The last thing an under-pressure Manchester United side needs is the visit of red-hot Liverpool. Will the Red Devils weather the storm or will Solskjær's men wilt under the pressure.
This preview was written before the mid-week Champions League matches.
English football history’s biggest rivalry takes centre stage this weekend when Manchester United welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford.
One team’s fanbase is split on the competency of their manager, while another is witnessing one of their all-time greats at the peak of his powers.
To Win Match
Man United 2/1
Draw 5/2
Liverpool 5/4
Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s grip is loosening on that wheel. Manchester United are not inspiring confidence despite of the quality they possess on paper. Ole has made the 4-2-3-1 his staple and the constant questioning surrounding his team selection shows the ever-growing distrust in the manager.
Last week, against Leicester, was a disappointing, but telling fixture. The game from a United perspective was far too loose in the middle, with many direct passes being made straight through midfield lines. United are usually a lot more compact in that area of the park, with the manager struggling to find a formula to accommodate his smorgasbord of stars.
Despite question marks around his fitness, Harry Maguire started in last week’s 4-2 loss. Marcus Rashford made his return after surgery six weeks sooner than expected, scoring one of United’s two goals, but still received criticism from the boss in a press conference which has reportedly not sat well with the number 10. The only player, who is still sidelined is Raphael Varane with a groin injury and will with Victor Lindelof set to deputise.
Mason Greenwood has continued from where he left off last season and bagged an absolute screamer against Leicester last week. His battle with Andy Robertson could be key. The added boost of Rashford’s return, coupled with Bruno Fernandes ability and the ever-present goal threat of Cristiano Ronaldo still makes for a scary attack even with the present disconnect. The individual names might not be clicking, but they can turn a game on its head in just one moment.
Liverpool
Liverpool ran riot against Watford last time out with a thoroughly dominant performance and another showstopping display from Mo Salah. Liverpool continue to show why their name is in the hat for the title this season and doing what should be done against a struggling freshly promoted Watford.
Jurgen Klopp has been friendly in his media interviews, with the team performing the way he believes they can and should. Sadio Mane reached 100 Premier League goals, while Roberto Firmino recorded all three of his Premier League goals in one match as if there were no goalkeeper in front of him.
A mix-matched trio of captain Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and Naby Keita were solid in the midfield. You can, however, bet that Fabinho will be back in the starting XI at the expense of Keita or Milner.
One fair criticism is that the right side will not be covered defensively by the Egyptian, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive attributes continuously come into question. This will be an area that United will no doubt target.
Verdict: Liverpool 5/4
With United banking on individual brilliance, they may find it hard to break down a Liverpool side who are all pulling in the same direction. This, coupled with the form of the teams makes Liverpool a tasty proposition at 5/4.
