2. Michael Carrick vs Jordan Henderson
With Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard now out of the England reckoning, Roy Hodgson must decide on who he wants to lead the midfield. From his performances over the last 18 months, Henderson has made a case for him being not only the first-choice central midfielder, but also perhaps as a possible future captain of the side. The 24-year-old’s willingness to cover almost every blade of grass on the pitch, coupled with his excellent close control and vision makes him a valuable asset to the Reds lineup.
On Sunday, Henderson will go up against arguably England’s best defensive midfielder in Michael Carrick. The 33-year-old who struggled to get into the England setup has shown just why he is one of the best in the world in the red of Manchester United. His return from injury has coincided with United’s upturn in form. If the Englishman can keep his compatriot quiet and control the tempo of the game, then the visitors will have a great chance of ending Liverpool’s unbeaten run and doing the double over their fierce rivals.