Liverpool vs. Manchester United: 5 key matchups
By Matt English
3. Martial vs. Salah
Settling mostly for appearances off the bench, French starlet Anthony Martial has quietly had a fiery start to the season. In just 140 minutes of playtime, Martial has managed three goals and two assists. His lightning quick movement and dribbling ability has made him a nightmare for the opposition late in the game. Martial should be salivating at the thought of coming on late against an already weak Liverpool defense.
Another player that can abuse any defense is Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian scored a heart warming 90th minute penalty to qualify his nation for the 2018 World Cup, so his emotions will be riding high heading into this match. His four goals in league play have silenced the doubters and he looks stronger every week he plays.
Both Martial and Salah will be influential in this match. Mane’s absence will require Salah to be the force in the front line, running in behind the defense and causing problems. His speed will always be a factor and Liverpool need to use it to exploit the United defense. The same can be said for Martial, who will need to be at the top of his game when his name is called. United will have the upper hand in terms of strength off the bench and Martial is one of the main weapons they will have late on in the match.