This is always a huge game but given Liverpool’s recent struggles and Manchester United threatening a resurgence, this meeting between bitter rivals at Anfield on Sunday feels even more pivotal than usual.
WATCH — Liverpool v Manchester United
Liverpool have suffered three defeats in a row for the first time under Arne Slot (it’s also the first time he’s ever lost three on the trot in his career as a manager) as they lost 2-1 after conceding a 95th-minute goal at Chelsea before the international break. Virgil van Dijk and other leading Liverpool figures have urged calm but the reigning Premier League champions have looked unbalanced and shaky all season despite winning all of their first five league games. There is also concern over Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz who are yet to get going in attack.
Manchester United beat Sunderland 2-0 at home before the break to make it two wins from three. They are yet to win on the road this season but the pressure has eased on Ruben Amorim as Matheus Cunha has returned from injury, Senne Lammens looks like a great pick-up in goal, Benjamin Sesko is getting up to speed and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has given the Portuguese coach a huge vote of confidence. United will look to play the role of spoilers at Anfield and sit back, soak up pressure and try and use the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad Diallo on the counter to hurt Liverpool.
For live updates and highlights throughout Liverpool vs Manchester United, check out PST’s live blog coverage below.
How to watch Liverpool vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday (October 19)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Liverpool team news, focus
Goalkeeper Alisson remains out injured, so Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue in goal and he’s a fine back-up. With young center back Giovanni Leoni out with a long-term knee injury, Liverpool only have Joe Gomez as cover in central defense and he may be needed. Ibrahima Konate did not play for France during the international break as he suffered a thigh issue against Chelsea before the break. Konate is battling to be fit for this game and if he isn’t, Gomez will line up alongside Virgil van Dijk. Holding midfield duo Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo are also battling to be fit but should be okay. It will be intriguing to see how Slot lines up Liverpool in attack with Mohamed Salah struggling on the right, so perhaps he could play in a more central role to get him going? Will Florian Wirtz start on the left or centrally? And will the duo of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak both start to have a real go at United from the start?
Manchester United team news, focus
United have two long-term injury absentees in Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui, but other than that they have a huge number of players to choose from. Amorim will have been impressed with Lammens in goal as he kept a clean sheet in the win against Sunderland and the Belgian stopper will start again, while defense and midfield is settled with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the engine room. The most intriguing selection dilemma is whether or not Matheus Cunha comes in to start over Mason Mount. The latter has looked sharp in recent appearances and scored a beauty against Sunderland. Cunha could also start in place of Sesko up top, but it feels like the Slovenian giant has a big role to play in this game to hold up the ball and ease the pressure on United.
Liverpool vs Manchester United prediction
This feels like it has a draw written all over it as Liverpool will struggle to stop the effectiveness of United’s counters. Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United.
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