Manchester United face Liverpool on Sunday in the latest installment of arguably, the most heated and fiercest rivalry of English Football. The games have witnessed some of the most swashbuckling goals of all time and a lot of the modern day Legends of the game in Rooney, Gerrard, Beckham, Fowler and many more.
History set aside, United come into the game on their weakest run of form in the last several years and are a bleak 7/2 to win. The Red Devils were dealt a blow as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ruled out both, Paul Pogba and David De Gea for the clash.
The Spaniard, who injured his groin, was substituted while on International duty and ‘requires a scan’. They are in dire need to arrest the form slump as they are winless in the last three league games.
Their northwestern rivals, Liverpool on the other hand, are booming with confidence at the moment with convincing wins against Leicester and Chelsea in recent games. The Merseyside outfit though, haven’t won to Old Trafford since that epic 3-0 win back in March, 2014.
Keeper Alisson Becker returned to training and would be definitely in contention to start between the sticks after an absence of 2 months from football due to the a calf injury sustained on the opening day of the Premier League campaign.
Defender Joel Matip and superstar Mo Salah were also seen to be back in training. Liverpool could equal a record of 18 wins on the trot in the Premier Legaue, should they manage to get all three points. Nine wins from nine league games to open a campaign is not at all an easy task, but this Liverpool side under Jurgen Klopp could possible do the unthinkable.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS:
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told reporters that, “He [Pogba] had a scan after the Arsenal game and maybe needed a few weeks’ rest in a boot, so hopefully he won’t be too long, but he won’t make this game, no”. United are the second most injury hit side currently with as many as 10 players on the sidelines. Their absence has led to some abysmal results for the Red Devils. Marcus Rashford scored for England in the international break and is likely to start once again. Wan-Bissaka and Martial both are ‘in contention’ for some minutes with the latter coming out from a difficult muscle injury. Matic and McTominay will probably start in the CM roles. Daniel James is expected to start in what would be his first United-Liverpool game. Juan Mata would be hoping to repeat his 2015 heroics, where the Spaniard scored a stunning bicycle to seal the win for the Red Devils.
Predicted Line-Ups: Romero, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young (C), McTominay, Matic, James, Mata, Rashford, Martial 4-2-3-1
Liverpool have been fortunate with injuries until now and have managed the absence of Alisson very well. The Brazilian is expected to start only his 2nd game of the season to replace Adrian. There are certain doubts on Mohamed Salah’s availability but the ‘Egyptian King’ did attend full first team training from Thursday. Sadio Mane who, has been in blistering form for the Reds, has his hand in three goals in two games. Gini Wijnaldum scored twice for the Dutch National team which included a quite sublime long range effort. The player to watch out is Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose curling crosses can cause significant damage to the United back line already missing David De Gea.
Predicted Line-Ups: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson (C), Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane 4-3-3
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester (76000)
English Premier League, Round 9
Time: 16:30 BST, Sunday
