Man Utd vs Liverpool: 5 Key Battles That Will Decide The Game

3. Jonny Evans vs Daniel Sturridge

Despite the fact he turns 35 this November, Rio Ferdinand has found himself in United's first team in each of their first five Premier League games, playing 90 minutes in each of them. For the first time in four-and-a-half years, Ferdinand has made six consecutive starts for the Red Devils when you also take into account the fact he played against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. However, it is unlikely that the veteran will make it to seven, with fit-again Jonny Evans set to take his spot in David Moyes's starting XI tonight. And that could mean the Northern Irishman, who has yet to make a single appearance for United this season, trying to do what very few topflight defenders have been able to do this season - stop Daniel Sturridge. The 1-0 defeat to Southampton at the weekend marked the first game of the season where Sturridge didn't score, having previously netted in all of Liverpool's league games as well as 17 times from 22 overall appearances since his January move from Chelsea. He was also at hand to score the winning goal the last time these two sides met. The England international has been quite prolific and Evans and co. will be hoping he endures a quiet time again tonight much as he did at Anfield on Saturday. And if he does, Liverpool could struggle.