Prediction: Liverpool vs Manchester United

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Betfair

Graet rivals face off in Sunday’s Premier League showcase at Anfield, as title contenders Liverpool host a struggling Manchester United.

Arne Slot’s dominant side boasts a massive 23-point lead over their historic adversaries in the league standings, with the Reds chasing glory while Ruben Amorim’s team glances anxiously at the danger below.

Liverpool

As Arsenal, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest compete for the “best of the rest” title, Liverpool remain immune to the form dip predicted for Slot’s squad. They closed 2024 in style, starting their 2025 campaign by routing West Ham United 5-0 on December 29th.

Luis Diaz, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo all found the net at the London Stadium, securing Liverpool’s fourth consecutive win across all competitions and extending their unbeaten streak to an impressive 23 matches since their lone defeat.

Slot’s men have not tasted defeat since Nottingham Forest’s September victory at Anfield, a stellar winter run that puts them six points clear of Arsenal at the top, with a game in hand.

Liverpool approach Sunday’s clash aiming to score at least twice for the 12th consecutive Premier League game, with their last three wins featuring three or more goals.

While defensive lapses surfaced during the festive period, the West Ham clean sheet broke a four-game streak without one, solidifying Liverpool’s position as the top-performing home side, surpassing even Brentford’s dominance on their own turf.

Team News

Liverpool’s dominant win over West Ham was slightly overshadowed by Joe Gomez’s hamstring injury, which rules him out for several weeks. However, in his pre-match press conference, Slot confirmed that Ibrahima Konate (knee) and Conor Bradley (thigh) were set to resume full training on Friday.

Despite their progress, the pair will have only two days of training after over a month out, making Jarell Quansah the likely choice to partner Virgil van Dijk on Sunday, unless Konate can swiftly demonstrate his readiness.

Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai is available for selection after serving a one-game suspension, but Curtis Jones will aim to retain his spot following his assist for Salah’s 17th Premier League goal of the season against the Hammers.

Manchester United

While Liverpool celebrate a four-game winning streak, their struggling opponents are analyzing their fourth consecutive defeat after being outclassed by a resurgent Newcastle United on December 30th.

A dismal first half saw Alexander Isak and Joelinton dominate aerially, prompting the early substitution of Joshua Zirkzee. Despite a slight improvement following the change, Amorim’s side could not recover from the early setback.

This marked Manchester United’s third consecutive home league loss—a streak not endured since 1979. The club now finds itself just seven points above the relegation zone in 14th place, with the term “relegation” being mentioned unironically alongside their name.

Failing to score against Bournemouth and Wolves has left United on the verge of an unwelcome milestone: losing four consecutive league games without scoring for the first time in nearly 116 years. Furthermore, they have never suffered four straight Premier League defeats in a single season.

Breaking negative records has become a recurring theme during both the Erik ten Hag and relatively new Amorim tenures. However, their recent history with Liverpool offers some consolation.

Liverpool have beaten United just once in their last four meetings and managed only a 0-0 draw at Anfield last season despite taking 34 shots. That lone win, though, was emphatic—a 3-0 rout at Old Trafford in September, where Salah delivered another masterful performance against the Red Devils.

Team News

Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes are available again after missing the Newcastle game due to suspensions, and Amorim is expected to restore both to the starting lineup immediately.

Kobbie Mainoo, who looked good after replacing the dejected Zirkzee against Newcastle, is also likely to feature, with Zirkzee set to lose his spot alongside experienced midfielders Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

Marcus Rashford, dealing with illness, remains a doubt, while Mason Mount (thigh), Victor Lindelof (unspecified), and Luke Shaw (calf) are still sidelined as they work toward recovery.

Conclusion

Disjointed in attack, frail defensively, and grappling to adapt to Amorim’s system, Manchester United face the prospect of being overwhelmed at Anfield. However, the anticipated returns of Ugarte, Mainoo, and Fernandes should help ensure their performance is more competitive than the dismal showing against Newcastle.

Still, Liverpool remain huge favourites to win and complete a league double over their historic rivals.

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Betfair