THE DETAILS
Venue – Old Trafford, Manchester
Referee – Michael Oliver
Date & Time – Sunday, May 2nd @ 16:30
Current Odds – Manchester United 7/4, Draw 13/5, Liverpool 11/8
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Time is running out for Liverpool to claw their way back into the Premier League’s top four and those Champions League qualification spots. Old Trafford would surely be the worst imaginable place for those dreams to die altogether. It’s been that kind of season, though. Let’s hope a win is on the cards that can keep us believing for another week or two at least.
FORM
Manchester United Form
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions, having won five of those fixtures.
Last weekend, they drew 0-0 at Leeds on Sunday. United are second in the league, 10 points behind Manchester City and five points above Leicester who are third.
Liverpool Form
Liverpool have had such a stop-start campaign. After looking to rekindle their domestic form in recent weeks, The Reds then dropped points at Leeds and at home to Newcastle. This leaves them four points off Chelsea and that much-coveted top-four spot.
Many Liverpool fans just want this season to end so our injured players can get back in training and get a full pre-season under their belts. However, Jürgen Klopp knows a Champions League spot could be huge in enticing any potential incoming transfers to Anfield this summer. Unfortunately, it may be too late for Liverpool to fight back now.
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United Team News
Phil Jones and Anthony Martial are out for Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær has enjoyed what would have to be considered a relatively good season in charge of United. He normally lines his side out in a 4-2-3-1 formation. That’s likely to be the case again on Sunday with Marcus Rashford leading the line in attack.
Fred and Scott McTominay will probably be the duo at the base of the midfield with Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, and Paul Pogba farther up, just behind Rashford.
In central defence, Victor Lindelöf and Harry Maguire will partner up.
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool are without Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joël Matip, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Divock Origi.
Nat Phillips is also a doubt and will undergo a late fitness test this weekend.
If Phillips is still out, Fabinho will start at centre-back alongside Ozan Kabak. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson will be at right and left-back respectively.
Gini Wijnaldum could be tasked with playing the ‘6’ role in the absence of Jordan Henderson and with Fabinho dropping to the back four. Thiago Alcântara and James Milner will possibly be Liverpool’s other starting midfielders.
In attack, it may well be Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mané with Diogo Jota on the bench.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1) – Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Greenwood, Fernandes, Pogba; Rashford
Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Fabinho, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Thiago, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Mané
WHEN THEY LAST MET
The two rivals met twice back in January. The first game, at Anfield, was 0-0 in the Premier League. Then, seven days later, Manchester United won 3-2 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. Mohamed Salah scored both of Liverpool’s goals that day with Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, and Bruno Fernandes on the scoresheet for United.
Liverpool haven’t won at Old Trafford since 2014 when Steven Gerrard (x2 penalties) and Luis Suarez were the heroes of the day.
PREDICTION
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 – 1 LIVERPOOL
It could well be a third consecutive Premier League draw for Liverpool on Sunday. Hopefully, Liverpool can be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. Back Mohamed Salah to bag at least one as he was in great form at Old Trafford in the FA Cup in January. I don’t think The Reds will have enough about them to win on Sunday, unfortunately.
