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The whole lot that it’s worthwhile to know forward of Sunday’s match:
(1) It’s Liverpool once more — this time within the fourth spherical of the FA Cup. And, primarily based on Liverpool’s stunning 1-0 loss to Burnley on Thursday, this weekend’s match takes on much more significance. Will Jurgen Klopp shift his focus to the FA Cup together with his aspect now six factors behind the leaders? Both means, Liverpool shall be nicely up for this one after seeing their four-year house profitable streak snapped by the Clarets.
(2) Manchester United, alternatively, enter this cup tie recent off a 2-1 win over Fulham. The Reds as soon as once more fell behind on their travels, however shortly regrouped and Edinson Cavani equalized quickly after. Within the second half, Paul Pogba’s sixty fifth minute winner despatched United again to the summit.
(3) Final week’s 0-0 draw between these two sides will hopefully show to be nothing greater than a bland appetizer to Sunday’s essential course. Liverpool dominated possession within the early going, however struggled to place their possibilities on the right track — letting Manchester United off the hook for a poor begin. After the break, although, United discovered their footing and will have stolen the factors if both Bruno Fernandes or Paul Pogba had been in a position to beat Alisson.
(4) Sadly, Manchester United could possibly be with out one among their standout performers from final weekend’s draw at Anfield. Victor Lindelöf missed the Fulham win due to that nagging again harm, throwing his availability for this cup tie into doubt. The middle again made ten clearances towards Liverpool — probably the most by any United participant in a Premier League match to this point this season.
Solskjaer says Victor Lindelof is absent, as he nonetheless has issues together with his again. He did not wish to take any possibilities and he hopes he shall be prepared for this weekend. [MUTV] pic.twitter.com/Ox3ZFJufYG
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) January 20, 2021
(5) The latest Liverpool scoring drought continues to baffle followers and pundits alike. A 12 months after scoring 85 targets within the league, Liverpool are working nicely behind that tempo this season — regardless of the continued availability of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mo Salah. Liverpool have now gone 4 Premier League matches in a row with out scoring, which final occurred throughout the Gerard Houllier period.
(6) Maybe it’s a domino impact from the defensive accidents to Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip (though he returned towards Burnley on Thursday), and Joe Gomez. That compelled Jurgen Klopp to shift Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to heart again, robbing Liverpool’s midfield of its hard-pressing depth, which in flip leaves the entrance line dealing with a extra settled opposition protection.
(7) Roberto Firmino is taking a number of the blame. His all-around recreation on the ahead place stays fairly sturdy, however the Brazilian’s wastefulness in entrance of purpose and questionable shot choice has grow to be an enormous downside. Solely Patrick Bamford of Leeds has blown extra massive possibilities than Firmino’s eight this season.
(8) On Thursday evening, Klopp frivolously rotated his aspect for Burnley’s go to to Anfield — resting Firmino and Salah (although they each got here on earlier than the hour mark) and holding Jordan Henderson out with a slight muscular downside. The entire match was oddly low-energy from Liverpool, with solely uncommon moments of pleasure and depth — and never an entire lot of urgent till the determined latter phases. Within the first half, Divock Origi had a clear run at purpose however smacked his shot towards the crossbar with simply the keeper to beat. A stunning miss that completely sums up the previous few weeks for Liverpool.
(9) One participant who deserves an opportunity to spur Liverpool’s moribund assault again to life is Takumi Minamino. The Japan worldwide scored in final month’s 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace, however was then caught on the bench for the following 4 league matches. A small comfort: Minamino got here on within the final ten minutes towards Burnley as Liverpool chased an equalizer.
John Aldridge: “I believe it’s unusual he [Klopp] hasn’t checked out Minamino with Firmino under his finest.
“I believed he may need received 25 minutes at the least towards United however for some motive, he isn’t getting the time.”
— Anfield Version (@AnfieldEdition) January 20, 2021
(10) Klopp on Liverpool’s woeful begin to 2021:
It isn’t the luckiest interval of our lives, for positive not. However I believe it might be a bit low cost to place all of it on that — that we’ve got not sufficient luck or in a particular second. I believe our downside is the decision-making within the second.
It’s not cool to say it now, however we gained video games with lesser possession towards Burnley, with lesser possibilities towards Burnley, and we gained them. Tonight, we didn’t win as a result of we didn’t rating within the conditions. After I have a look at the sport again now and once I give it some thought — in all of the interviews I had sufficient time to assume a bit of bit about it — how is it potential that you just lose that recreation? However we misplaced it. That’s our, and meaning my, fault.
(11) The winner of this tie will host both Doncaster Rovers or West Ham United within the subsequent spherical. Within the third spherical, the Hammers went on the street and defeated non-league Stockport County in fairly tough circumstances, so David Moyes’s aspect must be well-prepared to tackle League One’s Rovers.
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