Liverpool FC will take on Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday in a crucial match that could determine who finishes in the top 4 at the end of the season.
The Reds have been in brilliant form ever since losing to United at Old Trafford last December. In fact, they haven’t lost a game since. They will be hoping to extend this run and ensure they get the three points that could help them surpass van Gaal’s side and go in fourth place. However, Manchester United will come into this game in great confidence after beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 in what was probably their best performance of the season.
Therefore, one expects a match of equals and former Liverpool defender Didi Hamann believes Liverpool will benefit from having Raheem Sterling lead the line instead of Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge was left on the bench when Manchester City visited Anfield earlier this month, and Hamann believes that the Liverpool boss may employ the same method for United.
a Thata s what Ia d do, personally,a he said
a I would not be surprised to see Sterling play up top, with Sturridge on the bench.
a I dona t think Daniel is quite at 100% yet, so I think it would be good to have him as a real weapon on the bench for the last half hour, and let Sterling stretch the United defence to start with.
a If you think back to the game at Old Trafford, that was the first time we really saw Sterling used as a striker. And though we lost the game, we created more chances than we had all season, really, and he made a big difference.
a I think hea s played that role beautifully since. It changes everything when you have that pace up front, because you can stretch the game. We lacked that in the first part of the season when Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert were playing up there, but wea ve had it since that Old Trafford game.
a It would be a big call to leave Sturridge out, but I just think Sterling may be the way to go.a
Hamann also said that Liverpool will be favorites for the match, but will be under to perform as a result of it:
a United played very well against Tottenham on Sunday, but thata s one game. Liverpool have been doing that for three months, week in, week out. I think Liverpool go in as favourites, which brings its own pressures, but they are the team in the better form, and I think theya ll get the right result.a