Manchester United travel to Anfield on Sunday where they try to challenge an unbeaten Liverpool side who look like champions-in-waiting.
The Red Devils face an uphill task of upsetting the Merseysiders, although they do remain the only side to stop Jurgen Klopp’s men from winning this term.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were 8/1 outsiders heading to the Etihad last month, but defied the odds to claim an impressive 2-1 victory, and will hope to end Liverpool’s unbeaten home run that now extends beyond two years.
To Win
Liverpool 9/20
Draw 15/4
Man United 6/1
Liverpool
Liverpool demonstrated yet again why they are Champions League winners and Premier League champions in waiting as they beat Tottenham 1-0 in their own backyard thanks to Roberto Firmino’s first-half goal. After the match, Jose Mourinho said: “Liverpool are probably the best team in the world.”
I’d say definitely.
Klopp’s men look untouchable right now and are undefeated in 38 league games and have a return of 61 points from a possible 63 since the beginning of the season, which represents the best start by a club in any of Europe’s top five divisions.
They lead Manchester City by 14 points and Leicester by 16 with a game in hand on both, and at their current rate of progress, could win the title – the club’s first since 1990 – before the end of March.
Manchester City have won 32 of their 38 matches in the last two campaigns – winning the title on each occasion. Liverpool can afford to not win four of their remaining 18 games and still break this record.
The European and World champions are well on course to end their 30-year domestic wait to land a league title and they’ll be aiming to extend their red-hot form against their most bitter rivals, Manchester United.
United are the only side to have taken points off Liverpool this season, having drawn 1-1 with th
em at Old Trafford in October, but Klopp will be confident of beating Solskjaer’s side at Anfield where they’ve won all their games so far, scoring 29 goals while conceding nine.
Liverpool are deadly in attack with their front-three of Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane netting 28 goals between them, but the defence has also been rock solid, keeping six clean sheets in a row. Virgil van Dijk and co will be keen to keep another clean sheet, but will need to be wary of Marcus Rashford who was 14 Premier League goals this season.
Manchester United
Manchester United managed to take points off Liverpool earlier this season, but few expect them to do so again. The Merseysiders look unstoppable at the moment, although you can never write off the Red Devils, especially in these big games.
For all their struggles this season, Solskjaer’s side have performed quite well against the Premier League’s top sides. They recorded wins over Chelsea (4-0), Leicester (1-0) and Tottenham (2-1) at Old Trafford and against all odds, defeated Pep Guardiola’s City 2-1 in the Manchester derby at the Etihad.
They drew both of their home meetings against Arsenal and Liverpool, and probably deserved more than a point against the Reds. Their only defeat against a top side came at the Emirates on New Year’s Day when they were beaten 2-0 by Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
United have already done what no other team has done this season and that is take points off Klopp’s champions elect, but the Red Devils will be looking to go one better and claim maximum points at Anfield.
Apart from just wanting to spoil Liverpool’s Invincible hopes, United desperately need points to break into the top four and secure Champions League football for next season. They are currently fifth in the Premier League table, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, and Solskjaer will be hoping his side can cause an upset on Sunday.
The Norwegian is facing a midfield crisis with both Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba sidelined with injuries. Nemanja Matic and Fred will need to step up to the plate in their absence, while Rashford and Anthony Martial look to produce the goods up front.
Probable line-ups:
Liverpool: 4-3-3
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Man United: 4-2-3-1
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams; Fred, Matic; James, Pereira, Rashford; Martial.
Prediction: Mane and Salah Both to Score (4/1)
Liverpool look unstoppable right now and I can’t see United getting anything from this match, even if McTominay and Pogba were fit. I’m expecting Klopp’s men to win comfortably, but instead of backing the straight win at 9/20, I suggest using Hollywoodbets’ Price Boosts & Specials and take Mane and Salah both to score at 4/1.
Chad Nagel
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