Ashley Williams vs Chris Smalling
If you wanted to pick two players, who play in the same position, in the same role, but have two completely different styles of play, you couldn’t have picked a more perfect match than Smalling and Williams. Although both are centre backs who will operate in a flat back four, the way they approach the game is completely different. While Williams is calm and composed, Smalling is known to have patches in between games where he has looked like a liability.
With both sides wanting to go forward, attack, the defence will be even more crucial. Whichever of the two aforementioned centre backs has a better day in the office will likely help their side to a win. Van Gaal would be hoping that his side don’t screw it up again and get the win they need to inch closer to City.