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Manchester United vs Liverpool: Three Key Battles That Will Decide The Game

Manchester United and Liverpool have between them won 29 of the last 50 League titles. But both sides go into the game on Sunday, knowing well that the League title might just be beyond them this time around. But the beauty of the clashes between the two sides is that irrespective of what is at stake, the games are always feisty.

Another win will make it six-straight victories for the Red Devils and cement third spot, while an away win for the Reds will help them inch closer to the top four. Here are the three key battles that will decide the outcome of this game.

David De Gea vs Simon Mignolet

kit de gea

If there are two players in the Premier League, who are in completely contrasting forms, then it is the two goal keepers who will line up at Old Trafford on Sunday. While David De Gea has been confident and composed in goal for the Red Devils and pulled off some crucial saves to keep them in games, Simon Mignolet has lacked confidence, looked poor and has put the defence in front of him in more pressure than they are already under.

One of the main reasons why the Red Devils are in third place has been the Spanish shot-stopper, whose powers of concentration have meant that he has been a formidable last line of defence. On the other hand, the problem for the Reds has been the fact that the Belgian keeper is only still in the side because of a lack of quality replacement and is somewhat lucky that some of his errors haven’t been punished. In a game of such little margins, De Gea might well turn out to be the difference between the two sides.

Ander Herrera vs Jordan Henderson

The battle of two of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League will take place on Sunday when United take on Liverpool. Although neither Herrera nor Henderson have particularly taken the Premier League by storm as yet this season, they are still without doubt, two of the finest central midfielders in the country. Whether it is going forward or staying back and helping out the defence, there is very little that the duo can’t do.

The problem for both of them so far has been where they have played so far this season. On Sunday, Henderson will play as one of the two more defensive midfielders in a 4-2-3-1, which will give him less license to bomb forward, but more time to pick out the perfect ball. For Herrera, it might finally mean a start in the League, of which he has been starved of especially since the return of Michael Carrick. With injuries in defence once again and Carrick set to fill at centre half, it looks like the perfect opportunity for the Spaniard to show, in what is one of the biggest games of the season, just how good he is, when given a chance.

Steven Gerrard vs Juan Mata

It is fair to say that Liverpool’s season so far has been horrible to say the least, but one of the few bright sparks this season has been the form of Steven Gerrard. Given his age, although there are question marks about whether he can play in every single game, the Englishman has certainly made an impact on the games that he has played in. Unfortunately for him and the Reds, the lack of fire power up front has meant that much of it has gone to waste.

On the other side, picking up the attacking mantel for United will be Juan Mata. The Spaniard has been one of the players that has hugely benefited from the injury to Angel Di Maria. Mata has finally got a consistent run of games and has shown plenty of times whether  from set pieces or from open play, just how valuable he is, even though he doesn’t have the pace and energy that the Argentine would have brought on. If he can continue his good form against the Reds, with the form that Wayne Rooney and especially Robin Van Persie is in, he might just be able to script a comfortable victory for the Red Devils.