Manchester City may be just a couple of wins away from securing the Premier League title to add to the Carabao Cup that they have already won this season, but behind them the battle for a top four spot and a place in next season’s Champions League is heating up.
Manchester United look secure in second spot but behind the Red Devils there are a cluster of teams including Leicester City, Chelsea, West Ham United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton all in with a realistic chance of a top four spot.
With just five games left of the season, each of those teams faces a crucial run in with a number of key games to come over those last few weeks of the season and that starts on Sunday at Old Trafford where Manchester United welcome their old north west rivals Liverpool for a crucial game.
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Let’s now preview the game in a bit more detail before we give you our tips for the match.
Manchester United v Liverpool Preview
Manchester United come into this game sitting second in the table, ten points behind Manchester City,
but also 12 points clear of West Ham in fifth. A United win here would therefore likely mean that they do qualify for the Champions League next season.
Liverpool’s situation is far more desperate. The Reds are unbeaten in their last five in the Premier League, but having drawn their last two games they are four points adrift of Chelsea in 4th spot in the table and know a defeat here could see that gap extend to seven points, with just four games remaining.
Liverpool’s problems are also further exacerbated by the fact that United are on a good run of results domestically, their draw with Leeds ending a run of five straight wins and they have not lost a Premier League game since the 27th January.
However, United’s form at home hasn’t been as strong as their away form, while Liverpool’s away form, of late, has generally been better than their home form.
The teams shared a 0-0 draw when they met in the Premier League back at the start of January, with United winning 3-2 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup a week later.
One advantage for Liverpool heading into this game is that the Reds have had all week to prepare for this game following their 1-1 draw with Newcastle at Anfield last weekend. United though played on Thursday against AS Roma in the Europa League semifinal first leg.
Man Utd v Liverpool Historic Record
- Matched Played – 234
- Man Utd Wins – 89
- Draws – 68
- Liverpool Wins – 77
Both teams have won two of the last eleven games between the teams with the other seven matches finishing as a draw. Four of those drawn games have come at Old Trafford. Four of those drawn matches have finished in a 0-0 scoreline.
Manchester United v Liverpool Team News
Manchester United will be able to welcome back skipper Harry Maguire, left back Luke Shaw and
midfielder Scott McTominay for this clash with the Reds after all three missed their Europa League semi final first leg with AS Roma through suspension.
Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani, who both have slight injuries, should be fit to play as should Marcus Rashford, who has an excellent goalscoring record against Liverpool, despite the striker still nursing an ankle issue. Dean Henderson is also likely to continue in goal ahead of David de Gea.
Man Utd Likely Team – (4-2-3-1) – Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Fred, McTominay, Rashford, Fernandes, James, Pogba.
Liverpool are not going to see any of their long-term absentees from injury return for this game, which means the likes of Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Jordan Henderson will all be absent. However, Nat Phillips could be set to come back into the team after missing the last couple of games with injury.
It will be interesting to see how Jurgen Klopp sets up his team for this game having seen his strikers waste numerous chances to score against Newcastle last weekend. Chances at Old Trafford will be at a premium for the Reds so they need striker in form, which suggests Jota may well start ahead of either Firmino or Mane.
Liverpool Likely Team – (4-3-3) – Allison, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Phillips, Kabak, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita, Mane, Jota, Salah.
Manchester United v Liverpool Tips
In terms of who will win the game, past history and recent form of the two sides suggests that a draw is the most likely outcome of the match. The problem with that is that it doesn’t really help the position of either side at this stage of the season, with both needing to pick up wins.
United are not in a realistic position to chase down Manchester City over the last five games but they do have a comfortable cushion over the teams below them, which means that they can approach this game in a more relaxed state of mind than Liverpool.
The Reds though are desperate for three points to keep in touch with the race for the top four and draws against Leeds and Newcastle in their last two games have not helped their cause a great deal with rivals picking up vital wins in their matches.
The problem with Liverpool is that they do seem very likely to concede a goal or two at times, but I think Phillips coming back into the team with Fabinho moving into midfield will help shore up midfield for the Reds, which will be key in the battle in this game and I think that can negate United’s attacking threat.
However, the one thing to note is a look at how Man Utd have performed against their main rivals this season shows that draws, and in particular 0-0 draws, are a very common theme and as such, that is probably the sensible pick to make here.
- Full Time Result – Draw – 13/5
- Correct Score – Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool – 12/1
- Anytime Goalscorer – No Goalscorer – 12/1
