PREVIEW: LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER UNITED
Setting the scene... Premier League football returns this weekend following the second international break of 2017/18, and United are set to face arguably our biggest challenge of the season yet when Jose Mourinho's men travel to Anfield for Saturday's lunchtime game. United currently sit joint-top of the table with local rivals Manchester City, having taken 19 points from a possible 21, while Liverpool lie in seventh place. United have scored 21 goals in the opening seven league fixtures, as well as keeping six clean sheets, so will be confident going into this derby clash.
How can I watch it? The game will kick off at 12:30 BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. Subscribers of MUTV on Sky or Virgin Media, the club's MUTV app or online at MUTV.com will be able to watch build-up from 10:30 BST on the Match Day show and listen to radio commentary of the game before watching it in full on Sunday at 18:00 BST. You can also keep up with all the action as it happens via ManUtd.com's live match blog and by following our official Twitter account @ManUtd.
Any team news? The Reds may be without three key midfielders for Saturday's big game, with Mourinho confirming it is unlikely that Marouane Fellaini will play after Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez stated he sustained knee ligament damage during their win over Bosnia last week. He is expected to join Paul Pogba and captain Michael Carrick on the sidelines, but Mourinho could give a further update on his squad during Friday's pre-match press conference. Meanwhile, Liverpool will be without top scorer Sadio Mane, who is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury suffered on international duty with Senegal. Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne also look set to miss out.
How have Liverpool started the season? Jurgen Klopp's side began the campaign with a mixed bag of results in the league. Despite starting the season with a draw away to Watford, before beating Crystal Palace and Arsenal, they have since taken just five points from four games, including a hugely disappointing 5-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Liverpool's form in the cup competitions has not been much better either, as they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle by Leicester, while they have drawn both of their opening Champions League ties 1-1 against Sevilla and Spartak Moscow.
Last time we met... United were held to a draw at Old Trafford last time the sides met, as a first-half penalty from James Milner handed Liverpool the lead, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic was on hand to net a late equaliser. Meanwhile, earlier in 2016/17, when the Reds travelled to Anfield, it also ended all square as Mourinho's men put in a hardy defensive performance to come away with a 0-0 draw. It marked the first time both league fixtures between the sides had ended in a draws since the 1987/88 season.
How have we fared against Liverpool in the past? This will be the 227th match contested between the sides and, historically, United have a good overall record against the Merseysiders. The Reds have won 87 and drawn 64 of the previous meetings, and have only lost on 75 occasions. Though, in recent meetings, matches have been tightly contested, illustrated by the fact the last three meetings have been draws.
Who's the referee? Martin Atkinson will take charge of Saturday's showdown on Merseyside. The 46-year-old FIFA official from West Yorkshire, who oversaw United's 4-0 victory over West Ham on the opening weekend, will handle his fourth game between the sides, with the previous three all resulting in United wins. Let's hope that run continues this weekend! He will be assisted by Lee Betts and Stephen Child, with Jon Moss on fourth official duties.
Did you know? Five current United players have scored for the club against Liverpool - Juan Mata (3), Anthony Martial (2), Daley Blind, Ander Herrera and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Mata is the only one to have netted for the Reds at Anfield.
How will we get on? Get involved and predict the score of the game with the Manchester United Score Predictor and win amazing prizes througout the season with Marathonbet.
Rivals watch: As United play in the first match of the weekend, a win will take us top, at least temporarily. Meanwhile, Manchester City host Stoke, Tottenham welcome Bournemouth and Arsenal make the short trip to Watford in the pick of the games on Saturday. On Sunday, Wayne Rooney's Everton travel to Premier League new boys Brighton and Southampton take on Rafa Benitez's Newcastle, while there's an all- Midlands affair on Monday night as Leicester host West Brom.
www.manutd.com