[Android1974]

For the optimists, just a reminder the corresponding away game last season was one of the few Young started as a winger (left) and Rashford did an Eto’o on the right (which gives some hope for the true believers in two wide-forwards). And Pogba was the #10.

 

[slir32]

I see Lingard starting this game with Mhiki and Martial on the bench.

 

[Android1974]

Worse case scenario, we'll see a 4-4-2 like against Chelsea last season, where Valencia and Young were the wingers.

 

[VP89]

I see Lingard starting this game with Mhiki and Martial on the bench.

That would be pretty terrible. I don't think he will bench rashford and martial together though. Didn't rashford play in the same fixture last year albeit mostly stationed as a left back?

 

[VP89]

Worse case scenario, we'll see a 4-4-2 like against Chelsea last season, where Valencia and Young were the wingers.

Didn't we play 352?

 

[Klopper76]

I know it’s Anfield but I can’t help but think this will be a convincing win.

Their defence is a shambles and our attack has every tool to cause it real damage.

Our wide players should give their fullbacks more than enough to think about and limit the support for their attacking players. Lukaku will score a header or two.


All the while our defence should limit their chances.


0-3

I find it incredible when someone has this attitude before this fixture. How often do United comfortably beat us at Anfield?

It'll be tight and nervy as it always is when Mourinho comes to Anfield. You're definitely favourites though.

 

[Liver_bird]

Aren't you playing quite well? Think you'll thump Newcastle later and that would help the confidence a bit.

Put a few past Newcastle and it'll be a good cure for what ails us, but the chances missed coupled with the defensive side of the game isn't making for a pretty combination atm.

 

[Android1974]

Didn't we play 352?

It was quite asymmetrical, I'll admit to that. But, even according to Mourinho, the only time we played three at the back was the two games against Rostov. For the FA Cup game, we had Jones–Smalling–Rojo–Darmian, and for the home game Herrera–Bailly–Rojo–Darmian (with Herrera doing an extreme job on Hazard who kept on the wing). In both, the Valencia-Young combo as wingers.

 

[Klopper76]

Put a few past Newcastle and it'll be a good cure for what ails us, but the chances missed coupled with the defensive side of the game isn't making for a pretty combination atm.

Amen. A nice 3-0 win later would calm the nerves going into the international break.

 

[slir32]

That would be pretty terrible. I don't think he will bench rashford and martial together though. Didn't rashford play in the same fixture last year albeit mostly stationed as a left back?

Lingard will bench Mata so Rashford will start with Martial on the bench. Mhiki will also be benched due to playing a 3 man midfield.

 

[ChaddyP]

Didn't we play 352?

No not really. Played an extremely narrow 4 at the back with a flat 4 in midfield

 

[Alabaster Codify7]

First test of the season. I 'king hate playing this lot, I feel sick when we lose to them and this is their Cup Final in terms of league games.

-------------------------DDG-------------------------------
Valencia---------Bailly--------Jones--------------Young
------------------------Matic-----------------------------
---------Herrera------------------Fellaini---------------
Mata-------------------------------------------Martial
----------------------Lukaku----------------------------

SUBS - Rashford (Martial), Mkhitaryan (Mata), Lingard (Herrera)

An barn-burner of a game, with both defences making mistakes when faced with speed and aggression:

Liverpool 2 - 2 Man United
Coutinho and Firmino.
Lukaku and Rashford.

 

[Kapardin]

Win would be great, but a draw wouldn't be a disaster considering the cushion we have in terms of a lead.

I'd go with a midfield three of Matic, Herrera and Fellaini. Lukaku and Fellaini should have some joy against their CBs. I can't see us not scoring against that Liverpool backline, and similarly I can see Mane or Salah scoring against us.

I'll go with 1-2 to United assuming all our players return uninjured and fit after the break. Smash and grab.

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

Practice our corners a bit and Fellaini could get a hat trick

 

[Android1974]

Win would be great, but a draw wouldn't be a disaster considering the cushion we have in terms of a lead.

I'd go with a midfield three of Matic, Herrera and Fellaini. Lukaku and Fellaini should have some joy against their CBs. I can't see us not scoring against that Liverpool backline, and similarly I can see Mane or Salah scoring against us.

I'll go with 1-2 to United assuming all our players return uninjured and fit after the break. Smash and grab.

Are we fighting for the title with City or what?

 

[paulscholes18]

DDG
Bailly Jones Darmian
Herrera*
Valencia Matic Fellaini Young
Lukaku Martial

*man marking Mane

 

[Irrational.]

They will target our LB no matter who we play there, their RW is their best player and our LB options are our biggest weakness.

This is exactly the reason why I can see Rashford starting ahead of Martial for this one. We'll probably double/ triple down on the left, and Jose seems to favour Rashford's defensive contribution more.

Predicted team:

DDG

Bailly, Smalling, Jones

Valencia, Matic, Fellaini, Blind

Mkhitaryan, Lukaku, Rashford

I'd take a draw.

 

[Android1974]

This is exactly the reason why I can see Rashford starting ahead of Martial for this one. We'll probably double/ triple down on the left, and Jose seems to favour Rashford's defensive contribution more.

Predicted team:

DDG

Bailly, Smalling, Jones

Valencia, Matic, Fellaini, Blind

Mkhitaryan, Lukaku, Rashford

I'd take a draw.

Blind has no speed to match Salah, it's asking for trouble.

 

[Irrational.]

Blind has no speed to match Salah, it's asking for trouble.

Does Salah play RW or LW? If RW, you may be correct. But then again I don't think Young or Darmian are much quicker. Three at the back is the way to go I think.

