Capital One Cup: Manchester United vs Liverpool - Gerrard and Welbeck hold key

David Moyes takes on Brendan Rodgers, again!

If the escapades of the transfer window were not enough of a let-down for Manchester United fans, their team’s results against teams like Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are clear indications that the Red Devils are no longer the top dogs that they were last year.

Though the Chelsea game was a draw and United were in command for much of the Liverpool game, the worrying aspect for the management is the lack of goals in big games despite the most lethal strike force in the league.

Liverpool, on the other hand, were all set to make their best start to the league ever with five straight wins. But Rodgers’ bizarre tactic of playing four centre backs against a lively Southampton has left the Reds in uncomfortable despair, despite having successfully evaded the length of Suarez’s ban.

Team news is of contrasting variety in both dressing rooms, as Moyes’s loss of Robin van Persie for the week sees Rodgers’s plunge Luis Suarez straight into the XI. Liverpool were unfortunate to lose Coutinho just when there was the possibility of the Brazilian and the incoming Uruguayan to gel well. Glen Johnson is still out for the Merseysiders, and more importantly, England in October.

Manchester United do not have many more woes on the table, as long term absentee Rafael and tentatively unfit Phil Jones will be the only two misses. After three games in a week, Ferdinand and Vidic might not be fielded together again, which could see Johnny Evans come into the team.

Cleverley’s arrival at 4-0 on Sunday saw United improve vastly in the center, and the young Englishman could be given a chance from the start this time. With ‘Chicharito’ waiting on the side-lines, Welbeck will not start upfront, but rather on the left in place of Ashley Young.

Probable lineups

Manchester United: Amos, Fabio, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Nani, Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez.

Liverpool: Jones, Kelly, Toure, Sakho, Enrique, Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, Suarez, Sterling, Sturridge.

Luiz Suarez’s return to action has unsurprisingly coincided with this game against United, and now, the Old Trafford faithful can revive their jeering of the Uruguayan for the Evra incident. But more interesting would be the position that Brendan Rodgers would chose to play Suarez in.

The form shown by Daniel Sturridge in Suarez’s absence means that Suarez is no longer a first choice as the main striker; with Sturridge’s fitness concern the only loophole in this regard. But considering the importance of this game at such an early stage in the cup, Rodgers would definitely be ready to gamble on Sturridge’s thigh stiffness.

With Sturridge as the furthest forward, Suarez will slot into the No.10 role that was being played by Aspas on Saturday. Against the sturdy pair of Wanyama and Schneiderlin on Saturday, Aspas was barely given time or space on the ball, and there was a major disconnect between the midfield and Sturridge.

Suarez’s presence and antics in that position would prove a much tougher nut for Carrick and Cleverley to crack, especially when Moyes himself will be looking to bring in some fluidity into that midfield double pivot.

Raheem Sterling’s introduction against Southampton saw Sturridge often drop deep on the right and Sterling being played in through the center. Though this might have been Rodgers forcing Luke Shaw out of position, but Sterling’s direct threat at goal could see the 18-year-old being given another chance ahead of Moses on the left.

The duo of Gerrard and Lucas will be expected to start this game too, as both of them seem much more comfortable in possession in the other’s presence.

The choice of fullbacks again comes up on Wednesday as Rodgers could face a wide variety of wingers in Welbeck, Valencia, Zaha, Kagawa or Nani. The left back spot now has another contender in Aly Cissokho, but the presence of Fabio at right back for United means that the Spaniard Jose Enrique will be given preference over the defensively susceptible Cissokho.

Kolo Toure might not get a start at right back as Kelly seems to be ready to return from an injury layoff. Toure’s spot in center of defence is a certainty next to Sakho as Agger’s injury leaves Rodgers with lesser options.

Manchester United will be looking to bounce back

United’s defeat to City has not yet settled among the masses and a much more critical though, realistic look at Moyes’s squad would show either the Capital One Cup or the FA Cup as the Scotsman’s only title hopes.

Fellaini’s arrival may have strengthened United in the middle but the Belgian is being played in the exact same role that he started the season at for Everton; not his most goal scoring position. Against City, both Fellaini and Carrick were made to sit back due to Pellegrini’s prowess in Toure, Nasri and Fernandinho.

Even when on the ball, almost all of Fellaini’s passes were laterally to Valencia and Young rather than being initiators for attacks. Even at Everton, Fellaini was used at CDM by Moyes only in big games and pushed ahead in attack whenever the Blues had possession.

With Fellaini siting back and Carrick distributing from deep, Steven Gerrard is set to have loads of space alongside Lucas. And as Wayne Rooney has never had closing down on his list of attributes, Lucas’s sole job after winning the ball would be playing in Gerrard. So it would seem in United’s best interest to play either Kagawa or the likes of Welbeck in the No.10 role to close down Gerrard, as RVP’s absence upfront would see the likes of Sakho bring the ball forward confidently.

The curious case of Wilfred Zaha and an overdose of Ashley Young on the left seem to have waivered interest away from Patrice Evra’s impressive performances on the left. Though the Frenchman is still as much of a liability in defence, but Moyes’s tactics with Baines seems to be working well on Evra too.

Evra is now often seen holding his run, receiving the ball at his feet and then bursting into space. And this has led to his crossing frequency to vastly improve. Though Van Persie’s absence might reduce the effectiveness of these crosses, Hernandez is another mean target for Evra or Young to aim at.

Valencia along with the fullbacks was also a culprit on Sunday, as the winger rarely tracked back completely with Kolorov. The Ecuadorian winger has seen much more of the ball this season as Moyes’s midfield has seen Valencia get into a much more advanced and central role to allow the fullback more space.

Nani’s new contract and lack of game time means that he might be starting on Wednesday, and this would mean that the right back will receive much lesser cover this time around. This again justifies the need to have Carrick positioned in the halfway point rather than advancing as much of the crowd expected when played alongside Fellaini.

If Moyes sorts out his No.10 issues with regard to closing down Gerrard, then playing Cleverely in the middle is an easier call. With a No.10 sticking to the hole and pressing upfront, a dynamic partner for Michael Carrick is required; which defiantly would not be Fellaini’s description. Cleverely’s impressive show on Sunday suits the role well, and his display featuring Walcott at Wembley could easily be replicated with Nani against Enrique.

While Suarez seems to be the eye candy on show at Old Trafford, Carrick is majorly expected to be able to cover the Uruguayan. But it is the other way round for United, as David Moyes’ choice of forward will have the crucial task of pressing the ball-playing Gerrard and Sakho.

Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool