4. Skrtel v Kompany
Next, its the battle of the centre backs. Liverpools Slovakian defender has proven himself to be a reliable player, with his tough tackling displays making him a fan favourite in Merseyside. Meanwhile Vincent Kompany is Manchester Citys Captain and defensive stalwart; the Belgian was one of the Citizens most important players in last seasons title winning campaign. Skrtel made his dream move to Liverpool from Zenit in 2008, and has since progressed rapidly as a player, becoming a very solid presence at the back for the Reds and forming a close partnership with Daniel Agger. Skrtels former manager Rafa Benitez says that hes aggressive, quick, and good in the air while also praising his mentality and comparing him to Jamie Carragher. Much was written about Vincent Kompanys performances last season as he lit up the league with his phenomenal defensive displays and wowed tacticians with his extraordinary reading of the game. Rarely has a defender taken the Premier League by such storm as Kompany last season, only Nemanja Vidic has had a comparable impact in recent times. The City Captain guided his side to the title last season and received great credit for his teams achievements.
Verdict: Both players will be kept sufficiently occupied by the two sets of strikers on Sunday, but I expect Kompanys class to prevail against Liverpool, his temperament and reading of the game are simply second-to-none.