Latest EPL standings as well as fixtures and results are found below the predictions.
Manchester United take a deep breath and go again as they take on north west rivals Liverpool in the English Premier League on Thursday night.
The Red Devils’ long-shot EPL title challenge finally bit the dust on Tuesday, when Leicester came away from Old Trafford with all three points thanks to a 2-1 win.
It came against a completely changed United line up, as boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer copes with a fixture pile up as the season winds up.
The postponement of this match at the first attempt hasn’t helped, after enraged United supporters stormed the stadium and found their way on to the pitch a couple of weeks ago, in protest at the ownership of the Glazer family.
It was a first loss in 15 league games for Solskjaer’s side, who have done better than the rest in attempting to cling on to the white hot form of new champions Manchester City.
Defeat on Tuesday leaves them four points clear of the third-placed Foxes with three games left to play.
While United’s top four credentials are sound, their derby foes are on the outside looking in after their Premier League title defence collapsed in a heap after the turn of the year.
The sixth-placed Reds do have this game in hand but sit well adrift of Chelsea in fourth.
They also have West Ham, Tottenham and Merseyside rivals Everton jostling for position around them.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have perked up at the end of a difficult campaign at least, going six unbeaten and beating Southampton 2-0 at Anfield last time out.
United will make wholesale changes to their team once again, although they will have to make do without England defender Harry Maguire, who has ankle ligament damage.
Anthony Martial and Daniel James continue to miss out with their respective injuries, as does the lesser spotted Phil Jones.
The usual suspects are absent from Liverpool’s defence, with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all left to watch on at Old Trafford.
Ozan Kabak looks set to join them in yet another backline head-scratcher for Klopp, who also has doubts around the availability of Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita.
Manchester United vs Liverpool: By the numbers
- Coming into this game, Manchester United has picked up 13 points from the last 5 games, both home and away. That’s 2.6 points per game on average. BTTS has landed in an intriguing 3 of those games. Manchester United has scored 9 times in the last 5 fixtures.
- Manchester United is in great form, and the home fans will be loving it. They have won the last 4 games that they have played at home.
- Superb stuff from Manchester United at home, where they are currently unbeaten in 6 games. Can they go another game without defeat?
- Liverpool’s defence will have to be at their best today if they’re to stop Manchester United from scoring. The home side has scored in the last 10 games in front of their own fans. They have failed to score in 3 home matches this season.
- Momentum is really building for Manchester United as they have now gone 13 games without losing. They have won 4 of the last 5 games they have played.
- Manchester United is unbeaten in the last 5 games coming into this fixture against Liverpool, having won 4 and drawn 1. They have scored 9 goals in those 5 games.
- In the last 5 matches for Manchester United, 3 of those games has ended with both teams scoring. This season 19 matches (58% of all matches) involving Manchester United has seen BTTS landing.
- Coming into this game, Liverpool has picked up 11 points from the last 5 games, both home and away. That’s 2.2 points per game on average. BTTS has landed in an intriguing 3 of those games. Liverpool has scored 8 times in the last 5 fixtures.
- Liverpool has enjoyed playing away from home recently, with the side currently unbeaten in 4 games.
- Scoring is not an issue for Liverpool when they play away from home. They have scored in the last 7 games they have played on the road. Can Manchester United stop this run?
- Momentum is really building for Liverpool as they have now gone 5 games without losing. They have won 3 of the last 5 games they have played.
- It’s possible we will see a couple of goals here, with the last 4 games for Liverpool ending with 2 goals or more being scored.
- Liverpool is unbeaten in the last 5 games coming into this fixture against Manchester United, having won 3 and drawn 2. They have scored 8 goals in those 5 games.
- In the last 5 matches for Liverpool, 3 of those games has ended with both teams scoring. This season 18 matches (55% of all matches) involving Liverpool has seen BTTS landing.
- It’s likely that Liverpool will score today, as they have netted in the last 5 games coming into this one and have scored 8 goals in the last five games.
Manchester United vs Liverpool: Prediction
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
Manchester United vs Liverpool: EPL starting XI prediction
Probable Manchester United Starting XI: Dean Henderson, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Fred, Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani.
Probable Liverpool Starting XI: Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nathaniel Phillips, Fabinho, Andy Robertson, Thiago, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.