Premier League 2024/25 – Manchester United vs Liverpool: Preview and Prediction

As we anticipate Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford, here’s our prediction and preview for the Man Utd vs Liverpool match. Can Arne Slot continue his winning streak?

Manchester United vs Liverpool: Match Preview

Two of the Premier League’s biggest rivals will clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, but it’s fair to say that a gap in quality has separated these teams, at least over the course of a season, in most recent campaigns.

This match marks Arne Slot’s first encounter with Manchester United as Liverpool’s head coach. Remarkably, none of the last nine Liverpool managers have won their first league game against the Red Devils since Bob Paisley led them to a 3-1 victory in November 1975. The only Liverpool manager to win his first away league match against United was George Kay, who secured a 5-2 win at Old Trafford in November 1936.

Slot and United’s Erik ten Hag have faced each other four times in the Eredivisie. Slot’s AZ defeated Ten Hag’s Ajax twice in the 2019-20 season, while Ten Hag’s Ajax beat Slot’s Feyenoord team twice in the 2021-22 season.

This will also be the first Premier League meeting between two Dutch coaches since February 2016, when Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea won 2-1 against Ronald Koeman’s Southampton.

Liverpool have started strong under their new manager, winning their first two matches following Jürgen Klopp’s departure. Both victories were 2-0, against Ipswich Town and Brentford. They’ve only achieved three consecutive wins without conceding at the start of a season twice before, in 2013-14 and 2018-19. Notably, they defeated United 1-0 in the third game of the 2013-14 season, so the signs are promising.

Liverpool have been the most attacking team in the Premier League this season, with a league-high 37 shots. They also lead in expected goals (5.3) and have the lowest expected goals against (1.0) so far.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, United have struggled in September, losing 13 of their 35 Premier League games during the month (W19 D3), with only May seeing more losses since 2013-14 (15). This is more defeats than they suffered in 76 September games under Ferguson (W45 D19 L12).

If he plays, this will be Virgil van Dijk’s 200th Premier League appearance for Liverpool. The defender has already won 139 of his 199 games, the most victories any player has achieved in their first 200 appearances for the club in the competition.

At the other end, Mohamed Salah has already scored twice for Liverpool this season and holds the record as the highest-scoring visiting player at Old Trafford in Premier League history, with six goals. The Egyptian has found the net in each of his last six away matches against United across all competitions, tallying nine goals in total.

Marcus Rashford could be United’s best hope. He has only scored more goals against Leicester City (8) than he has against Liverpool (7) in all competitions. Notably, all seven of these goals have come in his 10 appearances against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

In terms of team news, Mason Mount is set to be sidelined for around five weeks due to a hamstring injury he sustained in last weekend’s late defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion. This could open the door for Joshua Zirkzee to make his first start for United.

Liverpool are likely to field the same lineup from their 2-0 home win over Brentford. However, new signing Federico Chiesa is expected to miss out, with Slot stating at a Friday press conference, “He’s going to train with us today, but it’s more likely that he won’t be in the squad for Sunday than that he will be.”

Manchester United vs Liverpool: Head-to-Head

Liverpool have lost only once in their last six Premier League visits to Manchester United (W2 D3). In the competition’s history, only Manchester City (9) have secured more away wins at Old Trafford than Liverpool (7).

United have managed just one win in their last 12 Premier League encounters with Liverpool (D5 L6), a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in their third game of the 2022-23 season.

The two fierce rivals met three times last season, with a 0-0 draw at Anfield and a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in the Premier League, bookending a dramatic 4-3 extra-time win for United in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Manchester United vs Liverpool: Team News

Manchester United: Team News

Manchester United will be unable to hand Manuel Ugarte his debut when they host Liverpool in a crucial Premier League clash on Sunday.

The midfielder is in the final stages of completing his move from Paris Saint-Germain before the summer transfer window deadline, but he wasn’t registered by the 12 pm cut-off on Friday, two days before the match, making him ineligible to play.

Even if he were eligible, Ugarte wasn’t expected to start. However, after making no changes in the loss to Brighton, Erik ten Hag is likely to make some adjustments.

Alejandro Garnacho is expected to earn his first start of the season after coming close to scoring in the first two matches. Amad Diallo has also impressed when starting.

Marcus Rashford has shown little in terms of attacking threat, but his place in the lineup appears secure.

Mason Mount is reportedly facing up to a month on the sidelines after confirming he sustained a muscle injury in the defeat to Brighton.

“I’ve had it checked, and it looks like I’ll be out for a few games,” Mount said. “Leading up to and during pre-season, I worked hard to get my fitness back to where it needs to be, and I felt re-energized, sharp, and ready. I wanted to let you know directly how frustrated I am, as I’m sure you are too.”

Mount’s injury could result in Rashford moving to a wider role, with Joshua Zirkzee potentially taking the central striker position.

Matthijs de Ligt, who has come off the bench in both matches so far, was seemingly the only defender not at fault in the build-up to Brighton’s late winner. He may be in line for his first start against Liverpool.

Injuries/Doubtful:: Yoro, Hojlund, Shaw, Malacia, Lindelof, Mount

Manchester United: Predicted Lineup

• Goalkeeper: Onana
• Defenders: Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot
• Midfielders: Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes
• Forwards: Diallo, Rashford, Zirkzee

Liverpool: Team News

Liverpool could give new signing Federico Chiesa his debut in Sunday’s highly anticipated clash against Manchester United.

The Italian winger has completed a cut-price transfer to Anfield following a few injury-plagued seasons at Juventus and was registered before Friday’s 12 pm deadline, making him eligible to feature against the Red Devils.

While manager Arne Slot is not expected to start Chiesa in such a major game, he may introduce him from the bench.

Slot is likely to stick with a largely unchanged lineup after two comfortable 2-0 victories over Ipswich and Brentford to begin the season. Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota have all found the net, while Dominik Szoboszlai has excelled in the No. 10 role.

Jarell Quansah appears to have lost his place early in the season, so Ibrahima Konaté is expected to start again at center-back.

Injuries/Doubtful: Curtis Jones

Liverpool: Predicted Lineup

• Goalkeeper: Alisson
• Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson
• Midfielders: Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai
• Forwards: Salah, Diaz, Jota

Manchester United vs Liverpool: Prediction

This marks Slot’s first significant challenge, and at this early stage of the season, both teams may be content with a draw.

Prediction: 1-1.

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