Liverpool vs. Manchester United: Picking the Reds' Starting XI

Liverpool meets Manchester United on Saturday as both clubs vie for their respective places in the Premier League standings.  United hope to stay within striking distance of Manchester City, while Liverpool hope to move closer to the coveted fourth spot that guarantees Champions League football next season.

Luis Suárez is expected to make his first visit to Old Trafford since the ill-fated meeting between the two clubs last October, in what is expected to be a high-spirited affair. 

Here is a proposed starting XI for a Reds victory.

Pepe Reina

If Liverpool are to have any shot at being successful, they need to have their most consistent players on the pitch, and without a doubt, Pepe Reina is Liverpool’s most consistent player. 

Currently ranking fourth on the EA Sport Index of current Premier League goalkeepers, Reina is still very much a top-notch goalkeeper, and there can be no question about his place in the starting XI.

Martin Kelly

It has been an up-and-down season for Martin Kelly, for whom the season began with seemingly so much promise.  With starting right back Glen Johnson still recovering from lingering preseason injuries, Kelly got the nod as his replacement.

A series of good performances saw him stake an early claim for supplanting Johnson, but once the England international returned to fitness, Kelly once again found himself on the bench. Monday’s draw with Tottenham was Kelly’s first start since the October 15, 2011 fixture with Manchester United, when he largely kept United’s speedy left winger, Ashley Young, in check.

Injury to Jose Enrique saw a reshuffling of the back line, bringing Kelly into the starting XI.  Having shown no signs of rust, and handling himself well against the likes of Gareth Bale, Kelly is a must-start at right back, and Liverpool fans will hope that he can replicate his last performance against United.

Martin Skrtel

The Slovakian center half is in the midst of a fine renaissance after what could only be described as a disastrous start to the 2011-2012 campaign.  It’s hard to forget his sending off against Spurs back in September, which only punctuated a string of poor performances.

Since then however, Martin Skrtel has righted the ship and has been one of Liverpool’s more dependable players. 

He ranks second among Liverpool defenders on the EA Sport Index, no doubt due to his astute positional awareness and keen anticipation, as revealed by his key interception of passes at the back and success on aerial challenges.

Daniel Agger

Liverpool’s Danish dynamo is the perfect bookend to Skrtel at the back, and their central pairing is now so solidified that they have been keeping erstwhile stalwart Jamie Carragher on the bench. 

Daniel Agger has emerged as a vocal force and the undisputed leader of the Liverpool defense.  He can frequently be seen barking out instructions to the defenders on either side of him, making sure that the unit remains organized as one.

In addition to his defensive responsibilities, Agger is a key outlet for Reina as the attack is initiated.  His composure with the ball at his feet gives Liverpool flexibility in attack, as the defender is equally adept at dribbling the ball all the way into the attacking third as he is at springing outlet passes to the middle. 

Look for him to continue in fine form against United.

Glen Johnson

Injury to Jose Enrique saw the Spanish left back miss Monday’s return fixture with Tottenham Hotspur and forced Kenny Dalglish to shuffle his back line.  Glen Johnson’s versatility saw him pressed into action on the left side, where he effectively neutralized Spurs midfielder Nico Kranjcar and starlet right back Kyle Walker.

Look for Johnson to again start at left-back in the absence of Jose Enrique, who reportedly suffered a calf injury in the lead-up to the Spurs fixture this past Monday.  Johnson’s speed and experience will be critical to any hopes Liverpool has for containing United’s crafty right-winger, Antonio Valencia.

Stewart Downing

Since his £20m signing from Aston Villa, Stewart Downing has had a disappointing spell with Liverpool, failing to score in the Premier League and offering a lone tally against League side Oldham in return for his services.

His struggles have been so troubling that Dalglish has recently taken to praising the winger, saying that he’s been better than expected since the move.  This is a rather transparent attempt to boost the player’s confidence, as Dalglish's praise rings hollow.

