Manchester United vs. Liverpool: 6 Key Battles

Saturday sees the latest installment of one of the biggest rivalries in world football: Manchester United versus Liverpool. 

The match at Old Trafford will be beamed live to over 200 countries and will have a potential global audience of around 900 million people. It's kind of a big deal.

As if there was not enough bad blood involved in this fixture at the best of times, this match will see Luis Suarez face the Red Devils for the first time since he was suspended for eight matches after the FA found him guilty of racially abusing United left-back Patrice Evra.

Here are six battles which could well shape the outcome of such a red-hot clash.

David De Gea vs. Andy Carroll

United's young Spanish goalkeeper has not found the adjustment to English football this season easy.

His judgement and dominance in the penalty area have been called into question on several occasions. His most recent dodgy moment was in the recent FA Cup defeat at Anfield, when Liverpool's big striker Carroll stood right in front of him at a corner and the set piece yielded a goal.

However, De Gea's shot-stopping ability has rarely been in doubt, and in last weekend's thrilling 3-3 draw at Chelsea he made two outstanding saves late on from Juan Mata and Gary Cahill that ensured United a share of the points.

Saturday's rematch with Carroll will show whether or not he has learned from his mistakes last time they met, something which could prove crucial.

Wayne Rooney vs. Pepe Reina

No goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets in the Premier League than Pepe Reina's 10 this season for Liverpool.

The Spanish shot-stopper continues to be a wall for the Reds, and is unfortunate to have been around at the same time as compatriots Iker Casillas and Victor Valdes.

Rooney, meanwhile, has been on fine form of late, and was instrumental in United's second-half fightback from down 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. His two strikes from the penalty spot made it four goals in his last four matches, and 20 in all for United this season.

Antonio Valencia vs. Jose Enrique

While Rooney often grabs the headlines, whether it be for the right or wrong reasons, Valencia has quietly gone about the business of being arguably United's best player this season.

The unassuming Ecuadorean has given a succession of left-backs twisted blood this term with his pace, skill and unerring crossing ability.

Liverpool are hopeful of having Jose Enrique back fit for the trip to Old Trafford after the Spaniard missed last Monday's goalless draw at home to Tottenham.

He has been the most successful of Liverpool's summer signings, and is the man best equipped to handle Valencia's considerable threat.

Paul Scholes vs. Steven Gerrard

Many onlookers—including yours truly—questioned the judgement of Scholes coming out of retirement on the day of the FA Cup third-round clash against Manchester City.

The 37-year-old put his exemplary legacy at risk by coming back after a seven-month absence, but he has come to United's aid when they were so desperately lacking creativity following him quitting the game.

Facing off against him will be his one-time England colleague, Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool (and perhaps soon-to-be England) captain has given his team a similar fillip since he made his recovery from injury on Boxing Day.

Both of those veteran war horses are set to be the driving forces behind their respective teams' attacking endeavours, and no doubt there will be a few collisions over the course of the 90 minutes to enjoy too.

Alex Ferguson vs. Kenny Dalglish

Dalglish's first match back in the Liverpool hot seat could barely have been tougher: an FA Cup third-round tie against United.

The retired manager took the call to replace the sacked Roy Hodgson while on a cruise ship, and his reward for getting a boat to pick him up and help whisk him back to Merseyside was a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

Since then their next three meetings have all been at Anfield, with Liverpool winning two (once in the league, once in the FA Cup) and United grabbing a 1-1 draw in the October league clash which saw the origin of this whole unpleasant Suarez/Evra business.

However, United have won each of the last three matches against the Reds on their own turf, and seven of the last eight.

Both managers have plenty of options in midfield—both in terms of personnel and how they could possibly deploy them. That tactical battle is most likely to be where this match will be won and lost.

Luis Suarez vs. Old Trafford

Let's face it: Suarez is going to get the dog's abuse at Old Trafford. 

Regardless of what either manager says to their fans, or whether or not he and Evra indulge in a pre-match handshake, the Uruguayan striker is going to get as hostile a welcome as any player can expect in Manchester.

Suarez is, however, one of the most headstrong footballers currently playing the game. A few other players could react to their handball on the line in the dying moments of the 2010 World Cup quarter-final against Ghana by saying: "The Hand of God now belongs to me. I made the best save of the tournament."

It will be nasty, and it will be unpleasant, but how Suarez reacts to the 90-minute barracking he gets from the Stretford End will go some way to determining not only Saturday's result but also the forward's future fortunes against United.