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#3 Mohamed Salah vs Luke Shaw
While both Manchester United and Liverpool have lethal goalscorers in their ranks, Mohamed Salah may well be the most prolific of them all. In a season that has seen Liverpool trudge through a litany of debacles, the Egyptian has still managed to hit the 20-goal mark in yet another fruitful campaign.
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Salah's exploits have slipped under the radar this season with Liverpool's inability to create chances in the final third stifling the winger's influence. Mohamed Salah is a ruthless goalscorer at his best and Liverpool will need their talisman to fire against Manchester United.
Luke Shaw is one of the few players in Manchester United's ranks who can keep pace with Salah and will need to wear his running boots against Liverpool. Salah has a penchant for making clever diagonal runs and Manchester United's defence will have to be careful with their positioning and movement.
#2 Thiago Alcantara vs Paul Pogba
Liverpool's passionate fanbase expected the world from Thiago Alcantara when the Spaniard made his high-profile move to Anfield last year. The former Bayern Munich man has had his moments in the Premier League but is yet to come to terms with Liverpool's tactical set-up.
Liverpool depend heavily on their midfield to maintain their high press and Thiago has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks. With Paul Pogba as his opponent on Thursday, however, Thiago Alcantara will need to summon all his talents to guide Liverpool across the line.
The two midfielders can singlehandedly dominate the middle of the pitch on their day and will be intent on proving a point this week. Paul Pogba, in particular, has experienced a renaissance under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and could make a massive impact for Manchester United on Thursday.
#1 Bruno Fernandes vs Georginio Wijnaldum
While Manchester United's resurgence in the Premier League has sprouted from a number of factors, Bruno Fernandes remains the primary driving force. The midfielder has been sensational for the Red Devils and has arguably been one of the most consistent performers in England this season.
With 17 goals and 11 assists in 36 appearances this season, Fernandes has spearheaded Manchester United's successful top-four bid and is an influential presence on the pitch. The Portuguese maestro will be up against a strong midfield this week and will have to work hard to pick Liverpool's lock.
Georginio Wijnaldum has one of Liverpool's most understated performers over the years but his form has seen a discernible dip this year. The Dutchman is a formidable force on his day and will need to be at his best to keep Bruno Fernandes at bay this week.
