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

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