The rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool needs no introduction; it’s the biggest in all of English football. Both clubs have taken turns dominating respective decades.
In no other rivalry (not quite a derby, although some make the case that you could call is derby, the definition of of that word is arguable) will you see two giant clubs with so many trophies combined.
This is as good as it gets to watching big time old money football clubs doing battle with each other.
United come in scorching hot; winners of their last nine and undefeated in their last 15. Liverpool, on the other hand, have lost three in a row and haven’t adjusted to life without Sadio Mane yet.
In October these two teams battled to a 0-0 draw that was essentially Ambien in footy form. The highlight of that night was the Anfield Cat no doubt.
Thus, anything at all on Sunday would be an upgrade.
United Manager Jose Mourinho was asked yesterday if taking only one point from this match would be achievement, his response:
“I don’t know is Liverpool is better than us, has more shots than us, than Liverpool is closer to winning the match than us, then a point is good, if we are the best team, if we have more chances, if we dominate the game, if we deserve to win but we don’t then the point is a bad result.”
Mourinho was also prompted to answer those who believe the goalless draw was, in the words of Sideshow Mel “an endeavor that is the height of tedium.”
Here’s Mourinho’s response:
“I don’t know depends on your criteria some people say 0-0 is not a good football game because of no goals, I accept that way of analyzing it, but it doesn’t always mean I always agree with that, 0-0 can be a good game of football, and I think the game at Anfield was a very good game.”
Mourinho also said following the Hull City EFL Cup victory on Tuesday that his team must improve by the time this epic clash rolls around, adding that he encourages the Old Trafford faithful, for this “special match.”
Odds/Projections:
OddsChecker has United at 6/5, Draw 12/5 and Liverpool 37/13. 538’s Soccer Power Index Projection has MUFC with a 44% of winning, Draw at 30%, Liverpool at 26%.
Relevant Resources:
Liverpool doesn’t have any major doubts, suspensions or injuries for this one. Manager Jurgen Klopp said that Philippe Coutinho could start.
The MUFC injury report is linked here.
Link to the Jose Mourinho press conference previewing this match
Link to video of Jose Mourinho answering a phone call in the middle of the press conference
Link to the Liverpool starting XI prediction
Predicted Manchester United Starting XI:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Anthony Martial Paul Pogba Henrik Mkhitaryan
Marouane Fellaini Ander Herrera
Daley Blind Chris Smalling Phil Jones Antonio Valencia
David De Gea
Score Prediction: United 3, Liverpool 1
As always, feel free to post your own Manchester United starting XI projection in the comments section below. And of course speak your mind on the formations and Manchester United starting XI predictions that you’ve already seen online.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, Bold and the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication, appears regularly as a guest on CGTN America, WGN CLTV News and KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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