Man Utd vs Liverpool: Dilemmas and decisions for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jurgen Klopp

Manchester United host Premier League leaders Liverpool at Old Trafford on Super Sunday in a game that can go a long way to defining both teams seasons.
For United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the chance to kick-start their effort start of a year in 30 years. For Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, their claim would be further strengthened by a 18th straight League win for the title.
The contrasting fortunes of these rivals might be primitive but the importance of this fixture stays, it might be the one and when every boss could have their players fit and firing for 1 match.
Having an injury list as long as his arm, the break offered Solskjaer time to set up his group away the pitch and look for alternatives after Uniteds defeat at Newcastle confirmed their worst start to a year in 30 years.
But just because it appeared players were returning to fitness and there was a glimmer of light at the end of the tube, the trauma curse which has led, in part, to Uniteds slump has struck again, and in the worst possible moment ahead of Premier League leaders Liverpools visit to Old Trafford.
David de Gea, the latest inpatient to the United treatment room, pulled up in innocuous situation having a groin injury while on international duty with Spain, casting huge doubt over his accessibility on Sunday, despite Solskjaer demonstrating that the injury is not as bad as first feared.
I really dont expect him to play, but it was not too bad as feared, that the United supervisor said. When I saw the harm I thought,Thats him out before the next global break because we have had any long-term muscle injuries.
And news of De Geas injury was compounded by confirmation which Paul Pogba and this season will perform no part against Liverpool, the talismanic Frenchman to shake off an ankle injury that has limited him to just six appearances for United.
Itd be disingenuous to predict the decision Solskjaer has on who deputises for De Gea a selection dilemma given the pedigree of that which United have in reserve, to make.
So far as backup goalkeepers proceed, they do not come more experienced or far better than Sergio Romero.
The Argentine World Cup finalist has never put a foot wrong from his own job as De Geas understudy and is a shoo-in before Lee Grant to launch against Liverpool in the lack of Uniteds No. 1.
Luke Shaw has showcased just 3 times for United this year, with the last of these appearances coming to Crystal Palace in Augusts defeat.
The left-back has returned after a hamstring injury that was protracted and, even he is brought back in the fold, if he passes a fitness test, although Axel Tuanzebe and Ashley Young may be favored.
A chance is Sundays match may come soon for Shaw, but theres no doubt that his place will be regained by Aaron Wan-Bissaka after sitting out the last three matches with tonsillitis.
His addition next to Harry Maguire at centre-back isnt a given, together with the kind one of few positives in Uniteds current slump of Tuanzebe although victor Lindelof obtained a valuable 90 minutes under his belt to Sweden during the international break.
Since Manchester United had the luxury of turning into Anthony Martial it has been eight long weeks. The Frenchmans thigh pressure couldnt have come at a worse time, with Uniteds attacking choices threadbare after the summer departures of Romelu Lukaku along with Alexis Sanchez.
However, after two months on the treatment table, Martial is in fact to go back, serving up another question within the team Solskjaer will subject.
Daniel James has excelled out to the wing in Martials scarcity and there is a strong case to continue in this place – with the Wales international – the greatest attacking hazard of United.
Luckily for Solskjaer, James versatility in the positions behind the lead striker make him the perfect candidate to switch flanks to accommodate the coming Martial.
James could very easily begin on the right, Martial in his favorite position on the left and possibly Juan Mata from the No. 10 role behind Marcus Rashford.
Following two months of results and performances, plagued by abject screens that are attacking, Uniteds assault could seem in the mould of Solskjaer. Whether that is sufficient to cause Liverpool problems, though, is a different matter.
Although the Liverpool supervisor will give the trio provided that you possibly can recuperate jurgen Klopp will be hoping to have Joel Matip Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah back from injury to the visit to Old Trafford.
Ali, both Joel and Mo are appearing better. Good, we will have to see. Two more sessions to come, then we must make decisions. Nothing fixed nonetheless, he stated at Fridays press conference.
The first call Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has to make for Sundays showdown is that will start in goal to its Premier League leaders – Adrian or Allison?
The latter has not featured since tearing a calf muscle in the first stages of the opening match with Adrian, on August 9 ably deputising to the Brazil of Liverpool.
The Spaniard merely moved to Anfield on a free transfer in August – substituting Simon Mignolet from one error against Southampton – but apart because Liverpools backup goalkeeper, the 32-year-old has largely impressed observers with his serene authority.
Actually, Adrian has got 114 minutes of play for every goal conceded, the best figure for almost anykeeper in the top-flight this season.
This week with Alisson having returned to first-team training, however, Klopp has a choice to make – stay loyal to the former West Ham shot-stopper, that hasnt let his supervisor down because being elevated to the Liverpool beginning line-up.
Or bring his #67m Brazil worldwide, who FIFA voted the best goalkeeper in the world in 2019 back into the fold for a match of significance for the Premier League leaders.
Klopp includes a catchy selection dilemma when it comes to choosing a spouse . The Netherlands international had lined up alongside Joel Matip with the duo forming a formidable partnership at the back for the club, during 2019.
That was before the Cameroonian picked up a knee problem at Liverpools 1-0 win at Sheffield United in September. But, Klopp received yet the following injury boost when Matip available for selection and returned in Melwood on Tuesday, using all the player announcing himself back to fitness.
I am back in practice and I will stay healthy, Matip told the club website. Im back in practice and I feel good. Of course, if Im needed, Ill be there.
In Matips absence, Klopp went with Joe Gomez from Red Bull Salzburg, however after the Champions League holders astonishingly allowed in three goals from the Austrians in Anfield, the Liverpool boss chose to make Dejan Lovren for his first start of the season against Leicester out time.
And furthermore, the seasoned Croatian produced an excellent screen as the team extended their run of successive league victories to 17 following a win.
Specifically, Van Dijk and the way Lovren dovetailed to snuff out the threat of Leicesters pacy striker Jamie Vardy, who had arrived at Anfield impressed Klopp, in type.
Some folks asked me (after the game) about our defending and said it wasnt that great, but I havent seen a team shield Vardy better than now, he explained.
Aside from the situation in the second half as it was a very long ball (for Vardy) and Dejan couldnt really get there quick enough, so I did not find that. Dejan [Lovren] and Virgil did well.
So there is no guarantee Matip will walk back into the group this Sunday, with there every opportunity Klopp will stick .
While we all understand that Klopp will not change his famous 4-3-3 formation to the trip to the Theatre of Dreams this week end, as always it.
Fabinho – even though travelling all the way to Singapore together with Brazil at the recent international break – is currently one of the first titles back on the Liverpool team sheet, particularly given the holding midfielder has to get rid of a Premier League match hes started for the club.
Together with the German needing to select two from James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum along with captain Jordan Henderson but who Klopp selects alongside Fabinho in midfield is open to discussion.
The Liverpool boss frequently bases these conclusions on precisely how many minutes his players have recently awakened, which might indicate a beginning for its evergreen Milner that, following filming against the Foxes, was free to remain at Melwood throughout the global since hes retired from England.
In comparison, Wijnaldum and Henderson equally played every second of Englands and the Netherlands respective Euro 2020 qualifiers, meaning that it could return to a very simple call involving the duo for this closing midfield berth at Old Trafford.
Watch Manchester United vs Liverpool reside on Super Sunday from 3pm on Sky Sports Premier League; Kick-off 4.30pm.
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