Europe will be tunning to Old Trafford as Manchester United and Liverpool go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Premier League fixture. It’s time to preview the game and take a look at the expected lineups.
Both sides enjoyed successful midweek Champions League action. Man United took their fans to another emotional rollercoaster, turning a 2-0 half-time deficit into a 3-2 home victory in their Group F encounter. Meanwhile, Liverpool squeezed past ten-man Atletico Madrid in Spain 3-2 to maintain their 100% Group B start, including a 3-2 home win over AC Milan.
Despite United’s mixed start to this Premier League season, they head into proceedings trailing Liverpool by only four points. However, another underwhelming result here could come costly for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is under severe pressure to get things rolling in England’s top-flight.
Manchester United vs Liverpool Head-to-Head
Manchester United take the field winless in their last five Premier League meetings with Liverpool (D3, L2), a run that has coincided with Solskjaer’s arrival at the helm. Seeking his maiden top-flight victory over bitter rivals as a manager, the Norwegian will aim to improve his side’s paltry scoring return across the last five league H2Hs.
Indeed, the Red Devils have failed to trouble the scoresheet three times across their last five Premier League encounters against the Merseyside outfit. Despite scoring two in their most recent league match-up at Old Trafford, United found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline and could now lose back-to-back top-flight H2Hs at home for the first time since January 2002.
By extension, the three-time European Cup winners have claimed just one victory across their last ten Premier League matches against Liverpool (D6, L3). Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the odds are stacked against United here.
Manchester United Form Preview
Manchester United have suffered a dip in form in the Premier League, going from a hat-trick of victories to three consecutive matches without winning (D1, L2). In addition to an embarrassing 4-2 away loss to Leicester City last time out, the Red Devils have failed to win any of their previous two league games at Old Trafford (D1, L1).
United’s defensive frailties have been brutally exposed recently, with Solskjaer’s men going nine straight Premier League home fixtures without a clean sheet. If they fail to register a shutout here, it will be the first time since February 1971 that they have conceded at least once in ten top-flight home matches on the trot.
Man United’s Premier League home action usually bursts into life after half-time. Indeed, 11 (78.57%) of their 14 league goals scored/conceded at home this season have come in the second half of play, though only 50% of their top-flight home fixtures have featured a strike beyond the 75th minute.
Player to Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo
Though Solskjaer boasts one of Europe’s fiercest attacking lines, one player deserves special attention. Cristiano Ronaldo came up huge to score another late Champions League winner for Manchester United this season, heading home in the 81st-minute to complete his side’s turnaround against Atalanta in midweek.
The former Juventus superstar has racked up six goals in nine competitive appearances this term. But he has drawn a blank in his last three Premier League matches.
Liverpool Form Preview
Unlike Manchester United, Liverpool have enjoyed a stellar start to the season as they go into this round as the only Premier League side yet to taste a bite of defeat this term (W5, D3). The Reds have bounced back from a brace of high-scoring stalemates with Brentford and Manchester City with an overwhelming 5-0 away win over Watford last time out.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have now scored 3+ goals in each of their last five Premier League road fixtures, netting a total of 17. In fact, they are the only Premier League side to have smashed a 10-goal barrier away from home this season (14), clocking up an intimidating nine second-half goals in the process.
Home and away, they are unbeaten in 18 league matches on the trot (W13, D5), the longest ongoing such streak in the top four tiers of English football. After beating the opponents by 3+ goals ‘to nil’ in three of their four Premier League travels this term, Liverpool will be confident of upsetting fierce rivals here.
Player to watch: Mohamed Salah
Arguably the most in-form player at the moment, Mohamed Salah has tallied 12 goals and four assists in 11 competitive appearances this season and is currently the Premier League leading goalscorer with seven.
The Egyptian forward scored in both Liverpool’s competitive visits to Old Trafford last season and could become the first Reds player to find the net in three consecutive away matches against Manchester United.
Manchester United vs Liverpool Predicted Lineups
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba; Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Cristiano Ronaldo.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.