• Wednesday, May 08, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

Battle of Reds beckon at Anfield as Liverpool host Man United

Liverpool vs Man United

Liverpool welcome bitter rivals Manchester United to Anfield in another blockbuster Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday.

Over 57,000 fans are expected to witness this weekend’s headline Premier League cracker, as both teams are aiming to rectify midweek mistakes.

Pressure is mounting as Man United manager Erik ten Hag is desperate for a positive result at Anfield, having lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth last weekend and knocked out of the Champions League after losing to Bayern Munich, losing heavily on Sunday would only make a bad season worse.

Also, Ten Hag has lost 12 of his 24 games in all competitions this season. The Dutchman has been hindered by injuries, with Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia among the absentees, but he knows Sunday is crucial for his future at Old Trafford.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side are currently at the top of the Premier League standings and have been in excellent form so far this season. The Merseyside outfit slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League this week and will need to bounce back in this match.

Read alsoHow Manchester United beat Liverpool: Decisive Ten Hag, De Gea goes long, Klopp’s midfield struggles

Manchester United, on the other hand, are in sixth place in the league table and have not been at their best this season. The Red Devils suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in their previous game and will need to bounce back this weekend.

“I think everyone is highly motivated when you go to Anfield. It is a great place to go, we know it is going to be tough, that is what every top footballer wants to have the challenge so we have to look forward, Ten Hag said. “Last year we take that in our memory but you have to also take the benefit from it, learn from it,” Ten Harg said in his post-match conference.

Heading into this weekend’s Premier League action, Klopp’s Liverpool side are confident of inflicting more pain on Ten Hag United men.

The Reds have shown steady improvement since the start of the season and will be intent on pushing for the league title. The likes of Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah can be lethal on their day and will need to step up to the plate in what is set to be a massive fixture.

Manchester United have struggled this season and will face an intimidating litmus test this weekend. Liverpool are in better form at the moment and should be able to win this game.

With Liverpool so strong at home and United enduring another difficult season, pundits have tipped the Reds to win the encounter.

The Red Devils have a good historical record against Liverpool and have won 82, with Liverpool winning 71 out of the 211 matches played between the two teams.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven matches at home against United in the Premier League and have scored a total of 11 goals in their last two such games.

Liverpool have won all their seven matches at Anfield in the Premier League so far this season.

Man United have failed to find the back of the net in their last four matches against Liverpool in the Premier League – their longest such run in the competition since 1974.

Man United are winless in their last 13 away games in the Premier League.