There is absolutely no doubt what the biggest match of the Premier League weekend is- Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford between bitter rivals Manchester United and Liverpool. In mid-December, the Reds crushed the Red Devils 3-0 in the reverse fixture, a match that was even more lopsided than it sounds.
United’s form has totally changed since then however, as that one-sided loss ultimately proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back in the Jose Mourinho regime. Caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has accrued 25 points over his first nine Premier League matches in charge.
Should United get a draw or win here, he’ll break the PL managerial record for most points earned over the first ten games.
He has a more favorable chance than one might think at first glance, as United have won seven of their last nine home games against Liverpool. Maybe this trend is part of the reason Ashley Young is so confident about this game.
Solskjaer may be able to call upon forwards Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard for this one, as both are reportedly healing faster than expected from their muscular injuries. Perhaps we’ll get an update tomorrow from Solskjaer on the potential availability of the stellar young attacking duo.
Otherwise, United have three potential absentees in the back line- Marcos Rojo is a doubt due to match fitness, captain Antonio Valencia has a knock while Matteo Darmian could miss out due to a muscular issue.
In flipping over to the visitors, Liverpool is still convalescing from their recent injury crisis in the back line. Dejan Lovren (thigh) missed the goalless draw with Bayern Munich in midweek, and is a strong doubt for this one.
Joe Gomez (ankle) is also out of commission for this one, with manager Jurgen Klopp potentially providing updates tomorrow.
Liverpool at Manchester United FC FYIs
Kick-off: Sunday February 24, Old Trafford, 205 pm (BST), 805 am (CST)
Starting XI Predictions: United Liverpool
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.