ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Manchester United v Liverpool: The question of handbrakes and five duels that matter

Liverpool manager JUrgen Kloop and Manchester United boss, Jose Mourinho. [Photo credit: Sky Sports]

Manchester United v Liverpool: The question of handbrakes and five duels that matter

byJide Alaka
March 10, 2018
3 min read

Jurgen Klopp has no qualms about ‘packing the bus’ to get a result, which Jose Mourinho applied in their first meeting last October. The pressure to get a win or at least a point is now even higher and may require the packing of many buses.

United have the toughest defensive unit at home in the EPL, having conceded just six goals in 14 matches while Liverpool are the most prolific on the road, not just in the EPL but in Europe’s top five leagues with 34 goals scored in 14 matches.

The duel then is between the most miserly defence against the most exuberant attack. Mourinho revealed at his pre-match press conference that Eric Bailly is fit, which could mean he will start ahead of the mistake-prone Victor Lindelof. If Luke Shaw gets ahead of Ashley Young in the left back position, then Mourinho is thinking of attacking but if you see young then the handbrake is on.

Chris Smalling believes the two points between the teams would make Saturday’s match an intense one. “I think there’s always that rivalry, but even more this year. We’re a lot closer in the table than we’ve probably been for a while. The fact that we’re so close gives it an added intensity.”

One particular threat facing Smalling and his manager is February’s Player of the Month, Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward has been flying this season, having scored 24 league goals – amazing return from a player that was discarded by Mourinho while at Chelsea.

Salah told the Liverpool official website, “It’s a special game.” Even though both teams are miles behind Manchester City, the positions, the time of season and their continued involvement in Europe means this would be a massive three points for whoever wins.

“Second and third play against each other so everyone plays for the three points,” Salah continued.

“We have confidence we can play like it’s a normal game. It’s important of course but in the end our target is just one target: we need to win the game and come back with the three points.”

Current Form: Man. Utd [W-W-D-W-L]; Liverpool [D-W-W-W-W]

RelatedNews

JUST IN: Former Buhari’s minister, Abdullahi Ibrahim, dies of COVID-19

INTERVIEW: Why I’m feeding street children – Roland Ochada

INTERVIEW: I just found myself- Wizkid speaks on latest album, fatherhood

COVID-19 Weekly Review: Despite testing fewer people, Nigeria records more new cases, deaths

14/10/17PRLLiverpool0 – 0Man. Utd
15/01/17PRLMan. Utd1 – 1Liverpool
17/10/16PRLLiverpool0 – 0Man. Utd
17/03/16UELMan. Utd1 – 1Liverpool
October 3, 2016UELLiverpool2 – 0Man. Utd

That duels that matter

Lukaku v Van Dijk

Romelu Lukaku can be a bully but he won’t be able to apply such dark arts on Virgil van Dijk so he has to be subtler. The Dutch defender has settled in well at Anfield but still has that momentary loss of concentration, which means Lukaku must play near the box to pounce on any mistake. This will be a heavyweight contest!

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Sanchez v Alexander-Arnold

The wiliness and pace of Sanchez against the exuberance and inexperience of Trent Alexander-Arnold should be a fascinating scenario. Sanchez has flitted in and out of offensive trysts for United since his January move from Arsenal. He will be needed to occupy the young English fullback so that he does not join the attack as often as he has been told to.

Smalling v Firmino

Roberto Firmino is a master of playing in the pocket and his movement could drag Chris Smalling away from the centre of the defence, a ploy the English defender must be wary of. Firmino is good with the ball at his feet, strong and versatile while Smalling needs to prove himself in these bigger games to continue to be worthy of a starting shirt.

Head to head

StatsMan. UtdLiverpool
Chances Created296380
Pass Completion Percentage0.830.84
Tackles Won273367
Goals Scored5667
Goals Conceded2232

Valencia v Sane

ADVERTISEMENT

Valencia is robust and powerful while Sane is also powerful but very nimble. The Senegalese forward is just getting back to great form and will look to pin Valencia back and ensure he stays wide to create room for runners like Andrew Robertson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Mourinho needs his captain to be strong and calculative – not giving away silly fouls or getting dragged out of defensive shape.

Young v Salah

Despite a plethora of defenders who can play wide, Mourinho has persisted with Young and has reaped the rewards. The Englishman is efficient and tenacious, offering width going forward and dogged with his defending. He will face the ultimate test of trickery and pace with Mohammed Salah. If he will succeed in his assignment – to keep Salah quiet; then Paul Pogba must be disciplined enough to lend a hand against the flying Egyptian.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

WHO issues new guidance on tobacco product regulation

Next Post

Infant, nine others killed in Plateau violence

Jide Alaka

Jide Alaka

Former footballer, passionate football enthusiast and analyst and a proud Nigerian.

More News

Photo credit: theverge.com

JUST IN: Former Buhari’s minister, Abdullahi Ibrahim, dies of COVID-19

January 24, 2021
herdsmen grazing within the centre

ANALYSIS: How government’s weakness to tackle farmer/herder clashes strengthened Sunday Igboho.

January 24, 2021
COVID-19: Weekly Review Despite Testing fewer people, Nigeria records more new cases

COVID-19 Weekly Review: Despite testing fewer people, Nigeria records more new cases, deaths

January 24, 2021
2019 General Election: voters voting at the Nomadic Primary School, Polling Unit , at Tudun-Fulani , during the FCT Area Council at Bwari Area Council in Abuja on Saturday (9/03/19). 02036/9/3/2019/Sumail Ibrahim/JAU/NAN

ANALYSIS: INEC’s false claim on Appeal Court rulings challenges Nigeria’s multi-party democracy

January 24, 2021
Nigerian Police officers on duty [Photo credit: Today.ng]

Gunmen kidnap, kill Taraba LG boss

January 24, 2021
President Muhammadu Buhari [PHOTO CREDIT: Bashir Ahmad]

UPDATED: Buhari to ECOWAS leaders: Let’s prioritise indigenous development of COVID-19 vaccines

January 24, 2021
Next Post
NIGERIA: Nigerian police force

Infant, nine others killed in Plateau violence

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA). [Photo credit: Opportunity Desk]

FAO trains 4,700 veterinarians against deadly disease outbreak

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad




Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert

Zenith Advert

Heritage Advert
ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.