The Di Maria dilemma: Does Van Gaal bring his record signing back for Liverpool clash?

Basically, the demanding Dutchman has demonstrated that if a player does not impress him during a training session or a game, he will not pick him in the next match regardless of the size of transfer fee, status or ego.

He faces one of the biggest decisions of his 25-year managerial career on Sunday when Manchester United visit Anfield: does he recall Angel Di Maria?

Arguably, the most significant aspect of United’s best performance of the season against Tottenham last Sunday was that Di Maria was not in the team.

He was sitting in the stands, no doubt still stewing at his foolish tugging of referee Michael Oliver’s shirt in the FA Cup quarter-final tie against Arsenal that earned him a one-game suspension.

Without him United looked better balanced, kept and moved the ball with more pace and fluency and, for the first half at least, produced the sort of attacking football the Old Trafford audience craves but has rarely been able to enjoy this season.

None of the players who started on Sunday deserve to be left out at Anfield so that could mean a place on the bench for Di Maria.

Van Gaal has already demonstrated his managerial muscles when he hauled the Argentina international off at half-time in the home game against Sunderland last month after he had produced a woefully erratic first 45 minutes.

He brought him back for the next game against Newcastle but again he disappointed and was substituted during the second half.

Di Maria was slightly better in the Cup-tie against Arsenal, supplying the cross for Wayne Rooney’s first half goal, before his rush of blood in the second half when he was booked for diving before laying hands on the referee in protest.

Juan Mata – United’s second most expensive signing – would appear to be the man most at risk if Van Gaal does decide on a recall for Di Maria.

Despite being played wide on the right, Mata played well against Spurs, his passing as always was superb and he linked well, in particularly, with fellow Spaniard Ander Herrera.

In his blog this week he described United’s playing style that day as “fast and intense” and that is certainly what they will need on Sunday against Brendan Rodgers’ rejuvenated team.

But Di Maria – if he is on his A-game - would offer more pace and penetration on the counter-attack at Anfield.  Some of his better performances have been away from home when he has been a useful outlet for United.

And maybe watching his team-mates play so well without him last Sunday will have fired his professional pride to prove he is worth the £59.7m British record fee United paid Real Madrid for him. In the eyes of United followers there would be no better place to it than at Anfield. 

He would do well to remember Diego Forlan. Despite a difficult time at Old Trafford, Forlan carved himself a niche in United’s folklore with his two goals at Anfield in back in 2002.

With Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Rafael Da Silva all fit again, Van Gaal suddenly has a number of defensive options to consider as well.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones revived their England under 21 partnership and kept Harry Kane quiet last Sunday but the speed and trickery of Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, Coutinho and Adam Lallana present an entirely different problem.

Although, on paper, United’s 3-0 win over the Merseysiders at Old Trafford in December looked comprehensive, in reality it was anything but.

Liverpool – and Sterling in particular – carved United’s defence open almost at will that day and only some fine goalkeeping by David de Gea and errant finishing prevented them from scoring several goals.

Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo are both fit but Daley Blind looked perfectly at home at left back on Sunday. Rafael Di Silva could come in for Antonio Valencia whose poor defensive positioning and concentration have cost United at times. Playing a winger at right back is not ideal at Anfield, especially with Liverpool in their current form

United also due a big Anfield performance from Wayne Rooney. It's fair to say not been one of his happiest hunting grounds over the years.

He has made 10 visits there – two with Everton and eight with United – but only scored once and that was 10 years ago when his long-range shot skidded under Jerzy Dudek’s body at the Kop end to earn United a 1-0 win.

As he celebrated, a cigarette lighter was hurled at him.

Rooney, in good form with five goals in six games since being moved back up front, will not doubt be eager to provide the spark this time.