Ed Chamberlin: United Vs Liverpool Crucial

Whatever their position in the Premier League table. Whatever their predicament off the field, Manchester United against Liverpool is arguably the most eagerly anticipated fixture in the Premier League calendar and undoubtedly one of the highlights of the sporting year on Sky Sports.

Has there ever been a more important renewal in the Premier League for the two managers involved?

Louis van Gaal needs his team to bounce back after the defeat at Swansea and all the criticism he has taken for the club's dealings in the summer transfer window.

Does he start Anthony Martial? Will he bring back David de Gea? Both managers have questions to answer.

Brendan Rogers was always going to come under pressure if Liverpool had an early season setback. Well, the wheels fell off in dramatic fashion at home to West Ham two weeks ago. Rogers badly needs a response and what better place to do that than at their fierce rivals.

Recent history points to United. They have won five of the last seven Premier League meetings with Liverpool and six of the last eight in all competitions.

What a week it's been for their skipper, Wayne Rooney. On Tuesday night he became England's all-time record goalscorer and is now on the brink of all sorts of domestic records.

His 233 Man Utd goals mean Rooney is only four behind Denis Law, who is second on the club's all-time goal scoring list. Rooney is 11/8 with Sky Bet to score on Saturday.

However, he is currently on his worst Premier League run without a goal at Man Utd (ten games). It is his joint worst ever League run without scoring - his also went ten games without a goal in his time at Everton.

Alongside Rooney, 19-year-old French forward Anthony Martial could make his Man Utd debut, just 11 days since becoming the most expensive teenager in football history and just eight after making his senior debut for France.

Martial is just one ingredient in an intriguing renewal between two of the Premier League's powerhouses.

Credit: Skysports.com