It's matchday, and as big as they get in the Premier League at Old Trafford - it's United vs Liverpool. Everybody involved will be hoping for a more straightforward procedure this time around, with this same fixture last season postponed until midweek the following week due to the unsavoury scenes of the 'Glazers Out' protests pre-match following the European Super League saga.
Winless in three league matches, and now down in sixth having picked up only a single point in three, no match would be sweeter for United to respond to their poor recent run of domestic form in. However, it's possibly the worst time to face Jurgen Klopp's in-form side - unbeaten in 18 league matches.
For Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, it was a dismal 4-2 loss to Leicester at the King Power last Saturday, compounding recent misery and simultaneously mounted more pressure on the Norwegian's post. Back at Old Trafford in midweek, United did manage to string together a high echelon second half performance against Atalanta to take three important points to top Group F having trailed at half time. Once again, though, the retaliation was only provoked once behind in the match.
Many suggested the result on Wednesday night 'papered over cracks', which certainly is a fair comment. At Old Trafford in the Premier League, United have amassed a mere eight points over their last seven matches. Furthermore, they have now conceded in each of their last 12 matches on home turf over all competitions - the longest run since the mid-1960s.
Conversely, Liverpool have started the season in a manner which they can certainly be content with (amidst a noticeably tougher run of matches too). Unbeaten, the Merseysiders came into the Premier League's ninth gameweek in second having won five of their opening eight matches. Points dropped in an epic 3-3 draw to newly-promoted Brentford is the only justifiable disappointment for Klopp's side so far, with draws otherwise coming against lead leaders Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester City. Victory today would see Liverpool climb within a point of top spot once more, just shy of Chelsea following their 7-0 battering of Norwich City yesterday.
Following on from last weekend's 5-0 win away to Watford, Liverpool edged Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano in midweek to secure their third win in as many Champions League matches. Putting three goals past the Spaniards, the five-time victors amongst Europe's elite made it eight consecutive matches over all competitions in which they've scored three or more goals on the road.
Mo Salah is the man that United need to keep a watchful eye on, currently the Premier League's joint top scorer and one of the world's top players at the moment.
Liverpool impressively managed to snatch third in the league last term after a wholly troublesome, injury-savaged campaign. Klopp's men ended the season in good stead, beginning their current 18 match unbeaten run in the competition.
Over three meetings throughout the season, United and Liverpool shared each possible result. First came a goalless draw at Anfield in the league, before United ousted their rivals 3-2 at Old Trafford the following week - goals from Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford overpowered a Salah brace within a tight encounter. United will wish to forget the reverse fixture (after it was finally played following the chaos caused by the anti-Glazer protests), losing out to Klopp's rejuvenated side by a 4-2 margin in mid-May; Fernandes gave United a good start, but Rashford's later goal was all Solskjaer's men could muster in attempt to battle against strikes from Diogo Jota and Salah in addition to a Roberto Firmino brace. Even though six of the matches have been all square, United have only managed one win against Liverpool within the 10 league matches over the past five years. For the first time since 2002, today's visitors could produce back-to-back wins at Old Trafford.
Looking at availability, Solskjaer admitted on Friday afternoon that there were “two or three carrying knocks” which he “might be without”.
Included in the trio aforementioned was Bruno Fernandes, who sustained a knock amidst his man of the match display against Atalanta. Though his manager detailed him as potentially “doubtful” for today's big match, the Portuguese spoke himself about improving his performance as though he was to feature (in an interview after the midweek Champions League win).
Marcus Rashford also suffered in midweek by sustaining a dead leg, forcing him to be replaced around the midway point of the second half in only his second match back from injury. He reportedly received treatment the morning after the match, and was optimistic about possible involvement on this afternoon.
Fred was the third doubt detailed by Solskjaer, with the Brazilian replaced in the closing exchanges with some form of muscle issue; the severity of injury hasn’t been disclosed, so it’s yet to be seen as to whether he’ll play much of a part. As oppose to the former pair, he wasn't reported present with the squad at the team hotel - though he had to travel separately against Atalanta due to restrictions consequent of his visit to a 'red list' country.
This weekend likely comes too soon for French pair Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial after they picked up injuries away with the national team. The former has “been on the grass” and is encouragingly “working hard” towards a return, whilst the latter is also still working on his fitness despite resuming training.
For Liverpool, Thiago Alcantara and Harvey Elliott are both absent from the midfield. Meanwhile, Curtis Jones is in contention having trained following a slight injury issue.
Solskjaer detailed during his press conference that, "A performance needs to consist of 90 plus minutes of attacking and defending and definitely when you play against a team at the level of Liverpool, they're on a great run of form, some individual skills that you cannot almost defend against. As a team, we have to be compact, aggressive and give every single drop of nous, knowledge, strong mindset, physical energy."
He later said, “I don't agree with everyone when people say we were really bad against Atalanta, they were clinical. So will Liverpool. We can't give them an inch in our box."
Fabrizio Romano has detailed today's match as “key” for the manager’s future. It's a big one.
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