The Big Match Previewed - Liverpool vs Manchester United

The reverse fixture saw Liverpool grab a late equaliser courtesy of Adam Lallana at Old Trafford but this time at Anfield, it's hard to see how Manchester United will gain anything from the contest.


There isn't really much you can analyse from a Liverpool perspective at this point. Manchester City drawing with Crystal Palace opens up an opportunity to extend their lead at the top to 16 points, with a game in hand. Liverpool seem to suffer a headache when they are at Old Trafford and don't play at the same standard at any other game. They struggle with the expectation that Manchester United are awful and, with Liverpool's new-found superiority over United, a win should come at ease. Liverpool haven't won at Old Trafford since 2014 but beat Manchester United at Anfield last season, a double from substitute Xherdan Shaqiri condemning Jose Mourinho to the job centre. Jurgen Klopp has been a little stretched of late with injuries but the return of Fabinho and Joel Matip will boost their bench and make them even stronger.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is extremely reliant on Marcus Rashford and there has been reports that the England international is not with the squad. Solskjaer revealed Rashford had been playing through the pain barrier already but the back injury he sustained against Wolves in midweek is too much. This could be mind games and Rashford may appear in the squad but if he doesn't, it is even bigger mountain to climb for Manchester United. United will have to play a similar way to how they did at Manchester City - soak up pressure and be clinical on the counter attack. They need pace and that is something Rashford provides, and something replacement Jesse Lingard doesn't have. Defeat to Liverpool got the last manager sacked but Solskjaer is supposedly the man for the future at United (even though the perfect manager in Mauricio Pochettino is available) so he will be safe regardless of what happens.

Even if Rashford was available, I'd still think Liverpool would win easily. It is damning upon Manchester United that in many people's combined XI, not one United player gets included. The gap between Liverpool and Manchester United is widening and is set to increase. Buying Bruno Fernandes would've been brilliant for United but that deal may potentially fall through - yet another disappointment for them.

3-0 Liverpool.

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