Friday 11 March 2016 07:22, UK
Louis van Gaal has described Thursday night's Europa League match-up between Liverpool and Manchester United as 'must-win' for his side.
The Dutchman has been victorious in all four of his meetings with Liverpool since his United appointment and is desperate to edge the first-ever European meeting between the clubs.
However, Liverpool attacker Roberto Firmino has the form to help the Reds secure a significant first-leg advantage.
After initially struggling to make an impact following a big money move from Hoffenheim - the 24-year-old scored just one league goal for Liverpool prior to the turn of the year - Firmino has hit form in 2016, with Jurgen Klopp getting the best from the Brazilian.
Firmino has added a further seven league goals in nine appearances since the start of January, while also registering four of his seven assists in England's top-flight in that time.
As a result only Virgil van Dijk (8.03) has secured a higher WhoScored.com rating in the Premier League in the New Year (7.98).
Firmino has also proven to be the man for the big occasion. He has shone in a number of high profile games for the club, scoring two goals against both Arsenal and Manchester City this season, and only a handful of players have picked up more WhoScored.com man of the match awards than Firmino in the Premier League (5).
One team that Firmino has failed to have an impact against in front of goal this season is Manchester United. Indeed, of the teams the Brazil international has faced twice in the league, West Ham are the only other side that the former Bundesliga star has failed to register either a goal or assist against.
The last meeting between the two played out in January saw Van Gaal's men run out narrow winners, with Wayne Rooney's late goal the visitors' only shot on target in the game.
Like a number of United's results this season, the victory was largely down to a solid defensive showing, with Chris Smalling having been a bright spark for the club all campaign.
The England international picked up the man of the match award at Anfield with a WhoScored.com rating of 7.94, having kept Firmino relatively quiet on the day. His task will be to repeat that feat on Thursday then, with their match-up likely to be crucial to the outcome once more.
Smalling had a real battle on his hands against the physically imposing Salomon Rondon in United's defeat at West Brom on Sunday and, despite playing well in the main, he'll be hoping for better in midweek after the Venezuelan netted the only goal of the game at the Hawthorns.
It's fair to say the South American Smalling will be faced with on Merseyside is a completely different proposition to Rondon, though the United centre-back will need to be on his mettle again to keep the in-form forward at bay.
In the meeting between the sides at Anfield earlier this year, Smalling produced a match high of six interceptions and it's this speed of thought that will be pivotal to keeping his opponent on the peripheries again.
Liverpool's forward prefers to drop deep for the ball and try to bring others into play so United's centre-back pairing will need to not only read his movements but also those of the players he attempts to find in the final third. With Klopp set to field a fluid front three once again that is easier said than done.
In contrast to Firmino, the Englishman has actually seen his form tail off a little since the turn of the year, with his rating falling from 7.23 in the league this season in 2015 to 7.07 in eight appearances this year.
That said, Smalling has remained arguably the team's most consistent performer in a campaign that has seen United struggle to maintain any rhythm.
With Firmino having hit his stride since the last meeting between these two sides, Smalling is unlikely to have a comfortable night at Anfield. However, if he can limit the Liverpool man's growing influence the visitors will fancy their chances of a positive result ahead of next week's reverse fixture at Old Trafford.
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find live in-game data as well as player and team ratings. You can follow scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with their free app.
