With the results over the weekend this game has suddenly become huge for both clubs. Neither will want to lose two on the bounce, so I expect to see two strong teams taking to the field.
If Suarez is deemed able to start the game I would play him in place of Sturridge, who is some way away from full fitness and has been all season, and largely because of that, despite his goals, his level of performance hasn't been great. In some ways, Sturridge has been a microcosm of our season so far.
I expect United to be far more aggressive at home so we need to find a way to counteract the pressure that our back four will inevitably come under. We failed to do that spectacularly against Southampton, as well as against Swansea City. Fail again on Wednesday and we'll be in trouble once again. The first choices that need to be made then are around the defensive unit. If Rodgers has any intention of exerting control of the ball, and of the game, then we need to look towards pushing the back line further up the field and that means dropping Skrtel. Sakho and Toure, theoretically at least, have all the attributes - as well as the mentality - to play on the front foot. They're both aggressive and they're both comfortable on the ball. With the two of them at centre back, you would see a much more compressed unit, making our pressing game far more effective and less draining due to the reduced space that needs to be covered. That's probably the biggest difference that Toure made in the opening two games, and it's the biggest thing that has gone missing since he was replaced by Skrtel.
Then there's the full backs. I think we've seen just how important it is to have players comfortable on the ball in those areas, as well as players willing and able to offer an outlet in attack. The overlapping movement in itself allows the forward players more space to work in, giving the opposition full back something else to consider. With that in mind, Enrique, despite his limitations, has to play. On the right, Kelly would be my choice, if he's deemed fit enough. If not, then i'd be tempted to go with Flanagan to be honest. He's not good enough long term, but i'd argue that an average full back in his natural position would offer more in that role than a centre back playing in a role largely alien to them. He came in from nowhere under Kenny in a similar level of game and held his own. Regardless of who we go with at full back though, I think it's safe to say that they will be two of the players in our squad who you would least like to see receiving the ball under pressure in tight areas, so with that in mind I think that there needs to be a re-think as far as distribution from Mignolet goes. The default is always a floated ball to the full back, which, given our current options, is akin to relinquishing possession. We need to find a way to avoid that as an inevitable fall-back option. If we're going to do that we'd be better off going long and at least losing the ball in their third, rather than ours.
I'm not sure how Allen's fitness is(?), but if he's available then there's an argument for his inclusion as well. The inability to retain possession and effectively play it through the midfield when we're placed under any kind of pressure has been a worry and Allen, if nothing else, would offer that. He has the potential to become for Liverpool what Leon Britton is for Swansea. A largely unheralded player this side of the Welsh border who simply makes himself available and does the basics very well, but ask any Swansea supporters how important he is to their overall effectiveness and the answer will be unequivocal.
If I was to pick a side right now, i'd go with:
Mignolet
Kelly Toure Sakho Enrique
Allen Lucas/Gerrard
Sterling Henderson Moses
Suarez
