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Liverpool vs Manchester United key battles from the Soccer Saturday pundits

Watch Liverpool vs Man Utd live on Sky Sports from 3.30pm on Sunday

during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield on October 14, 2017 in Liverpool, England.
Image: Where will the fiercest battles be during Liverpool vs Man Utd?

Liverpool take on Manchester United live on Sky Sports on Sunday, but where will the key battles be? The Soccer Saturday pundits have their say.

The great rivals meet for the first time this season at Anfield on Renault Super Sunday, with Liverpool yet to lose in the Premier League this campaign.

Ahead of the game, the Soccer Saturday pundits look at where the key battles will be across the pitch...

Liverpool v Man Utd
Liverpool v Man Utd

See Liverpool and Man Utd go head to head on Sky Sports this weekend

Matt Le Tissier

United's backline has to try and keep Liverpool's front three quiet for them to get anything out of the game and when you look at it on paper, that's going to be difficult. Jose Mourinho's not overly happy with any of his central defenders, he's chopped and changed it and getting any sort of consistency has been difficult.

Image: Man Utd defenders must try and stop the Liverpool attack, according to the pundits

It wouldn't surprise me if he parked the bus again on Sunday as that's what Jose does when he feels like he's up against it. His default position is to defend and pinch a goal on the break. He has surprised us before with attacking line-ups but probably not in this game.

Charlie Nicholas

It's natural to look at it as Liverpool's attack versus United's defence, but the one guy who needs to have a good game is David de Gea. The key to Man Utd getting anything from this game is the form of the goalkeeper.

He's not having the best season, he's made a few mistakes like the one against Arsenal, but he's only human. He's still one of the best in the world and he's saved them loads of points, including at Anfield before, and he needs to have a big game.

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Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool
Image: David de Gea has to have a good game, says Charlie Nicholas

Phil Thompson

It's probably United's defence against Liverpool's attack. Jose will want to have a go but he'll know he has to try and stay in the game. He may not park the bus but he'll set up to keep it tight and not fall too far behind in the early stages.

Mourinho will know that if he comes away from Anfield with a point - regardless of how the game's played - that it'll be job done and a decent result. The fans will probably go back to Manchester happy enough with that.

Live Renault Super Sunday

Paul Merson

I can't see Man Utd having a go. This is where it disappoints me - it's Man Utd, going to Liverpool, come on have a go. The back four against Liverpool's front three is the whole battle. How can that back four, an average back four, keep out a majorly, majorly talented front three?

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