a time like this could turn to be either a blessing in disguise, or a complete disaster. While a win would put to bed any talks of a crisis and inject belief into the squad, a loss would surely flatten an already deflated group of players.

Rafa Benitez had this to say about Sunday's fixture:

"Beating United last season is something positive we can use. Without Gerrard and Torres, the team was really good and the fans enjoyed the day - especially because we were without two very important players.

"So, if we have to do the same in this situation now, we can do it."

Benitez, then, is remaining optimistic about his teams chances.

The view from Old Trafford
Manchester Utd will go into this game brimming with confidence after a late win against CSKA Moscow in midweek. This victory follows impressive domestic form for the Red Devils, who have won four of their last five, drawing once.

The away fans are set to add extra spice to the occasion, having snapped up all the remaining beach balls from the Liverpool club store. Hopefully the game wont be spoilt with stoppages, and the inflatables can stay amongst the crowd.

Sir Alex Ferguson had this to say:

“We go into the game in decent form, and there is a confidence to our play. But it’s a derby game and anything can happen. Going to Anfield at any time is hard, for both teams. It won’t be any different on Sunday.”

Ferguson is clearly not resting on his laurels then.

Result
This game is usually as much about bragging rights as it is points. However, for us, the 3 points at stake on Sunday have taken on a new significance given our current league standing.

The home fans will raise the roof as they look to will their team on, and this could just prove crucial. I expect a high-tempo game with chances and goals for either team. A cautiously optimistic nod in the direction of the red men from me. 2-1, and a more reserved whisper of a 2all draw from Dom.

There is, of course, one more thing to mention. The return to Anfield of Michael Owen.

There, I mentioned it. Now let's focus on the game, shall we.