STAR PREVIEW: Man U v Liverpool

They say that good things come to those who wait, and if that rings true then football fans are in for a treat when Manchester United and Liverpool both meet. Non-sporting matters and the Rugby World Cup have taken the headlines so far this weekend but this is undoubtedly the biggest clash of the weekend in footballing terms and one sure to be watched the world over.

At face value, Liverpool should be expecting to come away with victory from their clash with arch rivals Manchester United today with three points. In a bid to atone for last season’s near miss, Jurgen Klopp’s men have wasted no time in building an advantage over Manchester City and the rest of the league.

The Reds have raced into a barely believable eight-point lead after just eight matches, with a 100%-win record after eight matches, and a win today would equal the best ever Premier League start and match Manchester City’s extraordinary 18 match winning run.

United, who have won just four matches this season, are 12th in the table and 15 points behind their most bitter of rivals following an abject 1-0 loss to Newcastle. The hosts tally of nine points after eight games is their lowest since the 1989-90 season when they were a point worse off.

Man Utd v Liverpool
Premier League
16:30 Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches, since 2000)
FEB 2019 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool
DEC 2018 PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United
MAR 2018 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
OCT 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
JAN 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool
OCT 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
MAR 2016 EUROPA LEAGUE Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool
MAR 2016 EUROPA LEAGUE Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United
JAN 2016 PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
SEP 2015 PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester 3-1 Liverpool

On paper, it all seems rather simple for Liverpool but one would have said that’d be the case last season and United held the Reds to a 0-0 draw in February when the two sides were in very similar form.

The hosts are once again beset by injuries, with David de Gea having been ruled out after injuring his groin playing for Spain on Tuesday and joining Paul Pogba on the sidelines, putting a huge amount of responsibility on the shoulders of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial if fit.

Liverpool have a mostly fit cohort, with Mohamed Salah set to shake off an ankle injury and Alisson close to coming back, and it’s no surprise that this is the shortest price they’ve been to win a Premier League game at Old Trafford.

It will still appeal to some but Liverpool haven’t been flawless in their performances this season. They were very lucky with their winner at Sheffield United when goalkeeper Dean Henderson let Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot squirm through his gloves and whilst they dominated proceedings against Leicester it took a 94th minute penalty to get over the line.

They’re clearly superior to United but a repeat of last season’s encounter when the underdogs sit deep in numbers and frustrate Liverpool isn’t impossible and maybe a small wager on the draw, which in the long term would not be a terrible result, could be the best way to play the game.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK DRAW 2 pts at 3/1 with starsports.bet

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