Liverpool vs Manchester United Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News, Betting Odds & Key Stats

FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1140640499,1139964960 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool (L) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United. Liverpool and Manchester United meet ina Premier League fixture at Anfield on January 19,2020 in Liverpool. ***LEFT IMAGE*** SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool looks on prior to the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary's Stadium on April 05, 2019 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 02: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on April 02, 2019 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

A place on the summit of the Premier League will be on the line when Liverpool welcome rivals Manchester United to Old Trafford on Sunday.

The 2020/21 Premier League reaches its halfway mark with the latest round of fixtures, with Gameweek 19 currently underway. The pick of the games in the latest matchday will be played at Anfield on Sunday, when Liverpool play hosts to Manchester United, with top spot in the standings up for grabs.

Liverpool have been the pace setters in the Premier League for well over a year, having been by far the best side in the competition since the 2018/19 season. However, the Reds have been thrown off their perch this week by their familiar rivals, having been in a precarious position since losing 1-0 to Southampton in their most recent Premier League game.

The aforementioned familiar rivals are none other than Manchester United, who have been in quite a resurgent mood this term under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Since suffering the 6-1 hammering at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur early in the campaign, the Red Devils have the best record in the top-flight and their 1-0 win over Burnley this week saw them reach the summit of the Premier League.

The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 2-0 win for Liverpool, a result that sparked the fine unbeaten run on the road that Manchester United are currently on in the Premier League. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter.

Team News & Tactics

Liverpool

Joel Matip is an injury doubt for Liverpool. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp does not have any fresh injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of the visit of Manchester United. On Sunday, the Liverpool manager will certainly be bereft of the services of five first-team players while also fretting over the availability of a key member of his squad.

The player in question, of course, is Joel Matip, who has been struggling with a calf injury for a few weeks now, having now missed each of Liverpool’s last three games. Klopp, though, has suggested that he will take a late call over whether he makes the starting lineup. The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Naby Keita and Diogo Jota.

Considering the magnitude of the match, it is likely that Matip will be included in the lineup, with Fabinho being his partner at the heart of the Manchester United defence. If not, Nat Phillips should get the nod in the central defensive partnership.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson will be the full-back pairing for Liverpool, with the duo holding the key in creating the bulk of the openings against Manchester United, who have been highly vulnerable in aerial situations this term. In goal, there is no looking past Alisson Becker.

Up ahead in midfield, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum pick themselves in the three-man unit. Henderson will be stationed at the base, from where he will look to initiate swift moves with his first-touch passing while also aiming to keep a check on Bruno Fernandes.

Thiago and Wijnaldum will provide defensive support to the Liverpool captain, with the former also in-charge of providing the forward thrust from the middle of the park. Finally, in attack, there is no looking past Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. Firmino will aim to create space with his movement off the ball while Mane and Salah will veer infield to look for scoring chances.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane

Manchester United

The 1-0 win over Burnley did push Manchester United to the top of the Premier League table. But, it came at a cost as Anthony Martial sustained a hamstring injury, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sweating over his fitness ahead of the trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool.

With the nature of injury being quite delicate, it is likely that Solskjaer will utilise Martial as an impact substitute, so as to preserve him while also keeping a game-changing option on the bench. The Manchester United manager, though, will have to make do without Brandon Williams, who is struggling to overcome a knock.

Victor Lindelof, though, should be available after recovering from the back complaint that has been bothering him all season. However, the Swede will have to suffice with a place on the bench, with Eric Bailly nailing down his place at the heart of the Manchester United defence alongside Harry Maguire after a few excellent performances.

Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be the two full-backs for Manchester United. However, unlike their counterparts at Liverpool, the duo will primarily have a defensive outlook, although Shaw will carry some threat going down the left flank, and with his deliveries from corners. In goal, David de Gea is a certainty ahead of Dean Henderson.

Martial’s niggling issue provides Solskjaer with a chance to make use of a tactic he has employed a few times this term, with Paul Pogba set to be deployed on the left flank. The Frenchman will look to tuck in and link-up with Bruno Fernandes in the central areas, while creating overloads in the middle of the park during the defensive phases.

Fred and Scott McTominay will likely form the double pivot in midfield for Manchester United, with the pair’s presence in the middle of the park providing the visitors with the kind of solidity needed to cut the Liverpool attack from its midfield. Upfront, Edinson Cavani should lead the line for Manchester United, while Marcus Rashford will be stationed on the right wing.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Pogba; Cavani

Betting Odds

Favourable Tips

1. Over 2.5 Match Goals @ 1.66

Hot Ones

1. Full-Time Result – Draw @ 3.80

Key Stats

Player to Watch

Mohamed Salah

Time to step up. (Photo by Oscar Del Pozo/AFP via Getty Images)

In a potentially high-octane game that will be laden with superstars, it is hard to pick out one player worth keeping an eye on. But, while the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford have all been making a great deal of difference for Manchester United, Mohamed Salah has gone cold in Liverpool colours of late.

So, it does not really come as a surprise that Liverpool have failed to win each of their last three Premier League games, seeing as his output holds the key for the Reds. Hence, it goes without saying what Salah does will go a long way in determining the final outcome of the game.

If Salah becomes anonymous again, Manchester United could well be the team to end Liverpool’s unbeaten home run in the Premier League. That could, in turn, leave the Reds a fair bit behind their bitter rivals, paving the way for an uphill task for the title race.

Prediction

Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United

Going by the two teams’ recent form, Manchester United seem to have the slightest of edges in the game that will invariably be one of the turning points in the title race. However, two factors will be going against the Red Devils on Sunday, despite their much superior form in the top-flight.

For one, Liverpool seem to always put form on the back-burner when it comes to big games in the Premier League at Anfield. Secondly, Manchester United no longer seem to be the tactically astute side that have the number of fellow big-name clubs in marquee fixtures, as illustrated by their poor performances in every game of this sort this term.

Sunday could well be a case of the same yet again, with Liverpool managing to turn their fortunes around. The game, though, should be closely contested, with Manchester United taking it right till the final whistle. With all that being said, the Reds should manage to eke out a narrow 2-1 win to reclaim top spot in the Premier League.

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