Prediction: Manchester United vs Liverpool

Prediction: Manchester United win

Best Odds: 21/10

Bookmaker: bet365

The Premier League is set to return this weekend following a brief break due to the FA Cup, and boy oh boy are we returning with a big one. Manchester United will be hosting Liverpool in the biggest game of the weekend and, you could argue, of the season. United are currently battling it out for a place in the top four, whereas the Reds are trying to win their first ever Premier League title. Oh, and this is also considered to be the greatest and most historic fixture in English football.

Manchester United

United certainly aren’t a finished product just yet by any stretch of the imagination, but there’s a feeling of excitement at the club again and that hasn’t been the case in a long time. They’ve bounced from unsuccessful manager to unsuccessful manager ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and now, under Solskjaer, it feels like they’ve finally got a new purpose and direction. They’ll still be viewed as the underdogs by many against bitter rivals Liverpool, but that’s the kind of tag that will drive this team.

Team News

Lingard and Martial could make the squad despite initially being ruled out, with Lukaku’s spot in the starting XI also being in doubt.

Liverpool

The pressure is certainly on for Jurgen Klopp and this Liverpool team, just a month or so after it seemed like they were clear favourites to lift the Premier League title. The Reds know they have to keep winning and it really is as simple as that, because if they don’t, City will be waiting. There’s a lot of emotion that usually goes into the games against United but they can’t really afford to be sucked into that, because if they are, it’ll play right into their rivals’ hands as they have a lot less pressure on their shoulders.

Team News

Lovren probably won’t recover in time to start here, although van Dijk will make his return after missing the Bayern game courtesy of his recent suspension.

Factors to Consider

• The game will be played at Manchester United’s Old Trafford.
• Man United have won four, drawn one and lost one of their last six games.
• Liverpool have won three and drawn three of their last six games.
• Man United have scored 11 goals and conceded five in their last six games.
• Liverpool have scored 10 goals and conceded five in their last six games.

Conclusion

It feels like we’re pretty much guaranteed to get an absolute barnstormer of a game here. These two teams legitimately don’t like each other, and given how well United have been playing recently under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it seems as if Reds fans are more worried than you’d think about their chances. They’re probably right to worry, too, as United look like a completely different team under the Norwegian. We think United will start well, race into an early lead, and won’t surrender it.

Prediction: Manchester United win

Best Odds: 21/10

Bookmaker: bet365