Sunday brings the 201st meeting between Liverpool and Manchester United across all competitions, and it’s a series in which the Red Devils have held the advantage; especially so in recent years. Liverpool have won 65 of the meetings, to go against 80 defeats and 55 draws.
Liverpool currently sit top of the table and 16 points ahead of their arch-rivals, but they are winless in the last eight league matches against them. The last two meetings at Anfield were dull goalless draws, and another 0-0 is probably a result that United manager Jose Mourinho would gladly take on Sunday.
Of course, anybody who plans on watching this match, and cares about entertainment value, just read that sentence and thought to his/herself “oh God no!”
Let’s take a look at the fitness situations for both sides. United, who have won just one of their last four across all competitions, have nine players either doubtful or ruled out for this match.
Argentine Marcos Rojo joined the group of injured defenders during Wednesday’s pathetic showing at Valencia and looks likely to miss out in this one. Defender Victor Lindelof and forward Alexis Sanchez remain long term absentees.
Defenders Chris Smalling, Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Luke Shaw, along with midfielder Scott McTominay and forward Anthony Martial all doubtful.
For the hosts, you’ll likely see a revamped back line in action, as the Reds will be without the services of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez. The Reds are coming off the emotional high of a very narrow escape in UCL group stage play, a win that finished off a long rally to get back into the Champions League knockout round.
Don’t expect them to have any issues getting up for this one though, as any match against their bitter rivals is always a huge one.
“I know it will be a very intense game and we will be ready for that,” said Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
“This week we reached a big target in the Champions League, we had one day to feel the relief of that. Since yesterday (Thursday) we are back on track.”
“I’m really looking forward to it. Big one.”
Liverpool vs Manchester United FYIs
Kick-off: 4pm (BST), 11 am (EST), Sunday December 16th, Anfield
Odds via Bet365: Liverpool 4/7, Draw 3/1, Southampton 5/1
Liverpool Starting XI Predictions and Jurgen Press Conference Video: go to this link
MUFC Starting XI Prediction and Jose Mourinho Press Conference Video: coming shortly
Prediction: Liverpool 2, Manchester United 1
Feel free to post your own starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be. Enjoy the match everybody!
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.