Dalglish did offer that perhaps the different roles that Downing has been asked to fill may have contributed to his struggles, and this may be true.  Still, confidence should be a given for any professional athlete, and Downing needs to get his act together and not wait on verbal back rubs from his manager.

He will be needed against United in order to add width to the Liverpool attack.  Expect for him to get the nod ahead of Dirk Kuyt on the right wing in hopes of offering service into the box and bombarding an unsteady Manchester United defense.

Steven Gerrard

There is some speculation by fans that Steven Gerrard may not be available, but this has not been confirmed by any reports in the press.  Expect Gerrard then to get the start in what will be a critical fixture for both clubs.

Manchester United need to remain within striking distance of League leaders Manchester City, while Liverpool merely hope to remain in the hunt for a Champions League spot next season. 

With Old Trafford expected to be a cauldron of emotions on Saturday, Gerrard’s presence will be sorely needed to help keep the Reds on task.  His passing for the Reds is nonpareil, with apologies to Charlie Adam, and that could make all the difference.

Charlie Adam

Charlie Adam has played himself into the manager’s favor and statistically, is the club’s most creative playmaker, although that may only be due to the fact that Gerrard has missed a lot of games due to injuries.

Adam has also improved defensively, although his poor positioning leaves him lunging out of desperation, resulting in him being Liverpool’s most disciplined player this season.  Still, Liverpool will need his passing and creativity—and yes, defensive tenacity—against a United squad whose success is promulgated on their midfield play. 

United may welcome back Tom Cleverly and Nani to the side, making Liverpool’s task all the more difficult.  Liverpool will need Adam and his midfield mates to disrupt the United attack by pressuring the Red Devils in possession and shutting down the channels, restricting passes to the United forwards.

Craig Bellamy

The mercurial striker has become quickly one of the Reds' most important players, with his pace and individual creativity.  Craig Bellamy is equally adept at exciting both his teammates and the opposition with his high jinks, but let there be no mistaking the value he brings to the Liverpool attack.

His pacy runs primarily on the left wing often stretch the opposition's defense, creating seams for the Liverpool forwards to run into, or alternatively results in crosses into the box for his teammates to get onto.

While Liverpool has not maximized the benefits from his labor, that is true of the Liverpool attack in general. 

Still, Bellamy remains one of the more daring and dangerous players for Liverpool, and he seems to relish the challenge of playing against United.  Look for him to get the start on the left wing against the Red Devils.

Andy Carroll

It's difficult to even decide where to begin with Andy Carroll, with so much having already been said about him this season.  Needless to say, most of it has been negative and centering on the fact that he seems to be a square peg in the round hole of the Liverpool attack.

Of late though, his performances have improved, with a goal against Wolverhampton Wolves and several created chances against Spurs.  His confidence seems to have improved, and his game has followed suit

Liverpool will need his physical presence against United, particularly on set pieces into the box to unsettle the fragile David De Gea.  Fans will hope that his touch continues to improve and that the opportunities are converted. 

No better stage exists for him to make his mark than at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Luis Suárez

The enigmatic Uruguayan made his return from his eight-game suspension with a cameo against Spurs and promptly found his way into the referee's notebook with a wayward booth to the solar plexus of Scott Parker.

Liverpool would prefer that Luis Suarez puts his boot through the ball and into the back of the net, since it has been far too long since he has scored.  He is rested, match fit and presumably raring to go, as will be the home fans. 

The reception will be vociferous and vehement whenever he touches the ball, but don’t expect the talismanic striker to be unnerved…and don’t expect Dalglish to shy away from featuring him.  He is the Reds' most dynamic player, equally adept at creating for himself and for others.

His skill set presents the precise cure for what ails the Liverpool offense, namely individual flair, creativity and movement.  Expect the rancor from the first encounter to be a mere subplot to the football being played on the field, and expect Suárez to be a leading player in both dramas.

The Bench

Substitutes: Alexander Doni, Maxi Rodriguez, Jay Spearing, Dirk Kuyt, Jordan Henderson, Jamie Carragher.