Liverpool-Manchester United is a match valid for the twenty-sixth day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 17:30: tv, formations, predictions.
The highlight of this 26th day of the Premier League is undoubtedly the superfight at Anfield Road between historic rivals Liverpool and Manchester United, two of the most titled and successful clubs in English football. Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag are fighting for the same goal, qualification for the next Champions League, considering that the title race is now almost exclusively about Manchester City and Arsenal.
Reds and Red Devils are living diametrically opposite moments, which not even the ten points difference in the standings can explain. For Manchester United, in fact, this is the season of rebirth: the team has been on a roll since the start of the season and in the space of two months has managed to consolidate its third position behind the Gunners and Citizens. A week ago they even returned to lift a title, the League Cup, breaking a six-year trophy drought. Beating Newcastle 2-0 in the final at Wembley, it was the first satisfaction for the Dutch coach, who arrived last summer from Ajax. In spite of the cup fatigue, Bruno Fernandes and his team-mates found the energy during the week to also pass the round of the FA Cup, the other national competition, by defeating West Ham 3-1. In the league, however, United are eight points clear of fifth and have only lost one of their last eleven matches, bowing out to top-flight Arsenal at the last gasp.
Four clean sheets in a row for Liverpool
Ten Hag and his men are still fighting on three fronts: in the Europa League they eliminated Barcelona in what was a real early final and next Thursday they face Spanish side Betis in the first leg of the round of 16.
Diogo Jota
Liverpool, on the other hand, are a foot and a half out of the Champions League after their 5-2 collapse at Anfield Road against Real Madrid, and the only objective they have left is fourth place in the Premier League, which would give them the chance to play for the cup with the big ears again next season. Otherwise it would be a completely unsuccessful year. However, the situation at the Reds is quite complicated. The team is trying to react, as evidenced by the three victories in the last four rounds, but the gap to Tottenham, on which Salah and his teammates have to make the run, is still six points (Spurs have one more match). Another false step could be detrimental. Klopp, meanwhile, has come to the rescue by sorting out a defence that is far from impenetrable this year: there are four consecutive clean sheets in the league.
The prediction
This is going to be an open, enjoyable and entertaining match. Liverpool, who are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Manchester United at Anfield Road, should be able to avoid defeat. The Reds are far more consistent in front of their home crowd than when they play away: they have only had one defeat in their own stadium so far. It cannot be ruled out that Klopp’s team will end the first half with a lead, as they often find the way of the goal in the first 45 minutes.
Liverpool-Manchester United
likely line-ups
- LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Bajcetic; Salah, Gakpo, Darwin Nunez.
- MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
