Liverpool v Manchester United – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Liverpool host Man Utd at Anfield in the biggest North West derby in several years with United three points clear at the top of the table ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s defending champions. The hosts have suffered some disappointing results in recent weeks whilst Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are in outstanding form.

Liverpool Form

Liverpool have already dropped more points this season than all of the last campaign. With 18 points dropped in 17 matches, Klopp’s team sit in second place with under two points per match on average.

The Reds are three league matches without a win having drawn 1-1 at home with West Brom, 0-0 away at Newcastle and 1-0 away at Southampton. Before that, Klopp’s team blew away Leicester and Wolves at Anfield by 3-0 and 4-0 scorelines before a 1-1 draw at Fulham, a 2-1 home win against Spurs and a 7-0 win at Crystal Palace.

In their last match, they beat a largely under 21 Aston Villa side 4-1 despite the scores being level at 1-1 after an hour. Klopp played a strong team to maintain match fitness and rhythm.

Liverpool Team News

With Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez still many months away, Klopp will be praying that he can get Joel Matip onto the pitch for this match alongside Fabinho at centre back. If Matip can’t play, it will be a difficult choice between the aerially dominant but slow Nat Phillips or the speedier Rhys Williams. Jordan Henderson at centre back would be a huge risk.

Further forward, Thiago Alcantara may start this big match for control of the midfield alongside Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum whilst Diego Jota remains missing in a frontline which therefore picks itself.

Liverpool Motivation

Klopp’s team will play to dominate and win the match but will also know their backline is compromised and that Man Utd have real threat on the break. They may even sit off for parts of the match and try to invite United onto them.

A draw would not be a terrible result but a defeat certainly would be so the German coach may be okay to get James Milner on in the second half and protect a point. However, the Reds could start this match as low as 6th place and that could put some pressure on them to go for the victory.

Man Utd Form

Now top of the log after beating Burnley 1-0 in midweek thanks to Paul Pogba’s goal, Man Utd are in their best form for years. With nine wins and two draws in their last 11, they look like genuine title contenders.

With 11 wins in their last 12 on the road, United have beat anyone playing on the counter attack but their defensive record this season overall leaves a lot to be desired as they have conceded the 13th most goals in the division.

Man Utd Team News

Solskjaer have injury doubts over Anthony Martial (tight hamstring) and Nemanja Matic (tight groin) for this match but both should be fit. The coach usually plays an abrasive double pivot of Fred and Scott McTominay in these big matches but Paul Pogba will be hard to leave out. It could therefore be a midfield diamond to accommodate all three plus Bruno Fernandes.

Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial look to be battling for one spot in that case whilst Eric Bailly should keep his place at the back whether Victor Lindelof recovers from a back problem or not.

Man Utd Motivation

United are top of the log by three points and would undoubtedly take a draw from this match and keep their lead. It would be seen as a great result and as another encouraging sign of Liverpool’s recent decline.

As in most big matches, United will sit back, break play up in midfield and use their speed on the counter attack. Solskjaer’s side haven’t beaten any of the big six this season so far though.

Key Stats

Liverpool are lost 1 of their last 13 PL matches (W6, D6)

Liverpool are 67 matches unbeaten at home in the PL

Liverpool have won 8 of their last 9 home PL matches

Liverpool have seen over 2.5 goals in 8 of their last 9 home PL matches

Salah and Mane have just 1 goal in 12 matches combined against Man Utd

Man Utd are unbeaten in 15 away PL matches (W12, D3)

Manchester Utd have won 11 of their last 12 away PL matches

United have kept 1 clean sheet in their last 8 away PL matches

Man Utd have seen over 3.5 goals in 7 of their last 8 away PL matches

Prediction

Liverpool are superb at home and Man Utd are amazing on the road. A draw is the most likely outcome with the home side’s defensive issues but if Joel Matip is fit then Liverpool are quite capable of winning this match and going back to the summit of the league.