English football’s biggest rivalry enters centre stage this Sunday when Manchester United travel to Liverpool, with kick-off at 16:30.
The Reds started the weekend with a slender one point advantage at the top of the table and will aim to ensure they remain there with a win, whilst victory for sixth-placed United would keep them within touching distance of the top four.
- Liverpool to win by 3 or more goals
- Mohamed Salah to score a hat-trick
- Kostas Tsimikas to assist
Anfield Anguish To Haunt United
Manchester United were put to the sword in last year’s meeting in L4, with a humbling 7-0 thrashing that heavily dented any dwindling title ambitions.
The Red Devils eventually finished third, two places and eight points above their fierce rivals, but events have not been as kind this time around.
United lie in sixth on 27 points, ten behind Liverpool in first, and crashed out of Europe in midweek to become the only English side to finish bottom of their Champions League group twice (in 2005/06 also).
Goals have not been easy to come by for Manchester United strikers, with Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial scoring three league goals between them.
Holding midfielder Scott McTominay tops United’s goalscoring charts in the Premier League with five, highlighting the lack of potency at the frontline.
Liverpool have scored eleven goals past the Red Devils in their last two meetings and all stats point to another high-scoring affair.
LIVERPOOL TO WIN BY 3 OR MORE GOALS
Salah To Shine Again
Although the first meeting between the two English giants dates back to 1894, the rivalry’s top scorer will likely appear on Sunday.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored 12 times against United since joining the Reds in 2017 and converted his 200th goal for the club against Crystal Palace last weekend.
The electrifying Egyptian has continued to impress this season with 18 goal contributions in the league, including six in his last five games.
His love of this fixture, accompanied by Manchester United’s tame exit from Europe and inconsistent form, could be the perfect recipe for even more joy in front of goal for the talismanic forward.
Tsimikas Form Key
When Andrew Robertson picked up a shoulder injury in October, there was concern how the void at left-back would be filled.
The Scottish international has notched up 53 assists for Liverpool since signing from Hull City in 2017, with his energy, creativity and direct style of play causing havoc for opposition defences.
His deputy, Greek international Kostas Tsimkas, has picked up the torch and has been a shining light down the left side, with three assists in his last five league games greatly contributing to Liverpool’s lofty table position.
United have a lengthy absentee list stretching to ten names, with three further players still to potentially be added.
Erik Ten Hag may therefore be forced to name a makeshift starting eleven, and the Greek full-back will look to exploit these frailties if and when they show themselves.
