Manchester United will host Liverpool on Sunday’s first landmark fixture of the new Premier League season and despite this encounter coming early in the campaign, all signs point to this being a very competitive encounter.
With the new top-flight term only two games old and form traditionally go out the window when these rivals meet.
Manchester United will be desperate for a decent showing at home and will aim to bounce back from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton, with the winner coming deep in injury time.
They also looked less than convincing in the opening game of the season, when a solitary goal from new signing Joshua Zirkzee gave them a 1-0 home win over Fulham.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have won both of their opening games 2-0, with Mohamed Salah scoring once in each win, alongside goals from fellow forwards Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
Wins over Brentford and Ipswich are one thing, but this clash at Old Trafford will be a real litmus test of the early days of Arne Slot’s reign as Liverpool as he prepares to pit his wits against fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag.
The last time the compatriots met, Ten Hag’s Ajax beat Feyenoord 3-2, which secured the double over Slot’s side after the earlier encounter ended 2-0.
How Ten Hag would love a repeat of those outcomes against Slot’s new team, although it is the Merseysiders who look the more likely to come out on top.
Football betting sites have United as the slight favourite for this latest encounter between England’s two most successful clubs, but it is Liverpool, seeking a first win at Old Trafford since 2021, who have looked the better side in the embryonic stages of this season.
The Reds’ frontline has hit the ground running and they are yet to concede a goal in either outing so far.
Due to the nature of the game, you wouldn’t rule out a United goal but one is unlikely to be enough when you consider their frailties at the back.
The opening day 1-0 win over Fulham was United’s first clean sheet at home since March 9, when they beat Everton 2-0. The games that followed included a 2-2 draw with Liverpool and a 4-2 win over Sheffield United.
