Arsenal need to find the balance
This match between two sides who like to play attacking football is the nicest way to welcome the Premier League back after an international break that did not catch fire.
While much may have happened since their last meeting mere weeks ago in the Community Shield, it is an understatement to say that this match-up is of huge importance to both sides.
For Arsenal, it is a psychological and tactical test. Although the Gunners were actually pretty solid against their fellow Big Four rivals at the Emirates last season - the crushing defeats all came on their travels - we have to see if they have answered the tactical questions which become apparent against stronger sides.
The Gunners will nearly always play a relatively high line and look to dominate possession. But can they do that and find the right balance which prevents them from being hurt on the break?
Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta lifts the FA Community Shield following his teams 3-0 win over Manchester City during the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium in London, Britain, 10 August 2014. EPA/ANDY RAIN
Arsene Wenger's starting line up will give us an idea. Will he try to be more pragmatic and start the game with the more terrier-like qualities of Mathieu Flamini alongside Mikel Arteta at the base of midfield to give more protection to the latter and to the back four?
That is especially important with the physical power of Yaya Toure to contend with and the tendency of Samir Nasri and David Silva to try and find the pockets between the full backs and centre backs.
Mesut Ozil is also fit for Arsenal, but starting him on the left would be a dangerous move given that he would be required to track Man City's right back Pablo Zabaleta (or Bacary Sagna) and that is not the strongest aspect of the German's game.
If he starts, it should be in the No 10 role behind Danny Welbeck who should add raw pace to the forward line and give Ozil someone to play the ball through to. Alexis Sanchez offers that willingness to track back and also has the pace to endanger the opposition.
The option to utilize pace - something they have sometimes lacked in recent seasons - should help Arsenal greatly especially if they play a little more vertically and look to make the most of transitions and Ozil's ability to find the killer pass.
Balotelli first real test?
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been vocal in his irritation at the injury sustained by Daniel Sturridge on England duty. But on the flip side, it does give him the opportunity to test out Mario Balotelli in the lone striker role.
The Italy striker has played in that position for most of his career, so it will be more a case of Rodgers seeing how his plethora of attacking midfielders can fit in behind Balotelli.
The opposition must be taken into account of course and Aston Villa have started the season in a way that suggests that they may be more resilient than last season (granted they did hold Liverpool to a draw at Anfield).
Their 4-3-3 with the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Charles N'Zogbia and Andreas Wiemann makes them potentially potent in transition.
However, the Villa central defensive pair of Philippe Senderos and Ron Vlaar are not the quickest, which is where Raheem Sterling's willingness to run beyond the centre forward is vital if he can get the Villa defence turned on their heels.
However, Sterling is unlikely to be at the tip of a four-point diamond if Liverpool play with Balotelli up front, although he could conceivably play in a free role in the line of three behind Balotelli.
How will Man United will fit everybody in?
At this rate there will be theses' written about Louis Van Gaal's plan to fit in all his Van Gaalacticos into a balanced and credible starting line-up.
Let's assume that the 3-5-2 will be persisted with. You can assume that debutants Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw will start at left centre-back and left wing back respectively.
Unfortunately Angel Di Maria's versatility would even tie Nostradamus' predictive mind in knots in this formation.
In a 3-5-2, he could take up the deep role alongside Daley Blind (would Van Gaal play two left footers together however?) or Darren Fletcher that he appeared in against Burnley. Or he could be played closer the hole, which appears less likely given that Juan Mata or Wayne Rooney could take up that position.
But there are two real questions for Van Gaal to answer with his new options.
Is there enough pace and thrust further up the field to add more variety to their attacks? And will one of the centre-forwards begin to take responsibility when it comes to bringing the ball out of defence?
And lest we forget, QPR have started the season with a 3-5-2 and if remember the World Cup, Van Gaal's Holland struggled against Mexico and Costa Rica who counteracted the Dutch with that very same formation.
El Derbi Madrileño
Graham Hunter previewed the Madrid derby last night and he is right to suggest that Atletico are catching Real Madrid at the right time.
The balance so carefully orchestrated by Carlo Ancelotti has been lost and an intense counter-attacking Atletico can do real damage in transition in the spaces that the deepest-lying midfield pair of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos leave behind.
It is likely to be very tight but I would tip Atletico if a winner had to be called.
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