Top-of-the-table tilt on Sunday

Opinion

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This article was published 14/01/2021 (1197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Could the Premier League title rest on the outcome of Sunday’s showdown between Liverpool and Manchester United?

Not to put a pin in the balloon of what is unquestionably the biggest match of the season to date, but it’s important to resist overinflating the occasion, hard as that may be.

There’s simply a lot of football still to be played. Yes, that cliché, but look at the schedule — it’s yet to reach its halfway point. And then there is the pandemic, that ultimate wild card that tests squad discipline, congests the fixture list and leaves enough to chance to make prognostication a fool’s errand.

This Anfield clash (Sunday, 10:30 a.m., DAZN) may be a top-of-the-table affair, but Manchester City are just four points off the summit with a game in hand, and both Leicester and Tottenham are close enough to alter the standings in their favour with a single fortuitous week.

In other words, we’ve got a title race on our hands, and given the laps still to be run the positioning of the racers will almost certainly change, and more than a few times, before the finish line is in sight.

Alright, that’s enough air to let out. We’ll put some tape on it. After all, it’s still Liverpool-Manchester United, and yes, first place, at least for the time being, is at stake.

Now, that Liverpool have genuine, no-nonsense title aspirations is no surprise whatsoever. Last term’s champions by 18 points, they were still on their perch until Tuesday, when United shook them off their branch.

United in top spot? Now there’s a stunner. Maybe not in the overall context of the Premier League era, in which they’ve been unprecedentedly successful, but certainly in recent times. After holding on to beat Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor, they rose to their highest-post New Year’s position post-Alex Ferguson — reward for an 11-game unbeaten run dating back to Nov. 1.

So how have they done it? In a word, or name: Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese playmaker, who on Friday was named Player of the Month for the fourth time in a year, has been the best footballer in England since his arrival last January. Globally, perhaps only Robert Lewandowski has been better. Beyond his many goals and assists the 26-year-old makes everyone around him more effective, and should the Red Devils lift the trophy in the spring he’ll be a frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or.

Then there is much-improved United captain Harry Maguire, whose aerial prowess and savvy for an interception have him enjoying his best spell at the club. Alex Telles, meanwhile, has finally addressed the left-back position, Edinson Cavani has brought some South American tenacity, and wantaway Paul Pogba’s value is increasing with every standout performance.

Pogba has insisted his side will be underdogs on Sunday, and maybe that’s true. But the fact is that United are in better nick than their hosts, and healthier to boot.

With defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez sidelined long-term with knee injuries and Joel Matip struggling to overcome an adductor problem, the Reds may be forced into using midfielder Jordan Henderson as a make-shift centre-back, as they did in a 1-0 defeat at Southampton earlier this month.

More optimistically, Thiago Alcantara is set to make his home debut following a September move from Bayern Munich. The Spain international’s passing chops will no doubt excite the Liverpool front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, which has combined for exactly one goal in their last three league outings.

That said, few teams in Europe can light up the net like Liverpool, at least when they’re in the mood. Despite their recent wobbles they still lead the Premier League in goals, and they’ve scored four or more on six occasions in all competitions this season.

Oh, they’re also unbeaten in 67 at Anfield — a streak dating back to 2017. Speaking of balloons to pop, United would love nothing more than to end that club record, even if a draw would suffice. They haven’t beat Liverpool away since 2016 and will mark the five-year anniversary, as it happens, on Sunday.

A good omen? Maybe. Maybe not. It’s just a day, not to put a pin in it or anything.

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