Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Manchester United welcome fierce rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, with the home side looking to extend their current nine-match unbeaten Premier League run. The last team to beat United was Liverpool, when they won 3-1 at Anfield on December 16. That proved to be Jose Mourinho’s last game in charge. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was soon appointed as caretaker gaffer at United, and the Red Devils have not lost a league since then.
For Liverpool, this game is all about keeping up the pressure on Manchester City and maintaining the momentum of their challenge for the Premier League title. There is also the mouthwatering prospect of completing a league double over the Red Devils for the first time since 2013/14, something which would certainly delight the club’s fans.
Our prediction for this game is that Liverpool will enjoy a 2-1 victory over their old rivals from the other end of the East Lancs Road. Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have lost just once of their last 13 away Premier League games, and have also been in great goalscoring form this season. While United have improved hugely under Solskjaer, they are facing a team who have a chance of their first league title for almost three decades. As a motivating factor, that should not be underestimated. We think that this game will be a real thriller, which Liverpool will just edge.
Our recommended tip: Liverpool, both score
Our recommended tip for this game comes from William Hill, who are offering odds of 14/5 on Liverpool to win and both teams to score. Those odds look good value to us, even given United’s strong recent run in the league. There is such an array of attacking talent on offer from both sides that it would be unwise to expect one side not to score. The tip also matches our prediction of a 2-1 win for Klopp’s Reds. We’re backing Liverpool to win as they will be desperate to maintain the pressure on Manchester City in the title race.
Previous matches
These two teams have played each other on 53 previous occasions in the Premier League. Out of those 53 games, United have won 28, Liverpool 14 and there have been 11 draws. Out of the Premier League games at Old Trafford, Liverpool have won five, with United emerging victorious on 16 occasions.
The most recent meeting between the sides was earlier this season, when Liverpool beat United 3-1 at Anfield on December 16. Sadio Mane opened the scoring for Liverpol in the 24th minute, with Jesse Lingard equalising nine minutes later. Two second-half goals from Xherdan Shaqiri secured the win for Klopp’s team.
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Players to watch: Marcus Rashford & Sadio Mane
England striker Marcus Rashford has become a key man for the Red Devils during the Solskjaer era at the club. Although usually deployed as a lone striker, Rashford partnered Romelu Lukaku in attack last week in the FA Cup win at Chelsea. He has contributed nine goals and six assists in the Premier League this season, and has created four big chances for his team-mates. He has also crossed the bal 42 times.
Sadio Mane remains a vital part of the Liverpool forward line, even though he attracts fewer headlines than his team-mate Mohamed Salah. The Senegal international has netted 12 goals in 24 Premier League games this season, and has also provided one assist for his team-mates. He has created four big chances this season, and has crossed the ball 23 times. His 30 tackles and nine blocked shots shows he contributes defensively too.
