It might seem simple, but subduing the threat of Mohamed Salah is going to be key if Manchster United are to secure another home victory vs Liverpool this weekend.
Even given a troublesome few years since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club, United have won seven of their last nine home league games against Liverpool, last losing at Old Trafford way back in March 2014.
Not only is there the carrot of Premier League success urging Salah to lead his side to success this weekend, but the Egyptian forward is also chasing a league record of his own. The 26-year-old has scored 49 Premier League goals for Liverpool. If he scores on Sunday he will become the fastest player to score 50 goals for a single club.
However, United are still the only side Salah has faced more than once in the English top-flight but not scored or assisted a single goal against.
He was famously subdued by Ashley Young during the home encounter last season so Sunday afternoon is set to be a huge test for Luke Shaw as he looks to heap more Manchester misery on the Egyptian ace.
United’s immediate success under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has largely been down to indulging their own attacking options, but the defensive efforts also deserve much of the credit for the current unbeaten domestic run.
Shaw started the season in fantastic form but has tailed off a bit in recent weeks, strangely a credit that his consistent level of performance has now become the norm.
He will face perhaps his toughest challenge of the season on Sunday afternoon, and if he is up to the battle then he might just help United win the war.
On recent form it is hard to argue that any side in the world wouldn’t want the talents of Marcus Rashford in their starting XI.
It’s perhaps even more remarkable to think that going into this fixture last year there were doubts over the true ability of the England international. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold is probably still have nightmares about what happened to him at Old Trafford last season.
Not only did Rashford net a superb brace to secure victory for United but he ran the right-back ragged and offered and endless outlet out wide throughout the match.
Although he is expected to feature in a central role this weekend he could prove to be the difference given the recent confidence pumping through his veins.
Many pundits questioned whether featuring the Tottenham defence would finally halt his heroics last month, he passed that test with flying colours, and will now be looking to make room for Virgil van Dijk on the list of centre-backs which he has tormented this season.