Liverpool welcome Manchester United this afternoon as the old rivals collide again at Anfield.
Three defeats on the bounce rocked Arne Slot’s side prior to the international break with Arsenal taking full advantage, sat four points clear at the summit after their win over Fulham last night.
But this is a fixture Liverpool simply do not lose. You have to go back to January 2016 when Wayne Rooney’s goal secured a 1-0 win for Louis van Gaal’s side for the last time United won on the red half of Merseyside.
A 2-0 win over Sunderland lifted some of the gloom around Old Trafford last time out and United performed admirably here last season, leaving with a 2-2 draw in January.
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Ruben Amorim is still searching for back-to-back wins – ending that wait today would go some way in easing the pressure mounting on him.
Metro’s LIVE matchday blog will bring you all the build-up, confirmed team news and starting XIs, goal updates and minute-by-minute coverage.
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Match odds
Victory today would see Liverpool back up to second and just one point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
But if United win, they’ll go into the top-half of the table and will only be two points behind their arch-rivals.
Here are the latest match odds, courtesy of Betfair:
- Liverpool win – 8/15
- Draw – 11/4
- Man United win – 7/2
Rooney’s preview
It’s been nearly a decade since United last beat Liverpool at Anfield. In January 2016, a Wayne Rooney strike was enough to give the visitors the win.
The United legend thinks that a draw would be a ‘huge’ result for his former side, saying: ‘I think they’ll go in a say, if we can get a point we’ll be happy with that.
‘Where I think for Liverpool, if Liverpool lose four games in a row and they lose to Manchester United at Anfield, I think the pressure is definitely on Liverpool for this game.’
Fernandes on penalties
One player who was always going to start this game was Bruno Fernandes. But after missing two of three penalties this season, will the United captain still take the spot-kicks?
Well according to Ruben Amorim, yes – but he has not ruled out changing the penalty taker in the future.
Read the full story here.
Sesko on the bench
United’s line-up throws up one major surprise, with Benjamin Sesko on the bench.
Ruben Amorim picks a front-three of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount, despite Sesko scoring in his last two games.
The head coach even expressed concern about starting Cunha and Casemiro after their Brazil players long journey to the Far East and back over the international break.
Wirtz and Ekitike benched
So it’s the Liverpool XI we mostly expected with Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch passed fit after suffering some minor injuries while on international duty.
Alexander Isak is yet to score in the league for the Reds but he’s preferred to Hugo Ekitike.
The only slight surprise is that Florian Wirtz is benched for Dominik Szoboszlai, with the struggling Conor Bradley starting at right-back.
It’s the biggest game of the season, but the £116million man can’t start it…
Confirmed Man Utd starting XI
Utd XI.
Subs: Bayindir, Dorgu, Heaven, Mazraoui, Jew, Maino, Ugart, Syses, Circumcier
Confirmed Liverpool starting XI
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Isak
Subs: Woodman, Gomez, Wirtz, Chiesa, Jones, Ekitike, Robertson, Frimpong, Ngumoha
Liverpool vs Man Utd TV channel
You can watch the clash between Liverpool and Manchester United live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
But why do that when you can follow all the action right here with our dedicated LIVE blog!
Liverpool vs Man Utd kick-off time
The big game kicks-off at Anfield at 4.30pm UK time.
There’s one other Premier League match on today, with Tottenham drawing 1-1 with Aston Villa at half-time.
Welcome!
Good afternoon and welcome to Metro’s LIVE coverage of Sunday’s huge Premier League clash between Liverpool and Manchester United.
It’s one of the biggest matches in English football but who will leave Anfield with the bragging rights today?
The all-important team news is on its way…
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