“Can they do it against a top side?” is the question everyone has been asking during Manchester United’s impressive run. United have won their last six EPL games and have not lost domestically since October in all competitions. United’s only loss since their 4-0 drubbing at Chelsea was a 2-1 defeat in the Europa League to Fenerbache.

United’s record against top sides this season has not been good. They have managed only one win against the sides in the Top 6 and have taken a paltry five points from a possible fifteen.

This weekend Manchester United welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford. This is United’s biggest game since their 1-0 win over Tottenham in December. The first meeting between the two sides in October was a disappointing 0-0 draw in which United were accused of deliberately settling for a draw. The game on Sunday will be different. Jose Mourinho has said that the circumstances are much different from the first game and United will be looking to exert influence on the game. He has also asked the Old Trafford faithful to get behind their team.

Normally Liverpool elicits extreme passion within the United fan base. With the stakes so high, the atmosphere will be absolutely vibrant – the excitement palpable.

A win will throw United into the race for a Champions League place and possibly as a title challenger. After a busy holiday period in which all of United’s rivals – minus Tottenham – have dropped points (Arsenal—8, Liverpool—2, Chelsea—3, Manchester City—3), United have closed the gap to only two points off the top 4.

I did a rundown of Mourinho’s options for the game.

Defense

United’s defense has been rock solid during in recent months. The partnership between Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones has been crucial to this sustained run of unbeaten games, but the partnership looked threatened when Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly returned from injury last month. Bailly is currently out on international duty with the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and will miss this weekend’s fixture. Rojo was substituted during United’s 4-0 win over Reading last weekend but is expected to be fit to face Liverpool.

If Rojo returns from his recent, minor knock Mourinho will have to make a tough call about who starts at center-back.

But the center-back pairing is not Mourinho’s only defensive headache. The left back position is where Mourinho has rotated the most this season due to injuries and lack of trust in those qualified to play that role. Rojo can slot in at left-back, but Mourinho prefers him at the heart of the backline. The other options are Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian, but Mourinho is not very comfortable with either. Luke Shaw has been criticized a lot by Mourinho and his injuries have not helped him stake a claim for a starting berth. Not many dispute Shaw’s talent or potential, but Mourinho has not been happy with the Englishman. Shaw is returning from injury and will likely not feature.

With Liverpool Sadio Mane’s out due to his involvement with Senegal at AFCON, Mourinho will be less worried about his left back position. With Mane’s current form and pace, maybe only Shaw would have stood a chance in a foot race. Blind has proven to outsmart players (especially fast and big men) who many assumed would eat him alive, but Mane would be a handful.

Darmian was impressive against Hull in the English Football League Cup on Wednesday, but he has been exposed by quicker opponents. Most recently, Tottenham’s Sissoko threatened to end Darmian’s Old Trafford career. Last season, he was subbed off at the half after Dusan Tadic took him to the cleaners.

Predictions: Valencia, Smalling, Jones, and Darmian.

Midfield

Manchester United have not lost since they restored Carrick to the starting line-up. Carrick, whose career looked to be ending at Old Trafford, is the lynchpin in Mourinho’s new 4-3-3 system and has provided ample space for Pogba to thrive. Mourinho has been careful not to tinker with this partnership which also includes the energetic Ander Herrera.

But games like these, games with a historic rivalry and serious title implications, can tempt even the most superstitious to try something new.

During the first leg between these two teams, Mourinho surprised many by including Maroune Fellaini in his starting line-up. Although United’s recent wins suggest Mourinho favors attacking football, I will not be surprised if he opted to be a bit more cautious. Mourinho knows that a defeat here will derail United’s momentum and probably end any hopes of making a second phase title push. Playing Fellaini does not automatically mean Mourinho will be settling for a draw as the Belgian will offer an aerial threat, but he will provide extra defensive cover.

Predictions: Carrick, Pogba, Herrera. Fellaini will come late in the second half if United are winning.

Attack

If Jose Mourinho could suggest one change to the rules of modern football, it would be to increase the number of players on the pitch. The Portuguese has one the most talented arsenal of players in all of modern football and struggles with his attacking selection. His selection woes have become more burdensome as all of his attacking players (bar the out of favor Memphis Depay) kick into top gear. How United will fare in this match depends primarily on who Mourinho picks to accompany Zlatan Ibrahimović’s.

The choice is between Juan Mata and Henrikh Mhiktaryan on one side and Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and probably Marcus Rashford on the other side. Mata and Mhiktaryan are in exceptional form in terms of scoring, assisting and chance creation. Mata scored twice against Liverpool two years ago.

Mourinho will probably opt for Mhiktaryan because of his pace and his ability to dribble inward. It will be a surprise if the manager starts both Mata and Mhiktaryan. They have a similar style and both tend to drift centrally. Mourinho will want to employ one of his young attackers to stay wide, drive at Liverpool’s fullbacks and put crosses in the box. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial offer much quality over Jesse Lingard in this regard, but Mourinho likes Lingard’s defensive discipline and willingness to make runs. They are also better threats in front of goal, but Lingard has shown himself to be a man that scores in big games.

Mourinho turned to Lingard against Manchester City and Chelsea and to Rashford against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Mhiktaryan was absent in all of these games. Anthony Martial was out of form. More than anything, this shows that Mourinho is unsettled on his attacking options for big games.

Predictions: Mhiktaryan, Lingard, and Ibrahimović. Mourinho will bring on Mata early in the second half if the score is tied. He will bring on Rashford or Martial (in order of probability) if United are chasing the game or have the upper hand in terms of ball possession when the score is tied.

Mourinho knows that regardless of the outcome, his team selection will come under intense scrutiny. For a careful planner like Mourinho, he will be spending all his time figuring out the right combination to sink Liverpool.

This could well be the game that Manchester United fans accept Mourinho as one of their own.