YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO UNITED V LIVERPOOL
Manchester United return to Premier League action on Sunday when we welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford, hoping to continue our unbeaten record in the league under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
First-half headers from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba helped us progress to the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup on Monday night, and a win in the league against Jurgen Klopp’s team will make it 11 victories from just 13 games since Solskjaer became caretaker manager.
We moved into the top four by beating Fulham 3-0 away from home in our last league outing, and another three points this weekend would help us consolidate a place in the Champions League qualification spots.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big match at Old Trafford...
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAME?
The game kicks off at 14:05 GMT on Sunday and will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK. Subscribers to MUTV will be able to enjoy live build-up to the match from 12:30 GMT in the 'Match Day' programme, while you can also follow our coverage of the match on ManUtd.com and in the Official App, which you can download here.
WHAT'S THE TEAM NEWS?
It is unknown at this stage whether Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial will be fit for Sunday's clash. Both picked up injuries in our Champions League defeat against Paris St-Germain, and Solskjaer said before the Chelsea game that they might be out for “two or three weeks”. Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian have also been absent through injury in recent weeks, while Marcos Rojo has been training in recent weeks but hasn't played since 12 December due to injury. Ole could provide an update on the squad in his exclusive interview with MUTV or his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.
WHAT ABOUT LIVERPOOL?
Liverpool are likely to be without Dejan Lovren at Old Trafford. The Croatian defender missed the Anfield outfit’s draw with Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. When speaking before that game about Lovren’s chances of playing against United, Jurgen Klopp said: “I don’t think he even has a chance.” However, the Liverpool manager can call upon the services of Virgil Van Dijk again, with suspension having ruled the defender out of their European tie against Bayern. England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in training for Liverpool but is not yet match fit. Another long-term injury absentee, Joe Gomez, will also not be playing for the visitors, with the 21-year-old still recovering from a fractured leg.
HOW ARE LIVERPOOL GETTING ON?
German giants Bayern Munich held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in midweek. However, Klopp's side remain strong contenders to claim their first ever Premier League title, although their form of late has been patchy, having been dumped out of the FA Cup by Wolves, and also being held to back-to-back draws in the league by Leicester City and West Ham United. Moreover, they were defeated on their last visit to Manchester, going down 2-1 in a pulsating game against Manchester City in January. However, that remains Liverpool’s only Premier League defeat so far this season, and a win on Sunday will see them climb back to the top of the table.
ONE TO WATCH
He may not have hit the heights of his 44-goal debut season last term, but Mohamed Salah remains Liverpool’s most dangerous player. The Egyptian, alongside Sergio Aguero, leads the race for the Golden Boot with 17 goals in the league so far this season, having netted in recent wins over Brighton, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. Although he is yet to score against United in a Liverpool shirt - a run which Solskjaer and his players will hope continues this weekend.
WHAT’S OUR RECORD LIKE AGAINST LIVERPOOL?
United have met Liverpool on 201 previous occasions, dating back to 1894. We have won 80 games, with Liverpool emerging victors 66 times. The last of those matches came back in December, where Liverpool won 3-1, in what was the final game before Ole became caretaker manager. However, we have enjoyed the better of the majority of the encounters between the sides in the Premier League, winning 28 times, and losing just 14. Our record at home against our rivals is also particularly impressive, having won 49 of the 95 games played. The most recent of which was a 2-1 triumph last season, thanks to a brace from Marcus Rashford. You can watch the highlights of that game below...
WHO’S THE REFEREE?
Michael Oliver will take charge of United for the third time this season on Sunday. He officiated the 3-1 defeat to West Ham back in September, but United fans will have better memories of the second time, as the man from Northumberland oversaw Ole’s first game as caretaker manager, which was the 5-1 win over Cardiff City in December. Oliver has also refereed this particular fixture twice before - our 3-1 win in 2015 and a 1-1 draw in 2017. Stuart Burt and Simon Bennett will be his assistant referees on Sunday, with Andre Marriner acting as the fourth official.
www.manutd.com