Liverpool – Manchester United
Tip:
Liverpool over 2.5 goals
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The two most successful clubs in England go head-to-head again this weekend. However, recent success has been hard to come by for Manchester United, especially against Sunday's visitors, Liverpool. Ten points split them already this season, and Erik ten Hag is under copious amounts of pressure after the Red Devils crashed out of the Champions League group stage earlier this week.
Table Toppers Liverpool looking to build momentum
Liverpool come into this tie top of the Premier League and are unbeaten since September 30th. The hosts have been impressive at home, boasting a 100% win record at Anfield in the league.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been pivotal for Liverpool thus far, re-establishing his 2019/2020 form. The 25-year old has three goal contributions in his last four league appearances. However, the defenders form is easily overshadowed by Mohammed Salah who already has 18 goal contributions this season, including eleven goals. Liverpool’s confidence in front of goal is clear to see, with the Redmen firing from distance a lot more this season, and it has seen notable success, especially against Fulham with all four goals being scored from outside the box.
Despite Liverpool’s exciting and free scoring style of football, they've also shown key areas of weakness, with their aggressive pressing often leaving them exposed on the break. Alexis Mac Allister has already received five yellow cards, with Waturo Endo being shown cautioned three times. The hosts have also gained a reputation for being comeback kings, having gone behind in four of their last six league games. In these last six games, Liverpool are averaging a goal per game after the 80th minute.
Measly Manchester United
Eric Ten Hag will be mightily disappointed with his sides start to season, putting in a number of inconsistent performances. Despite shipping three goals at home to Bournemouth last weekend, United have had their defence to thank for any positivity this campaign. In November, United didn’t concede a league goal, with Harry Maguire and Diego Dalot being key figures for the small triumph. However, United’s already thickened injury list was further hindered as the Premier League player of the month, Maguire, was forced to leave the field against Bayern Munich with a groin issue.
However, the Red Devils have really found themselves stuck further upfield. They average just over a goal a game, and only 53% ball possession, a shadow of the style of football Ten Hag had his Ajax side playing. 16 of their 18 goals have come from inside the box, with zero coming from set pieces. The frustrations can be seen within the bookings that the Red Devils have received, being booked at least twice in their last three league games, notably in the second half. Anthony, Bruno Fernandes and Sergio Reguillon are constant culprits.
Head to Head
In the last five meetings between the sides, Manchester United have won only once, shipping 21 goals and averaging less than a goal a game. The Red Devils goal shy attack will only be further hindered by the suspension of Bruno Fernandes, leaving added pressure on Scott McTominay to provide an output with the Scot netting six times this season. Mohammed Salah must certainly have this fixture labelled on the calendar, scoring ten times against Manchester United, nine of which have come in the last five meetings.
In the last five meetings, United have received a minimum of three yellow cards on four occasions. Fernandes has been the recipient of three of these bookings with McTominay closely behind on two. The majority of these cards occur in the second half, showing Ten Hag's side tend to let their emotions boil over late on. There is a specific influx of cards shown in the last ten minutes of this fixture.
Tip:
Liverpool over 2.5 goals
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The statistical highlights will showcase how dominant Liverpool have been in recent years in this fixture, as well as the goal and card-heavy nature of this fixture.
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
Dominant Liverpool
Liverpool have won three of the last four meetings by at least four goals
Goals, Goals, Goals
The last six meetings has seen over 2.5 goals
Second Half Implosion
The last six meetings have seen over 3 second half yellows
Having analysed the recent form of both sides, including historic showings, it would be difficult to side with anything but a comfortable victory for the hosts.
Comfortable showing again for Liverpool
Liverpool boast a perfect Anfield record thus far, winning all eight games in front of their own fans. While they had an away game in Belgium in the Europa League on Thursday night, Jurgen Klopp opted for a heavily rotated, youthful side to face USG, so his men will be well rested.
The Reds are averaging three goals per home game and have only conceded five goals. They are one of two teams in the league with a 100% home record.
Manchester United, on the other hand, have struggled on their travels, winning four and losing three of their away games thus far. Ten Hag's side are fresh off a 0-3 home loss to Bournemouth, before losing 0-1 at home in a must-win match against Bayern Munich in which United exerted a lot of energy. They are a club in disarray and are struggling for confidence, so Liverpool will really fancy their chances of adding to their domination of Manchester United on Sunday.
