Premier League: Can the Red Devils Hang with Liverpool?

Liverpool vs Manchester United

Liverpool vs Manchester United is one of the biggest Premier League games on the planet, and on Sunday, the world will be watching. But Manchester United fans who haven’t got tickets for this game may well be watching it from behind the sofa.

Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim are both new to Premier League football, though Slot has the advantage of being at Liverpool since the start of the campaign. Meanwhile, Amorim arrived at Old Trafford as recently as November 11^th, and after a torrid seven weeks, it probably seems like years to the Portuguese coach.

Since beating Manchester City thanks to two late goals, the Red Devils have gone on a run of four losses, an exit from the Carabao Cup, and three league defeats. Amorim’s team are in 14^thplace, 23 points behind leaders Liverpool and seven above the drop zone and, while the spectre of relegation does not yet loom large, the new manager has already mentioned it.

In contrast, Slot’s men are on fire, picking up three league wins on the bounce and scoring a whopping 14 goals in the process, and the pre-match Premier League 2025 betting odds suggest it could get messy for the Mancunians on Merseyside. But this is a huge rivalry, a derby of gigantic proportions, and sometimes these games can throw up an odd result.    

 

Talking Points

Liverpool’s attack can swamp the Red Devils  

Amorim’s favoured three at the back system was seriously exposed by Newcastle, and Liverpool have a front three which can rip any defence apart, let alone one which isn’t functioning properly.

With 17 goals, Mohamed Salah is just getting better and better, and while his close control and superb finishing are second to none in Liverpool, he has lost none of his pace. With the ever improving and versatile Cody Gakpo and the livewire Luis Diaz alongside him, this is a frontline to rival the legendary Salah, Firminho, and Mane three of the 2020 Premier League winning team. With Darwin Nunez also pushing for a place, this is the best attack in the league, and it could easily tear the Red Devils rearguard apart.     

Chasers Arsenal are away to Brighton on Saturday, and Liverpool’s lead could be whittled down to three points by the time they face Manchester United. The visitors must hope that eventuality would add some pressure to their hosts, rather than increased motivation.    

 

Fernandes’ return gives Amorim hope

The big Premier League 2025 news on the east side of the Northwest is the return of Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes after he served a one-match ban following his sending off in the 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Manuel Ugarte will also return from suspension to give United’s midfield a double boost. Fernandes’ leadership, creative skill and poise, combined with Ugarte’s energy and steel will give the Red Devils a better chance of controlling the midfield battle and, that will be crucial, particularly in cutting down the supply to Liverpool’s front three.

But Manchester United also need to improve at the business ends of the pitch. They have conceded 11 goals in four losses in all competitions while failing to score in each of their recent Premier League defeats. Marcus Rashford is surely on his way out of the club having been left out of four matchday squads, though Amorim may turn to him in search of some magic for this huge clash.

After that, the England man may be Saudi bound or, as reports in Manchester suggest, United may try to use him as a makeweight in a bid to sign Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray. Whether the 2023 Scudetto winner would fancy a stint in the bottom half of the Premier League remains to be seen.              

 

History

Manchester United are still in front in the head-to-head encounters, with 34 victories to 26 in the Premier League era, though Liverpool won the last meeting, a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in September, as Diaz scored a brace and Salah added the third.

Recent form puts the hosts well in front with five wins and a draw from the last six games, while the Red Devils have won two and lost four over that period. Liverpool are very strong at home, with seven wins, one draw, and one defeat at home this season.   

 

Betting Tip

Liverpool have not lost to Manchester United in the last nine meetings at Anfield, and the SBOTOP odds say they are on target it to make it 10. In fact, Amorim’s side is at 7.53 to win and 5.32 to draw, with Liverpool heavily odds-on to inflict more misery on their rival, as low as 1.25.

This could be a tough watch for United fans, but you never know.

   

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