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The biggest game in English football is on the horizon, with Liverpool hosting Manchester United in a Premier League fixture at Anfield on Sunday.
Both sides come into this clash in slightly different form. The Red Devils are currently the in-form team in the league with a 12-game unbeaten run propelling them to the summit of the table.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have not won a league game for almost a month and would be seeking a victory on home turf.
The North-West derby is widely regarded as the fiercest rivalry in English football but this is the first time in a long while that both sides will face off with a lot on the line.
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Beyond the bragging rights, there is also the not-so-small matter of first place on offer, as Manchester United are currently three points clear of the Reds.
If the Red Devils win at the weekend, the lead will extend the to six points, and this is hardly a tenable scenario for Jurgen Klopp to consider.
Liverpool were rampant en route to their title win last season but the defence of their crown has been less dominant, with injuries to key players playing a key role.
Given the pedigree and history of both sides, it stands to reason that some of the greatest names in the history of football have graced this fixture. And the current squads of Manchester United and Liverpool are no different.
Both teams currently have several world-beaters in different positions and they will all strive to bring their A-game to the fore on Sunday.
With a lot riding on the outcome of the game, there is an opportunity for the players to cement their legacies in the annals of their respective clubs with a pristine performance at Anfield.
Here, we shall be having a rundown of five players to watch out for as Liverpool host Manchester United on Sunday.
#5 Trent-Alexander Arnold
Over the last three years, Trent-Alexander Arnold has grown stratospherically from a Kirkby-trained graduate to arguably the standout right-back in the world.
His pristine crossing and set-piece abilities have seen many pencil him down for a role in attack later in his career. And it is not a stretch to suggest that Alexander-Arnold is one of the most important players at Liverpool.
Having set the record for most assists in a season for a defender last year, big things were expected from the 22-year-old this term.
It has, however, not gone to plan for Alexander-Arnold, as he is currently struggling to find his best form in what has been an underwhelming campaign.
However, despite his current malaise, the England internatonal remains one of the best players in his position. And the game against Manchester United offers him an excellent opportunity to get back to his best.
A good performance against the Red Devils will boost the Liverpool right-back's confidence immensely and could prove to be the impetus to kickstart his season.
#4 Paul Pogba
On his day, Paul Pogba is arguably one of the best players in the world, but the agony for Manchester United fans has been his wildly inconsistent displays.
After being dropped from the starting line-up earlier in the season, the France international has become a key man in recent weeks for the Red Devils.
He put in a man-of-the-match performance against Burnley last week, scoring the winning goal as Manchester United climbed to the summit of the table.
Given Pogba's current form, the Liverpool fixture offers the World Cup winner a perfect opportunity to showcase the full range of his abilities.
In many ways, this game draws similarities from the Manchester derby three years ago. Back then, Manchester City visited Old Trafford looking to wrap up the title with a victory.
A two-goal first half lead seemingly set them on their path to victory but Pogba was the driving force, starring with a brace as Manchester United came from behind to record a 3-2 victory.
If Manchester United are to get the job done against Liverpool, they will need their most expensive signing to step up to the fore and in his current form, Paul Pogba is definitely up to the task.
#3 Thiago Alcantara
Earlier in the season, Thiago Alcantara had a debut to remember for Liverpool, as he set numerous passing records against Chelsea in a 45-minute cameo. He will hope to do the same against Manchester United on Sunday.
The Red Devils had been heavily linked with him earlier in his career and this fixture offers the Spain international a perfect opportunity to show the Mancunians what they missed out on.
Thiago's time at Liverpool has been hampered severely by injuries and a bout with COVID-19. But he showcased his abilities when he came on and changed the complexion of the game against a youthful Aston Villa side in the FA Cup.
He possesses pristine vision, passing, and an uncanny knack to control the tempo of a game with minimal effort. This makes him one of the best midfielders in the world, and the former Barcelona man will hope to be at the fore against Manchester United.
The midfield battle will be essential to getting the job done in this game and with Thiago calling the shots from the middle, Liverpool will fancy their chances of usurping their arch-rivals at the summit.
#2 Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah has had a relatively indifferent last few weeks by his extremely high standards. But the Egypt international still leads the way for the Premier League Golden Boot.
The former Chelsea man has been one of the standout players in the world since signing for Liverpool in 2017.
Salah initially struggled against Manchester United, failing to score in his first four games versus the Red Devils. But he finally broke his duck at the fifth time of asking in January 2020.
The 2018 PFA Player of the Year is currently on a three-game goalless run in the league, which makes him even more dangerous in front of goal.
In light of this, the Manchester United defence will do well to keep a close eye on the Liverpool talisman.
#1 Bruno Fernandes
As far as debut calendar years go at a club, few if any, throughout history can match Bruno Fernandes' spectacular output at Manchester United.
The Portugal international has been directly involved in 33 Premier League goals from just 31 games, and his form has seen him break several records in under a year.
He recently became the first man in history to win four Premier League Player of the Month awards in a calendar year. For how integral he is to Manchester United, it is difficult to imagine the club playing without him.
His impact has been instant and transformational and in many ways, his immediate influence on the club can only be compared to that of Eric Cantona in 1992.
Fernandes is yet to face Liverpool in his Manchester United career and having been earlier accused of failing to turn up in the big games by Roy Keane, this is a perfect opportunity to silence his critics.
For all of the 26-year-old's displays, he is yet to win a trophy with the Red Devils. But if he can inspire them to three points against their biggest rivals, this could well be the season that Manchester United end their eight-year wait for league glory.
