This forthcoming Saturday’s late Premier League kick-off pits arguably the country’s two biggest clubs against one another as Manchester United face off against their old foes Liverpool at Old Trafford.
An incredible treat after a largely dull international break that ended on a triumphant high after Wayne Rooney became England’s all-time leading goalscorer, Saturday’s late kick off takes on extra significance with both the Red Devils and Reds having lost their previous fixtures last time out against Swansea City and West Ham United respectively.
With bouncebackability on the minds of both Louis van Gaal and Brendan Rodgers this weekend, the game will be tough to call although United enjoyed all of the spoils last season defeating the Reds 3-0 at Old Trafford and 2-1 at Anfield with the latter result effectively ending Rodgers’ hopes of securing Champions League qualification.
Currently both on seven points, Manchester United and Liverpool will only have three points in their mind as these best of enemies take to the field on Saturday evening with both clubs looking to peg back the pace setters Manchester City at the top of the table.
Whether they like it or not, both Liverpool and Manchester United are still seen as also rans when it comes to landing the Premier League title and with certain squad shortfalls apparent for both, we’ve taken this moment to devise a list of five United players who could be deemed a perfect fit for Liverpool.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 Manchester United players who would be a perfect fit for Liverpool.
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Antonio Valencia
Now while Liverpool fans may claim that Antonio Valencia wouldn’t get in their squad with even United fans not rating him that highly, the Ecuadorian did prove that he was up for the fight last season when it looked like he might’ve not made Louis van Gaal’s cut.
Previously an out-and-out winger in his time at Wigan Athletic then initially at Old Trafford, Antonio Valencia has showcased great versatility in being able to complete something of a good job much deeper at right back also.
Brendan Rodgers has started this campaign playing a flat back four but we’ve seen last season that he is one of the Premier League’s most versatile managers in terms of switching around his formations so in somebody like Valencia, he’d prove something of a dream to manage for a boss so dynamic in his thinking.
We saw Lazar Markovic dropped into a right wing back role for Liverpool at times last season and we think that with the Serb shipped out on loan to Fenerbahce with his tail between his legs this term, somebody more adept at the role like Valencia would be a perfect fit.
Luke Shaw
Liverpool have started the season with relatively untried Joe Gomez filling in at left back and to his credit ahead of last summer’s multi million purchase and Spanish international Alberto Moreno.
Although Gomez looks a fantastic prospect for somebody so young, he will still make mistakes given he is finding his feet at this level and somebody who is a little further on down the developmental line is Luke Shaw.
Not enjoying the best of debut seasons at Old Trafford last term, Shaw is starting to find his better performances once again and was impressive against Switzerland for England yesterday evening.
With Moreno not the first choice left back at Anfield right now and Gomez not what you would call an experienced automatic pick each week, somebody like Shaw who is young and English – like Brendan Rodgers prefers signing – would be a perfect fit on Merseyside.
David De Gea
Cast your eye over Liverpool’s strongest eleven right now and Reds fans themselves will admit that they could probably upgrade on Simon Mignolet.
In fairness to the Belgian, he might’ve been sold this summer had it not been for his change around in form during the second half of last season after a simply disastrous error-prone start to 2014/15.
Capable of pulling off fantastic stops on his day, Liverpool fans can’t help looking at the calibre of some of their rivals’ keepers such as Petr Cech, Thibaut Courtois and this man David De Gea while thinking they could also do better.
De Gea’s mind may still be clouded somewhat after seeing his deadline day switch to Real Madrid fall through but given his world class abilities, we’re expecting him to be professional over the coming weeks and beyond.
Ashley Young
Similarly to Antonio Valencia during last summer’s pre-season, Ashley Young also played his way into Louis van Gaal’s good books after many pundits compared the Red Devils pair to the Old Trafford scrapheap.
Like the Ecuadorian, Young had to become used to a left wing back role as opposed to being deployed as an out-and-out winger and as a result of this tinkering, he thrived.
Given Brendan Rodgers has liked to play this system in the Anfield hotseat so far, somebody like Young would represent another player for Liverpool’s British core while being able to play in multiple positions as we saw with Jordon Ibe last season.
While these justifications have been given, our resident Reds fans drinking by the car still can’t help feel sick at the thought of premier diver Young being a part of their squad!
Juan Mata
Few players in the Premier League era have represented two elite clubs like Juan Mata has in both Manchester United and Chelsea but given he has proved a hit with both outfits, this is all the justification you need that he could succeed as a perfect fit for Liverpool also.
One criticism levelled at Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool in recent seasons is that the club are no longer capable of signing truly marquee names in the transfer market and in somebody like Mata, he does indeed belong in that category.
Somebody who is also capable of playing anywhere in the attacking midfield positions, Mata is incredibly skilful and someone who ultimately depressed the Kop last season by scoring a noteworthy brace at Anfield to break Reds fans’ hearts.
Liverpool fans will rightly claim they have Philippe Coutinho of course but you sense that Juan Mata is definitely a Brendan Rodgers type of player.
