One of the most anticipated encounters of the Premier League matchweek 27 comes our way on Sunday when Manchester United take on arch-rivals Liverpool at home.
The rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool will take centre stage on Sunday as the two teams are set to lock horns against each other at Old Trafford, in a contest that would have huge repercussions on the Premier League title race as well as the race for the top four.
It was the reverse fixture between these two sides in December, that Liverpool won 3-1 comfortably, that played an integral role in the dramatic turnaround in Manchester United’s season. Following that humiliation, Jose Mourinho was sacked and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the reins as the interim manager, after which there has been no looking back for the Red Devils.
Eleven wins in 13 matches (D1, L1) across all competitions, including victories against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea indicate the kind of form that Manchester United have been under the Norwegian. They have broken into the top four of the league for the first time since August and they would want to hold on to the spot at all costs.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have the golden opportunity to open up a three-point lead over Manchester City, with the champions being involved in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea this weekend. The Reds have shown slight signs of pressure catching up with them, having won just six of their last 11 matches in all competitions (D3, L2) since the win over Manchester United in December.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have ended up on the winning side in just one of their last four games across all competitions, with their latest match ending in a goalless stalemate against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. They will be gunning for a victory at Old Trafford and open up a gap over City, as the race for the title continues to heat up.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Solskjaer and Manchester United are optimistic about the chances of star attacking duo Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial to return, after having missed the game against Chelsea on Monday night. Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian are doubts, but that shouldn’t impact Solskjaer’s selection for the blockbuster clash on Sunday.
David De Gea will return to the starting lineup against the Reds, having sat out of the FA Cup game against Chelsea. The Spaniard will be on the lookout for his 100th Premier League clean sheet on Sunday. Ashley Young and Luke Shaw will occupy the full-back slots and will have their tasks cut out going up against Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.
Victor Lindelof is a guaranteed starter at the heart of the defence. Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Eric Bailly will compete for the other spot, with the former Fulham man likely to get the nod after his solid display against Chelsea in the cup tie.
There are no alterations expected in the middle of the park with Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba being definite starters. Juan Mata is likely to slot in at the tip of the midfield diamond for United, like he did against Chelsea. Given the attacking nature of Liverpool full backs, Solskjaer might opt to play Marcus Rashford and Martial as the wide forwards, with Romelu Lukaku dropping out.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): De Gea; Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Mata; Rashford, Martial;
Liverpool
Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez have been ruled out of the contest by Klopp, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also miss out, despite having returned to training. Virgil van Dijk will be available for selection, having missed the Champions League game against Bayern Munich due to suspension.
Alisson Becker is the undisputed choice in goal for Liverpool on Sunday. Trent Alexander-Arnold will slot in as the right-back, with Andrew Robertson on the opposite side of the backline. Van Dijk should return to the starting lineup and will partner Joel Matip at the centre of the backline.
Fabinho, who slotted in defence against Bayern, will move into the No.6 role and will be tasked with keeping a lid on Pogba’s forward forays from the middle of the park. Captain Jordan Henderson is a definite pick after producing his best display of the season against Bayern, while the third midfield slot will be taken up by Gini Wijnaldum, meaning Naby Keita misses out.
The attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane picks itself for Liverpool, with Xherdan Shaqiri and Adam Lallana providing options from the bench for Klopp.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane;
Betting Odds
Favourable Bets
1. Full Time Result – Manchester United or Draw @ 1.60
2. Both Teams to Score – YES @ 1.61
Underdog Bets
1. Manchester United to win @ 3.10
Key Stats
- Manchester United have won seven of their last nine home league games against Liverpool, losing 0-3 in March 2014 and drawing 1-1 in January 2017.
- Liverpool won the reverse fixture 3-1 and are looking to do the league double over Manchester United for the first time since 2013-14. The Merseysiders have done the Premier League double over the Red Devils most number of times in the competition (4).
- Manchester United are on the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League (W8, D1), and their longest run without defeat in the competition since October 2017 (10 games).
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League away games (W9, D3). However, against sides starting the day in the top four, they’re winless in their last seven away from home since beating Chelsea 2-1 in September 2016.
- Manchester United have kept just one clean sheet in their 12 Premier League games at Old Trafford this season, only Fulham have kept as few in home games (1). Meanwhile, Liverpool are one of three sides to have scored in every away league game coming into this round of matches, along with Tottenham and United.
Player to Watch
Paul Pogba
After a dismal start to the season, Paul Pogba has turned it around under Solskjaer in a sensational manner and has been at the forefront of Manchester United’s revival in the past couple of months. The midfielder has been the Red Devils’ most in-form player, having scored eight goals and assisted a further five in his last nine Premier League games.
Pogba was once again brilliant for United in the win over Chelsea, leading the way with a goal and an assist. The only game the Red Devils have lost under Solskjaer – the 0-2 defeat to PSG – came when the World Cup winner was marked out of the game by Marquinhos. That is what Liverpool might need to do, if they are to clinch a win at Old Trafford, or they might risk bearing the brunt of Pogba’s brilliant form.
Prediction
Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool
Under Mourinho, Manchester United would have approached this game with a defensive mindet, but the wheels are off now and Solskjaer will set his team up to go all out in search of three points against Liverpool at Old Trafford. The manner in which they bounced back from the PSG defeat shows the character of the team and the confidence that is flowing.
Sunday’s game offers Liverpool a chance to put pressure on Manchester City in the title race by opening up a three-point lead. And anything less than a win could see talks of Jurgen Klopp’s side crumbling under the heat gain momentum, further intensifying the pressure on the title contenders.
It promises to be an intense affair with the home support making the atmosphere electric at Old Trafford. We could see both teams approach the game with a mixture of caution and aggression, with a 1-1 draw seeming the most likely outcome on Sunday.