If only Shaw was on form!

On a side note, we'll also need to be wary of Liverpool/ Coutinho potshots from outside the box. They seem to love peppering the goal, no matter how crap the opportunity. Occasionally, a few creep in. It's probably why the stats are always a bit skewed at the end of the game and make it seem like they've sent the opposition keeper into overdrive, when in fact they only have 3-4 legitimate chances.

 

[Android1974]

Does Salah play RW or LW? If RW, you may be correct. But then again I don't think Young or Darmian are much quicker. Three at the back is the way to go I think.

If only Shaw was on form!

On a side note, we'll also need to be wary of Liverpool/ Coutinho potshots from outside the box. They seem to love peppering the goal, no matter how crap the opportunity. Occasionally, a few creep in. It's probably why the stats are always a bit skewed at the end of the game and make it seem like they've sent the opposition keeper into overdrive, when in fact they only have 3-4 legitimate chances.

Mané on the left, Salah on the right. Coutinho through the left-middle.

 

[RuudTom83]

Last season Jose approached these big games with a very defeatist outlook, seemingly accepting United weren't good enough to win without playing very negative and trying to just nick a goal late on.

This season I hope the approach is very different! and regardless of the result I'll be happy to see United just play confidently and not worry 100% on how too stop Liverpool!

 

[I Believe]

Depends on how much of a gamble Jurgen is going to take? Will he go for the early 'press' and try to overwhelm us, or will he try Jose's tactic of sitting back and trying to hit us on the counteract.

IMO out of the two teams we are now much stronger than we were last year at the time of this game, whereas Liverpool are not much different, our two new arrivals i.e. Matic and Lukaku are much better than their two new ones the 'Ox' and ...? And they have made us much better balanced side overall. I suspect there will be more 'squeaky bums' amongst Liverpool fans than there are amongst Uniteds!

 

[ShadesOfTomato]

Aren't you playing quite well? Think you'll thump Newcastle later and that would help the confidence a bit.

Playing well everywhere except in either box.

 

[Red Dreams]

losing Pogba is a pain. But we have Herrera.

 

[Treble]

It's a good moment to play them. They are lacking in confidence now.

 

[K2K]

It's a good moment to play them. They are lacking in confidence now.

Its actually the worst time.

They are game raisers of note.

 

[Andycoleno9]

I expect that they will play like that is their last match in life. Constant pressure on ref, etc...
We will go 3 at the back and 3 in midfield. Mikhi will be on the bench. Martial and lukaku in attack.
Last games proved that liverpool is all about counter attacks so i guess we will park the bus and try to counter them. But our biggest chance are set pieces. They can't defend fellaini, matic, lukaku, bailly.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Lukaku has 5 goals in 11 Premier League games against Liverpool. Considering he was playing for West Brom and Everton that's a pretty good ratio.

 

[automaticflare]

I find it incredible when someone has this attitude before this fixture. How often do United comfortably beat us at Anfield?

It'll be tight and nervy as it always is when Mourinho comes to Anfield. You're definitely favourites though.

Haha I hope he is right but I agree

I would take a scabby 1-0 at a field all day. Even a point. Liverpool have beaten us too many times with absolute tripe for me to think anything else. I'm sure was same other way around before fergie was gaffer and Liverpool were dominating

 

[edcunited1878]

Per usual, it will be a scrappy and tense affair. Form will go out the window. Pool players will be up for this as will the Kop.

A main concern going into the match will be the referee assigned to the match.

Hope to see Herrera start and wouldn't mind 3 center mids. Match the energy in midfield and test their back line when possible.

 

[The Brown Bull]

It's a good moment to play them. They are lacking in confidence now.

Dosn't really apply to this fixture .

 

[Adisa]

Hope our deliveries from set pieces are on point. Martial's crossing from open play has been superb, same with Young. Fellaini and Lukaku could have a field day.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

city are showing us the standard required to win this league this season by defeating Chelsea at Stamford bridge

We have to win this match

 

[17Larsson]

As usual this is Liverpool's cup final so their recent form has no relevance. I'd be happy with a draw.

When we get to the proper top teams at the end of October we'll know how we are set for the season

 

[Hugh Jass]

We will have to win given Citys form, but I would take a draw.

4-3-3 with Rashford and Martial on the wings. Mou will probably go with Lingard.

 

[BusbyMalone]

We should really be looking to win this one. They're average over the park apart from Coutinho and perhaps Mane. Everywhere else we should be bettering them.

While they will undoubtedly raise their game, it shouldn't be enough

 

[nutmegrush]

city are showing us the standard required to win this league this season by defeating Chelsea at Stamford bridge

We have to win this match

This

 

[groovyalbert]

Win this and we open a 10 point gap on them already. They will be desperate for a win here and will certainly raise their performance levels from the pretty shoddy run of form they're currently on. Given the fact all the other big 6 have relatively easy games that weekend, a draw for Liverpool will just see them slip further behind at this early stage.

I imagine we'll see, injuries permitting, both Bailly and Jones at CB due to Liverpool's pace in attack and lack of aerial threat. Although the fact Bailly missed out this weekend might indicate he won't start due to the amount of travel he's committed to over either Jones or Smalling.

I really hope we go there and be positive because there's no way their defence will be able to handle us on the break. This of course massively depends on which Jose shows up but for the first time in years, if you were to offer me a draw before an away game at Anfield, I'm not sure if I'd take it.

 

[Adisa]

We go to Anfield as favs.
That makes me worried.

 

[donkeyfish]

I would love it to be a windy day and for us to win with an offside goal.

Indeed

Would be perfection