How do you stop Liverpool? It is a question Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is going to have to try and come up with an answer to.

The Portuguese chief will experience the blood and thunder of United's and Liverpool's rivalry for the very first time on Sunday afternoon when his side travels along the M62 to Anfield.

United will travel to the Premier League leaders having lost each of their last four games across all competitions, including each of their last three in the league. They have also fired blanks in each of those league losses.

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Having experienced a disastrous conclusion to 2024, United will be determined to hit the ground running in 2025 and pull away from the relegation zone, which is slowly becoming a little bit more visible in their rearview mirror. However, the nature of their recent defeats has left United's supporters fearing the worst ahead of their latest Anfield visit.

United have not scored at Anfield in any of their last five visits and are without a win in the red half of Merseyside in nine years. It means the prospect of Amorim overseeing a three-point haul will likely be celebrated long into the night.

However, amid United's ongoing struggles, the Portuguese chief is going to have to come up with a pinpoint plan to try and stop the Premier League table-toppers in their tracks. With that said, MEN Sport has analysed three big selection calls the United boss is going to have to get right.

Who starts at centre-back?

With Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof both sidelined, Amorim has got four centre-backs to choose from to make up his back-three. He has named four different back-three combinations for the last four games and he desperately needs to try and find a settled partnership across the back line.

Despite his patchy form, Lisandro Martinez remains a guaranteed starter because he is left-footed. He gives United a degree of balance on the left of the defence and he has proven that he can be a key player for the Reds when he performs to his true capabilities.

However, who starts on the right and in the middle of the three is up for debate. Matthijs de Ligt started as the right-sided centre-back against Newcastle and Harry Maguire was stationed in the middle.

Leny Yoro, who was on the bench against the Magpies, will fancy his chances of being recalled to start on the right and add a turn of speed to the defence. After all, on paper, he was United's most eye-catching signing in the summer.

If Yoro is recalled to the starting XI, it leaves Maguire and De Ligt jockeying for the final place in the back-three. It could be decided via a toss of a coin, but the latter, considering he was signed in the summer to be a regular starter, should be nudging ahead of his centre-back counterpart and start.

How brave will Amorim be out wide?

In Amorim's 3-4-3 formation, wing-backs, of course, are absolutely crucial. They have the capacity to make the system work and United definitely need upgraded options in that area of the team, specifically on the left.

But with Amorim having to work with what he has got available to him for now, his options are somewhat limited. Amad has started United's last four league matches in attack, lining up as the right-sided No.10, but has not been as effective as he was at right wing-back.

United, one would imagine, will be doing far more defending than attacking at Anfield, and to combat the threat of wide players Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz, Amorim may once again go with two full-backs as the wing-backs, namely Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot, leaving Amad to play in attack.

Amorim, ahead of the defeat to Newcastle, hinted that Amad is a long-term option at wing-back for United, meaning it would make sense for him to restore him to the role he was playing in when he was first appointed. However, playing a forward-thinking player as a wing-back at Anfield could be considered too bold.

If Amorim has intentions of stifling and frustrating Liverpool, Mazraoui and Dalot should occupy the wing-back positions. If he is feeling brave enough to try and go for the win, Amad would be a better option on the right.

Midfield conundrum

Manuel Ugarte is available for the trip to Anfield after serving a one-match suspension against Newcastle and he must start. He was one of United's better players in the 2-0 defeat to Wolves at Molineux on Boxing Day, particularly in the first half, and his performance levels have been trending upwards in recent weeks.

He should be one of the first names on the teamsheet at Anfield because of his defensive profile and hunger for a tackle. However, who starts alongside him in the engine room is a question that is up for debate.

Kobbie Mainoo made a difference to the flow of the game when introduced from the bench in the first half against Newcastle, giving United much more energy. He should be rewarded for his impact by reclaiming a starting place.

United, however, might feel somewhat safer going with another defensive specialist next to Ugarte in the form of Casemiro. Albeit in a different formation, they developed a strong bond during Ruud van Nistelrooy's interim spell in charge.

The prospect of that partnership being unleashed at Anfield could see Mainoo operate as one of the two No.10s. He would, however, be able to drop deeper and help out in the middle when United do not have the ball.