This week sees great  matchups and the most notable one is Manchester verses Liverpool.

Manchester United is red hot. The Red Devil’s haven’t lost since last November. On the third of November, they lost to Fenerbahce in the UEFA EUROPA club competition. Early chances forced Manchester into a one to zero hole because of set price chances and an awesome bicycle kick.

In the 59th minute, Fenerbahce extended the lead off a free kick and went on to win two to one. The game came down to a weak set piece defense and questionable fouls. Their most recent league fixture was against a ten man West Ham United side and was a two to zero win for the Red Devils. A stupid slide tackle and unnecessary red card gifted Manchester United the man advantage early.

The Red Devils made good chances off of disciplined build up and stable attacking. They looked much worse against Fenerbahce. Good disciplined defending and a strong performance from Goalkeeper David DeGea kept a shut out and they were able to work out the kinks seen in the Fenerbahce match. When they played West Ham, United Manchester were also able to get all the good bounces needed for the win.

Like the drop back to Juan Mata because at anytime he could have slipped and the Red Devils would find themselves in a different position, so it was a smart set up and great individual effort from young striker Marcus Rashford. The Zlatan Ibrahimavic goal was based on a lucky bounce that put it right at his feet for a great strike and sealed the game.

That game was not spotless and the team members on Liverpool can make them pay for mistakes in the back and can exploit holes in the back by using crosses and through balls. The Red Devils will need to have more offensive opportunity and better possession in order to edge out a faulty Liverpool side.

Liverpool was on a unbeaten streak of there own with more draws than wins that was ended by Southampton. The teams worst lost came from Bournemouth in a four-three thriller in early December. The offense of the team was just fine, normally three goals is enough to secure a win but a great game from Tom Frazier and a buzzer beating tap in from Nathan Ake to steal three points.

The issue falls to a injured and insecure defense. They have had to play their last eight games without Joel Matip, a stud defender from Cameroon, Philpee Coutino, a Brazilian wizard who controls their left flank, and Jordan Henderson, and England international who is their strongest midfielder and a solid defender. They will also not have Saudio Mane who elected to join Senegal in the African Nations Cup.

Coutino and Henderson will be back for this match up of Titans and Matip might get some action but is likely to be limited, so manager Jurgan Klopp has Nathanael Clyne, Dejan Lovren, and James Milner at the back and is likely to play a  three-five-two formation to try to edge out a red hot Manchester United side.

The Liverpool defensive woes come down to defending second chances and stopping crosses from the flanks with how narrow Klopp’s defense will be run. In that Bournemouth game the offense was steller with great forward runs and good through balls that put Bournemouth down three-one at the half. The one coming off of a penalty kick that was just unlucky.

If you watch the highlights offense is not an issue. They have solid runs down the wings and really good one twos down the field. What Liverpool needs to work on defending are crosses and second time chances. The Liverpool goalie Lloris Karius who they brought in to replace Simon Mignolet was not his best and was let down by the defense. The winning goal was off a rebound and long powerful shot.

If the defense can expand and contract on outside balls and through passes the offense will flourish.

I personally think Liverpool will edge out a win in a high scoring affair despite being Mane being out because they still have explosive attacking with Henderson, Coutino, Roberto Fermino, Daniel Sturridge, and Divorik Origi.

In a match up of second place and and sixth.

Manchester will win if they can get Paul Pogba into the wings and have him dictate the game with his creativity and vision. It will be close but I have a three-two Liverpool win on the docket.