Liverpool can return to top of the Premier League with victory but face a tough clash with fierce rivals, Manchester United as they meet at Anfield.
Seven seasons ago, it was Liverpool who were struggling in lower half of top ten whilst Manchester United were fighting Manchester City for the title.
Fast forward to the present and oh how things have changed with the red team of Merseyside end of the M62 flying high whilst on opposite end, United are now struggling to even keep pace with the top five.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold after the right-back suffered an ankle injury in midweek against Napoli.
Fellow defender, Joel Matip is also ruled out with a shoulder injury whilst Joe Gomez is absent with a left leg fracture.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains a long-term absentee as he recovers from a serious knee injury.
Nathaniel Clyne is available after recovering from an unspecified injury alongside James Milner who has overcome a thigh issue. Dominic Solanke meanwhile faces a late fitness test after a spell on sidelines with a groin injury.
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester United themselves are struggling with an injury crisis as several first team regulars face late fitness tests.
Luke Shaw (muscle), Chris Smalling (foot), Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo, Scott McTominay and Anthony Martial (thigh) all must undergo tests before Jose Mourinho considers them for selection.
Antonio Valencia meanwhile is fit to start after recovering from a shin laceration, whilst Victor Lindelof faces another week out before returning from a thigh injury.
Aleix Sanchez meanwhile is struggling with same issue and is ruled out till mid January.
Form
Liverpool come into this game still unbeaten in the league with four clean sheets in their last five.
At home, the Reds are unbeaten in last 28 league games stretching back to May 2017 whilst scoring roughly same total number of goals in each half across seven league games at Anfield this season (eight in first half vs seven in second half).
Manchester United arrive here unbeaten in four of their last five matches across all competitions.
League wise, United have conceded 12 goals across their last six away games with seven of those goals coming before the break.
Just to highlight their poor defensive form regardless of competition, the Red Devils have already conceded six goals in four games this month which is exact same amount conceded in whole of October and one more than last month.
They however conceded seven in each of August and September, so leak two here then it would make this their worst month of conceded goals in whole of 2018.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have avoided defeat in five of last six meetings across all competitions (W1, D4, L1).
- At home, Liverpool have drawn their last two meetings with United but both draws came in mid October.
- Liverpool have kept a league high ten clean sheets so far this season, two ahead of second placed Chelsea.
- Manchester United have already conceded two own goals this campaign whilst Liverpool are yet to do so.
- Five of Liverpool’s 34 league goals have come from counter attacks, which is a joint league high alongside Leicester. United however are yet to score on a counter attack this season in the league.
Prediction
With both sides struggling fitness wise at the back, there should be goals here but I can see Liverpool edging this rather comfortably if United aren’t careful.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United
Jake predicts: Liverpool 3-0 Manchester United
Result: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United