There are some huge games on the European football schedule this week, including the third El Classico of the season in Spain. The game of the day from England goes on Sunday as Liverpool, and Manchester United meet at Old Trafford from 16:30 GMT in a fixture you can watch live on television. This has all the ingredients of a memorable contest, and the famous stadium will be packed to capacity to cheer on their favourites, boosted by the millions of armchair fans worldwide. But which team will come good and secure a crucial three points? We can’t wait to find out.
Our team of football writers previews Sunday’s main event, bringing our loyal readers the latest stats, trends, form, and injury news. This is done in the hope that it will help you enjoy the game and improve your chances of predicting the winner. Will the Reds use home advantage to bag a much-needed three points that will help lift them up the rankings, or will Man Utd score an away win to strengthen claims on a top-four finish? That remains to be seen, and it’s anyone’s guess at this stage, but there are a few hints and clues that can be taken from the stats and trends.
Sunday’s meeting will be the second time the pair have met this season after Man Utd claim a hard-fought but deserved victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford in August. That game finished 2-1 to the Red Devils thanks to goals from Jordan Sancho and Marcus Rashford, with the beaten team getting a consolation goal thanks to Mo Salah near the finish. The stats show that was the first game in three renewals where both teams have scored, and armchair followers will hope for another free-scoring 90 minutes.
Reds are in danger
Liverpool started the week sitting seventh in the English Premier League, and that’s after an improved run of form. It has already been a forgettable campaign for everyone connected to the team, with a Europa League finish looking like their best option from here. The home team was as low as tenth in the table not too long ago, meaning climbing to seventh on the back of a three-game unbeaten run is an improvement. But that won’t be enough to appease an angry group of fans who expected to see their team battle for the title with Man City this season. That won’t be happening.
Liverpool’s form at the time of writing shows they have ten wins, six draws, and seven defeats which has them on 36 points. That’s nine behind Tottenham and a place in the top four, which will likely be a bridge too far for the team from Anfield. However, they did finish the previous campaign with a flurry to pile pressure on eventual champions Man City. Liverpool looks to have left it too late in the season and is coming from too far back in the field to fight back, but Premier League football fans know we can take nothing for granted at this level. Anything can and does happen in the EPL.
The home team has lost only one of its last five league games and is unbeaten in three. That mini revival consists of two wins and a draw, with back-to-back victories followed by a share of the points last time. They played out a goalless finish with Crystal Palace in London last weekend, failing to break down a dogged and determined opponent that was unwilling to lose in front of their fans. Both teams had chances to win the game, and it’ll be remembered as two points dropped by Liverpool, but the clean sheet earned was a welcome improvement.
Man Utd aiming high
Manchester United has climbed to third in the table following a four-game unbeaten run that consists of three wins and a draw. The visitors also make this trip, having taken six points from their last two games to move their points tally to 49, leaving them safely inside the top-four prize places. If they aren’t going to win the league this season – which hasn’t been decided yet – United will be happy to finish in the top four and secure a return to the UEFA Champions League next season.
Looking at their form for the season so far, we see United have fifteen wins, four draws, and five defeats, with 41 goals scored and 28 conceded. When taking a closer look at those numbers, we notice Man Utd are the lowest scorers in the top four and have conceded the most goals of the top three sides. A bronze medal finish may be their best hope this term, and that would be seen as an improvement for a side that missed out on Europe’s elite last season. There can be no denying Man Utd is moving in the right direction.
United has won their previous two games at this level, beating Leeds United 2-0 at Elland Road in a significant win for the fans before hammering Leicester City 3-0 at Old Trafford in their last league start. Since putting three past the Foxes, Man Utd have beaten Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate in the Europa League and Newcastle United 2-0 in the EFL Cup final. Goals from Casemiro and Rashford helped win United the cup.
Liverpool v Man Utd prediction
The Reds and Red Devils aren’t at the peak of their powers this season, but that takes nothing away from this match. Both teams are in great form, winning games and preparing for a big final push toward the finish line. The three points on offer here are worth something to the supporters, and that will ensure both teams are at their best for 90 minutes. Man Utd has the better form, and if they play to their strengths, they could win on the road and pile pressure on their rivals.
Premier League odds
The pre-match betting odds available at 22bet has Liverpool at 2.465 for the win with Man Utd 2.67 and the draw 3.66.
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