Rohan Sengupta
Manchester United will host their bitter rivals, Liverpool, this weekend hoping to toughen their claim for a second-place finish behind Manchester City.
The Red Devils are second in the Premier League and sit just two points above Liverpool after beating Crystal Palace 3-2 in a thrilling encounter on Monday.
Liverpool, on the other hand, progressed safely into the Champions League quarter-finals in midweek following a 5-0 aggregate win over FC Porto. But this weekend, they have a tougher assignment against United, who will be on a high after securing a comeback win at Palace.
With Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea also aiming for a top-four finish, this weekend’s feisty encounter keeps a vital importance.
Anthony Martial missed the Crystal Palace game with a knock, but 888sport predicts he could make a swift come back. Ander Herrera is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo remain doubtful against Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini are all on the long-term injury list.
Probable Manchester United XI
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Manager: Jose Mourinho
David De Gea (GK)
The best keeper on the planet, De Gea has saved our skin since last few years and will start in the feisty clash against Liverpool.
Antonio Valencia (RB)
Valencia has been reliable at right-back and will continue to do his job for Mourinho.
Chris Smalling (CB)
Smalling has had terrible 2018 so far but he came good in the game at Palace. He will have an uphill task to keep Firmino at bay.
Eric Bailly (CB)
Bailly has just returned from a long-term injury and given a lot is at stake on Saturday, the Ivorian should be handed a start.
Luke Shaw (LB)
For all good Young has been as an auxiliary left-back, it is high time for Mourinho to start trusting Shaw and give him a shot against Liverpool. Young has been defensively naïve and to keep the in-form Salah quiet, Shaw’s inclusion makes sense.
Nemanja Matic (CDM)
Matic scored a wonder goal- his first in United strips- to hand our club an injury-time victory over Palace on Monday. He will be on a high and will have to be at his best against the Reds.
Paul Pogba (LCM)
Pogba has not been at his breathtaking best since the last month and will have to step up on Saturday to ensure United take all three points.
Scot McTominay (RCM)
For all the trust Mourinho has put on McTominay, the 21-year-old has been brilliant. And just like McTominay was given a chance to shine against Chelsea last month, the same is expected this time around against Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Alexis Sanchez (LW)
Sanchez is yet to settle at United but the fans will have high expectations from him on Saturday.
Jesse Lingard (RW)
Lingard arguably has been our best player in the last month or two and it’ll be naïve on Mourinho’s part to not start him on Saturday.
Romelu Lukaku (ST)
Lukaku is simply buzzing with confidence lately. The big Belgian has been delivering the goods lately for our team; expect him to be a handful for the Liverpool defenders.
