PREVIEW: LIVERPOOL V
MANCHESTER UNITED
How to follow the match: Manchester United's
Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool kicks
off at 14:05 GMT on Sunday and will be
screened live on Sky Sports in the UK. You can
follow the action in ManUtd.com's live match
blog from Anfield or via
manutd on Twitter ,
while MUTV will broadcast live matchday
programmes at 13:00 and 16:00 GMT before
showing the match in full at midnight.
Scene-setter : It’s the 194th edition of arguably
the most famous rivalry in English football, as
United make the short trip down the M62 to do
battle with Liverpool. The two sides are fighting
to get into the top four and both go into the
game on the back of 3-3 draws. United have had
the upper hand in this fixture recently, having
won the last three encounters.
Form guide : On Tuesday, United were denied a
third consecutive win in all competitions at the
start of 2016, when Paul Dummett netted a late
equaliser for Newcastle United at St James’
Park. The following day, it was Liverpool who
were scoring a last-gasp leveller to secure a 3-3
draw, at home to leaders Arsenal. The
Merseysiders’ league form has been patchy, with
two wins, two draws and two defeats from their
last six league games, and they are ninth in the
table, three points behind United.
Latest team news : Bastian Schweinsteiger and
Phil Jones missed the Newcastle game with
knee and ankle injuries respectively, and Louis
van Gaal will likely provide an update on their
fitness in his Friday afternoon press conference.
Marcos Rojo , Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw
are all still sidelined. Liverpool have several
injury problems, with key playmaker Philippe
Coutinho, Martin Skrtel and Divock Origi all out,
and both Daniel Sturridge and Dejan Lovren
struggling to be fit in time for this weekend’s
clash. Danny Ings and Joe Gomez are long-term
absentees but Steven Caulker has been drafted
in on loan.
View from the dressing room : "In recent times,
we’ve done very well against them so we’re very
confident of going there and causing them a
problem."– Chris Smalling
View from the opposition camp : "These games
are always great occasions, games you want to
be involved in as professionals and look forward
to." – Joe Allen
Danger men: With Coutinho sidelined, Brazilian
attacker Roberto Firmino has stepped up to the
plate as both a creative and goalscoring threat
for Jurgen Klopp’s side, netting twice in the
midweek draw with Arsenal. Christian Benteke
remains a formidable presence up front and
scored a spectacular overhead kick in Liverpool’s
3-1 defeat at Old Trafford in September, his third
in consecutive fixtures against the Reds after his
Aston Villa exploits.
Trivia: United’s next goal at Anfield will be the
club’s 100th there in all competitions against
Liverpool, with the Reds’ tally of 99 so far
comprising 92 in the league and seven in cups.
United’s first goal at the Merseysiders’ home
was scored in October 1895 by Joe Cassidy, in
the clubs’ only Division Two meeting there, when
Newton Heath were drubbed 7-1. Our most
recent strike at Anfield was Juan Mata’s
unforgettable acrobatic effort in March.
Betting: Official partner Marathonbet are offering
12/5 on United making it four wins in a row
against Liverpool, with a home win priced at
11/8 and the draw at 47/20. To get the latest
odds, and sign up with Marathonbet, visit
manutd.com/bet .
Referee: Mark Clattenburg takes charge of his
fourth United game of the season, having
presided over September’s 3-2 win at
Southampton and the home goalless draws with
Manchester City and West Ham United , in
October and December respectively.
Rivals watch : In the only other Premier League
game on Sunday, leaders Arsenal visit seventh-
placed Stoke City at 16:15 GMT. The other four
sides above United in the table are all in action
on Saturday: Tottenham Hotspur host
Sunderland (12:45 GMT), Man City welcome
Crystal Palace (15:00 GMT), West Ham are at
Newcastle (15:00 GMT) and Leicester City face a
Midlands derby away at rock-bottom Aston Villa
(17:30 GMT).
