5 key battles to look out for during Manchester United vs Liverpool

#2 Mohamed Salah vs Ashley Young

Stopping Mohamed Salah will be key to United's game plan

Every left back who has faced Liverpool this season has had the near-impossible task of containing Mohamed Salah. Salah has had an unbelievable first season at Liverpool, scoring 31 goals in all competitions already. The Egyptian is top of the Golden Boot chart and has played a key part in propelling Liverpool to third place in the process.

His sheer pace, trickery, and skill have left many defenders trailing in his wake. Ashley Young will be tasked with the near-impossible job of stopping Salah on Saturday.

Young has enjoyed a resurgent season, lining up as a makeshift left-back for Jose Mourinho ahead of specialists Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian. He has put in solid performances consistently in defence, and his experience has proved key for United.

But he clearly lacks the pace to compete with Salah. It will be interesting to see how he copes in that department. Liverpool are deadly on the break and Young will have to deal with Salah's pacy runs behind the United defensive line.

Ashley Young will have to rely on his some positioning and remaining close to Salah at all times, thus keeping him devoid of space.

Perhaps Mourinho will assign someone else to mark Salah too. Either way, Young will have his hands full on Saturday. How he will cope with Salah will be fascinating to watch, and key for United if they are to win the game.