Following Liverpool’s last-gasp equaliser against Arsenal on Wednesday, it’s important that the Reds can carry that momentum into Sunday’s game with Manchester United, and earn three points that would make the midweek draw look like a point gained rather than two dropped.
That won’t come easy, though, against a United side who have had the better of Liverpool in their last three meetings, and sit three points above Jurgen Klopp’s Reds in the table.
Here’s how Liverpool should line up against Louis van Gaal’s side.
GK: Simon Mignolet
For our sins, we’ll see the Belgian between the sticks against United. Just picturing his compatriot Marouane Fellaini clattering into him, causing him all sorts of bother at set-pieces.
RB: Nathaniel Clyne
An obvious pick, Clyne will keep up his run of starting every Premier League game for the Reds this season. He’ll probably play in all 38, fitness depending.
CB: Steven Caulker
Toure didn’t disgrace himself on Wednesday by any means, but he was somewhat out of his depth. Time for Caulker to show the Kopites that he’s worthy of wearing the famous red.
CB: Mamadou Sakho
Needs to play his way into form. For some reason it seems to take him a while to get up to speed whenever he comes back from a knock. He was pretty rubbish against Arsenal, in truth.
LB: Alberto Moreno
Just like the full-back on the other side of the pitch, Moreno is a shoo-in. Imagine if Klopp lashed Jose Enrique in. Carnage would ensue.
CM: Jordan Henderson
Expect it to be a fluid front six, and it may not be clear at times exactly what formation Liverpool are playing, which has at times been the case under Klopp (not necessarily a bad thing). But there’s no doubt the imperious captain will be in the side.
CM: Emre Can
His legs went in the second half against Arsenal; hopefully that won’t be the case against United. It’ll need to be “heavy metal football” from start to finish if the Reds are to topple the bitter rivals.
CM: Joe Allen
Allen to replace James Milner who, bar the first half an hour or so, looked off the pace against Arsenal. The Welsh Pirlo’s masterful display at Stoke City and his late goal on Wednesday earn him a place in the XI.
AMR: Jordon Ibe
Didn’t have his best game midweek, but consistency is hard to come by with players of Ibe’s age. His pace is always a threat, and he’s started to add goals to his repertoire this term.
AML: Adam Lallana
Could end up being deployed anywhere, conceivably in a free role off the front. He’s had an upturn in form of late, and invariably works his socks off until the final whistle.
ST: Roberto Firmino
Klopp can’t exactly drop him after Wednesday, can he? False nine appears to be his best position. Christian Benteke will have to wait.