Earlier this week, we took to FIFA 20 to simulate Sunday’s game at Old Trafford.
It was a tense affair and one full of late drama. However, since then, it has been revealed that both Paul Pogba and David De Gea are likely to miss the clash for United, while Xherdan Shaqiri is also sidelined for the Reds.
With this added teams news, we took to the pitch once again to see what difference it could make and this is what FIFA 20 thinks may happen over the weekend.
The Teams
Man United XI: Romero; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Matic; James, Mata, Martial; Rashford.
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
FIRST HALF
Liverpool started the game brightly, with Sadio Mane finding space on the edge of the area. His powerful drive rattled the post after just five minutes.
The Reds dominated the ball and it was Mane again who tested Romero with 25 minutes on the clock. His shot from the right was well saved, with the Argentinian getting a strong hand to the ball at his near post.
However, it was Firmino who opened the scoring with a delicate touch to send the ball through the legs of Romero and make it 1-0.
Second half
United’s only real outlet in the attack was Daniel James, who was lining up on the right. His speed saw him get in behind Andy Robertson on the counter a few too many times for Klopp’s liking, but the Welshman was lacking any real end product.
Firmino had a great chance to double Liverpool’s lead in the 82nd minute. He met a low cross from Salah on the turn, but his shot could only hit the outside of the post and it remained 1-0.
However, this would all change in the 89th minute when substitute Andreas Pereira sent a defence-splitting pass through the Liverpool backline and Jesse Lingard rifled the ball home from close range to make it 1-1 in the dying seconds.
Liverpool were not done there though. As they went in search of a winner with just moments left in the game, Sadio Mane volleyed home from the left to make it 2-1 and give the Reds all three points in dramatic fashion.
FINAL SCORE
Liverpool fans will be hoping to see a similar scoreline on Sunday, maybe with a little less drama!
It was by no means an easy game for the visitors, who in truth played much more like the home team, with United sitting deep and inviting on the Liverpool pressure.
United did well to get back into the game, but in the end they were undone late on. With two crucial injuries in the build-up to the game, things may well have been different if both Pogba and De Gea were fit, but it wasn’t to be for them this time around.
