Liverpool head to Manchester United on Sunday even more fired up than usual for the second of their two annual Premier League grudge matches. The Reds know that a result will put them back atop the table over Manchester City, who will clash with Chelsea on the same day at Wembley Stadium in the EFL Cup final.
United defender Ashley Young has warned the visitors that his side have another gear now that they can reach, so it remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool use those words as bulletin board material. They are certainly motivated plenty enough as it is. For superstar Mohamed Salah, this match has plenty of individual motivation as well.
This is the only side that he has faced in the Premier League more than once and not scored or assisted on a single goal as of yet. He’ll be a part of the Reds’ first string front line that will come into Old Trafford looking to score early and often. Let’s take a look at who else could be in the first team, supporting the attack.
The Bank Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction at Manchester United (4-3-3)
Forwards: Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah
Midfielders: Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita, James Milner
Back line: Andrew Robertson, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Goalkeeper: Alisson
Liverpool at Manchester United FC FYIs
Kick-off: Sunday February 24, Old Trafford, 205 pm (BST), 805 am (CST)
Starting XI Predictions: United
Injury Report for both sides: go to this link
Odds via Betfair: Liverpool 13/10, Draw 5/2, United 2/1
Google Result Probability: Liverpool win 41%, Draw 27%, Manchester United win 32%
Manager Press conference videos: coming Friday
Prediction: United 1, Liverpool 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.