In light of the upcoming Premier League match up between Manchester United and Liverpool, we once again ask ESPN Star's Steve McMahon and Paul Parker their insights leading to the match. ESPN will be showing the match live on Saturday 8:45pm.

Do you think the match will be an open attacking contest or a very tight and gritty affair?

Steve McMahon: United don’t play tight and open, they are quite expansive, so I think they’ll take the game to Liverpool. Liverpool will play on the counter attack. They will try to absorb the pressure and hit Manchester United on the break.

Paul Parker: Liverpool will be very tight and will not want to be beaten. They will probably hit on the counterattack with Bellamy or Suarez.

In last night’s match, the return of Suarez could not help Liverpool overcome Tottenham, do you think he will be effective against Man U like in the past?

Steve McMahon: He’s been absent for a while, so he’ll need to get some match sharpness and that’s what Kenny Dalglish did for last night’s match. I’d be majorly surprised if he doesn’t start.

Paul Parker: I think he will be. You can see that Man United have not been defending well from the weekend game. Sir Alex knows that’s going to be a problem. All his defenders were not playing well, Patrice Evra especially. He’s going to have to pick up on his footwork 100% in order to beat Suarez.  If I were Suarez I would try to go one on one with Evra.

How do you think the atmosphere will be like at Old Trafford towards Suarez?

Steve McMahon: Well you’ve seen how the crowd at Anfield reacted to Evra, and it’s going to be similar.

Paul Parker: It will probably be very anti-Liverpool. Just like what happened at Anfield.

Do you think the crowd to get into Suarez’s head?

Steve McMahon: No. No chance. If anything it might spur him on.

Paul Parker: No he’s a top player and he won’t be affected. He’s shown it playing for his country and he has gone through situations like this before. Players like him normally rise to the occasions at times like these.

With most of the United team returning since the FA cup clash, do you think they are in a stronger position now?

Steve McMahon: Absolutely, they’ve shown they’re a strong side. So they have the players now and are well equipped to take on Liverpool.

Paul Parker: Players still have to get their fitness and form. Take Ashley Young for example, in his first game back against Chelsea he was ineffective and poor because of his injuries. Having players back is great, but they need to have form. Experience now is helping United with Giggs and Scholes both playing well.

What changes do you expect Sir Alex to make for his squad against Liverpool?

Steve McMahon: Who knows? Alex Ferguson changes his game plan every game.

Paul Parker: Depends on who he has back. I’m sure he would want more options defensively, but it looks like he’ll have to use the same players as against Chelsea.

Would you expect any surprises from him? 

Steve McMahon: Probably, he always throws surprises. Both Kenny Dalglish and Sir Alex, they always try to tinker and second guess what each other will do.

Paul Parker: Yes, given the game and magnitude I would expect someone in the starting 11 would be someone no one would expect. Maybe someone in the background or someone could help defensively.

Do you expect Cleverly to start?

Steve McMahon: No I don’t, it’s too big a game to start him.

Paul Parker: Perhaps, if he is fit enough and Sir Alex deems him to have enough match fitness.

Who do you think could possibly change the game for Man Utd this time round?

Steve McMahon: Certainly you look at big game players and Rooney has a big game temperament. Valencia has been playing well and Hernandez seems to score every time he comes off the bench.

Paul Parker: We’re looking at one of 3 players in Scholes, Giggs and Rooney. If you can keep one of them including Valencia in the game, then you’re going to have a problem. Valencia could actually wreak havoc on Liverpool because if he goes one on one against Enrique, he could absolutely destroy him.

Do you think De Gea will be bullied around like last time?

Steve McMahon: De Gea is very vulnerable and Liverpool knows that. He might get a lot of trouble from Andy Carroll if he plays and Kenny may be looking at that.

Paul Parker: He will be because De Gea allows himself to be. He gets too involved when players stand too near to him. If a player stands in front of him, he should just go ahead and stand in front of the player. De Gea seems to want to keep pushing everyone away, it’s a physical game and he should accept it. I’m surprised he lasted so long in Spain actually because everyone does it basically. Now every time he flaps at things, it a show of weakness.

Liverpool seems to get the best of his team against the top sides. How would you expect Kenny’s to prepare his time this time, especially after wins against Man City, Man U, and a draw with Tottenham.

Steve McMahon: He won’t change his way of playing, especially at Old Trafford, he’s not going to go all gung ho and attack there. He’ll probably stick to what he’s done and go on the counter attack.

Paul Parker: I think he’ll do the same as what he’s doing. Their best is usually at Anfield but at Old Trafford it’ll be more hostile. They will probably play more counter-attacking there.

Do you think Gerrard still has an impact on the game?

Steve McMahon: Every time he plays. Every time he doesn’t play, Liverpool is weaker.

Paul Parker: He does if he’s playing. But does he make the same type of impact? No, age is catching up with him and with the position he’s playing, he may have to re-invent himself to stay longer.

Which of Liverpool’s strikers do you think should start this game?

Steve McMahon: Suarez of course, if Kenny plays one up front only.

Paul Parker: He might play Andy Carroll because De Gea might play. But then again Kenny might decide on pace and put Suarez forward alone.

Do you think either team has gained the upper hand since the last time they met?

Steve McMahon: Being at Anfield, Liverpool had the edge, being at Old Trafford, United have the edge. United won’t be negative in any way.

Paul Parker: Not really, Liverpool may have gotten a few good results before this but no. No one really expected Liverpool to win the previous FA Cup match but they did. So this will probably be just another League match.

Following the much criticized refereeing in the Man U vs Chelsea match, how important will the refereeing be this time round?

Steve McMahon: The referee is always important, especially in a Liverpool-United game. So I hope the referee is strong and doesn’t listen to the Man United fans and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Paul Parker: I don’t really want to talk about the referee because the game is about 22 guys against each other. Referees don’t win games, maybe some times, but almost all the times it’s about the players.

What are your predictions for the outcome?

Steve McMahon: I think United will win the game.

Paul Parker: I think United will win it. Just by the fact that it is at Old Trafford, I can’t see Liverpool winning this.

ESPN’s Andrew Leci will be pitch-side for this weekend’s Manchester United vs Liverpool match. Visit www.facebook.com/espnstarsports to send Leci questions you want answered when he meets top football managers, players and former greats at Old Trafford