Monday 17 October 2016 20:02, UK
Ahead of Liverpool's meeting with Manchester United on Monday Night Football, tactical expert Danny Higginbotham picks out four factors that could decide the contest.
Jurgen Klopp's in-form side are the bookmakers' favourites having won their last five games in a row, but Jose Mourinho will be eager to halt their progress at Anfield.
From Liverpool's "exceptional" movement to United's threat from set pieces, Higginbotham looks at where the encounter will be won and lost...
Liverpool's fluid attack
The Reds rank top for chances created and goals scored in the Premier League this season, with Roberto Firmino, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane causing all kinds of problems for opposition defences.
Firmino has shone as Liverpool's false nine, but Klopp encourages his players to interchange positions when they are on the attack, and Higginbotham believes their intelligent movement could cause issues for United.
"I love watching them," he said on Sky Sports News HQ. "The way they come short and go long, it's just constant movement from the players with one or two-touch passes. The movement is exceptional, it really is brilliant. It could be Firmino, it could be Mane or it could be Coutinho as that false nine."
Liverpool's central striker drops deep in order to drag the centre-backs out of position, creating space for his team-mates to exploit behind them.
"If Eric Bailly is the one in that situation, for example, it will leave space for Coutinho to get in between the full-back and the centre-half," said Higginbotham. "It's something they have done really, really well this season. It's very difficult for teams to deal with it."
Importance of Herrera
Higginbotham believes Ander Herrera will be United's most important defensive player. The Spaniard has impressed in holding midfield lately, and Higginbotham says he will need to pick up Liverpool's roving false nine in order to allow Bailly and Chris Smalling to hold their positions at the back.
"One man that is going to be vital for Manchester United if he does play, and I expect him to play, will be Herrera," said Higginbotham. "We talk about Manchester United playing a 4-2-3-1, but it's more of a 4-1-4-1 with him just sitting in front of the two centre-backs.
"He's the one going to win the ball, and it enables the two centre-backs to stay in the areas they feel more comfortable. It allows the back four to stay more compact. This is where Herrera is so important.
"If the false nine or centre forward drops off, usually what you would find is that the two centre-backs would get dragged out there. But because of where Herrera is, it means Bailly and Smalling can stay where they are.
"Those areas which were there for Liverpool to run into are no longer there because the back four is able to stay nice and compact."
Herrera will need to be particularly mindful of Adam Lallana, according to Higginbotham. The former Southampton man is an injury doubt for Monday's game, but Klopp will be hoping he is available after three goals and three assists in his first seven appearances.
"He is so good at finding areas that have been vacated by the centre-forwards," said Higginbotham. "He has probably been one of Liverpool's standout players this season. If he's fit and he has that time and space to run into, there will be big problems, there's no doubt about it."
Set piece significance
At the other end of the pitch, Higginbotham believes Liverpool's weakness from set pieces could be exploited by United. Klopp's men have long-standing issues with defending corners and free kicks, while Mourinho's side boasts plenty of aerial prowess.
"You've got Smalling, you've got Pogba, you've got Ibrahimovic," said Higginbotham. "They are going to be such a threat."
United scored three times from corners in their 4-1 thrashing of Leicester before the international break, and Higginbotham believes they could get more joy against Liverpool's zonal marking system.
"With the players that United have got, if Liverpool are going to go zonal then I think it could be a real weakness for them when United get the opportunities," he said.
United's threat from the flanks
It's not just from set plays that United could trouble Liverpool. Mourinho's men rank third in the Premier League for crosses from open play this season, and Higginbotham thinks it could be another productive route to goal.
"This has been something they have done very well," he said. "When you've got a focal point like Ibrahimovic in the box, you should use him. This is vital for Manchester united. We've seen time and time again the amount of crosses they like to put in."
Liverpool have been susceptible from crosses into the box this season, so their forward players will have to work hard to cut off the supply, according to Higginbotham.
"When we talk about the likes of Mane, Firmino and Coutinho, we talk about them being vital attacking options, but two of them are also going to be vital defending. What you will find is that Lingard will drag Clyne inside, and Rashford will do the same with Milner."
That allows United's full-backs to bomb forward. "What we have seen is this season is the likes of Blind and Valencia running into that space," added Higginbotham. "Liverpool have got to make a 4-5-1 quickly, and they've got to make sure that when [United's full-backs] go into those areas, Mane and Coutinho are tracking them."
You can watch Liverpool v Man Utd, plus England's tour of Bangladesh and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price!
