Manchester United and Liverpool will play each other in a pulsating clash in the Premier League on Sunday.
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Manchester United will be keen to build on their midweek comeback victory when they take on Liverpool in a high-octane Premier League clash this weekend. On Wednesday night, the Red Devils overcame a 2-0 deficit against Atalanta in the Champions League group match to win it 3-2 in the end. The Red Devils will be looking to build on the positive feeling generated from that match when Liverpool visit Old Trafford on Sunday. There will also be an added bit of spice, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah set for a dramatic shootout. The two forwards have been in scintillating form this season, having both scored the winning goals for their respective sides in the Champions League this week.
Ronaldo’s dramatic late header helped the Red Devils come from two down to beat Atalanta at the Theatre of Dreams. On the other hand, Salah’s double fired Liverpool to three points against 10-man Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. Understandably, both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jurgen Klopp were asked about that prospective duel in their Friday press conferences. “I’ll always back Cristiano in any competition,” said the Norwegian.
“He’s unique. That being said, Salah, at the moment, he’s on fire. We know we have to be at our best to defend against him. We have to enjoy the players, [though] not Salah on Sunday, of course. I’m a big fan of Liverpool’s front three. We have to focus on them for 95 minutes to keep a clean sheet.”
Labeling both as “world-class players”, Jurgen Klopp suggested that thirst for scoring goals was the characteristic that unites the Portuguese and the Egyptian forwards. “I never thought about that,” claimed Klopp. “Why should we compare Cristiano Ronaldo and Mo Salah? Obviously both are world-class players, so that’s how it is.
“I would say even when Ronaldo’s left foot is not that bad, but I would say Mo’s left foot is probably better. Maybe then Cristiano in the air is slightly better and the right foot is probably better. But speed-wise they are both pretty quick, very desperate to score goals – so maybe that’s it.”
Solskjaer then opened up about the midweek comeback against Atalanta and provided an update on the injury situation. “It was a great effort and atmosphere towards the end, of course, one of the great Champions League nights at Old Trafford. Great comeback, which will bring some knocks and bruises which you normally would expect. It’s still just Friday, game’s on Sunday. We will give everyone time. We might have the whole squad back fit and we may be two or three players down. Today, we weren’t everyone [in training]. Let’s see Sunday,” he added.
“You know, games like Wednesday will always bring knocks and bruises. And yes, we do have two or three carrying knocks from that game, but I’ll give everyone time. I hope I can pick from a fully fit squad. It might be that I’m without two or three. Yes, Bruno might be one of them and might be a doubt but he’s doing everything he can to be ready.”
