Manchester United v Liverpool - Match preview and odds

17:30pm - Old Trafford

The final game of Saturday’s Premier League line-up will also be the most hotly-anticipated as old rivals Manchester United and Liverpool go head-to head in the evening kick-off at Old Trafford.

No love lost

The intense rivalry between England’s two most successful clubs ensures that this fixture remains one of the highlights of the Premier League calendar. Despite Liverpool’s lack of title challenges over the last 25 years and United’s recent fall from grace since the departure of Alex Ferguson, the fixture still holds great significance in the football world.

Fallen giants

With the exception of a second place finish in the 2013-14 campaign, Liverpool have failed to break into the top four on a regular basis since 2009. They remain a team on the edge with only Europa League qualification separating them from a life of mid-table obscurity. Red’s manager Brendan Rodgers is under massive pressure this season to prove his worth at the Anfield club.

Their rivals from down the M62 motorway have not fallen quite so far down the pecking order but a seventh-place finish under David Moyes in 2013-14 certainly set the alarm bells ringing. New boss Louis van Gaal managed to drag the club back into the top-four last term and after spending significant funds, he will now be expected to lead the team to another title challenge.

Faltering starts

After four games, both clubs are on seven points with the home side ahead on goal difference. United started the campaign with two unconvincing 1-0 wins against Spurs and Aston Villa and have since limped to a 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle and lost away to Swansea. There has been nothing in their performances so far to suggest that they can challenge their City neighbours in the title race.

Visitors Liverpool also started the season with two 1-0 victories and a 0-0 draw before crumbling at home to West Ham. They did show glimpses of the fluid attacking football that they are capable of in the game at the Emirates, but they also demonstrated how fragile they can be in the humiliating home defeat to the Hammers.

Team news

Wayne Rooney may be England’s all-time leading scorer but he has struggled up front for the Red Devils this season. His lack of success in the lone striker role may prompt Coach Louis van Gaal to take a different approach in this game. One option would be to pair Rooney with new signing Anthony Martial. This would allow the former Everton striker to drop into his preferred deeper role.

The Old Trafford boss may also consider handing a first start to goalkeeper David de Gea since his proposed move to Real Madrid collapsed on transfer deadline day. Liverpool will be without arguably their best player as Philippe Coutinho will be missing through suspension. The Brazilian was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the home defeat to West Ham.

Captain Jordan Henderson and midfielder Adam Lallana both remain doubtful pending further assessment.

Betting odds and tips

The result of this game could be decided by the tactical decisions made by the Coaches. If Van Gaal plays Wayne Rooney up front on his own, then Liverpool could benefit. The 29-year-old has scored just five goals in 20 appearances against his hometown rivals and has failed to score at all in the league this season.

It will be interesting to see how Brendan Rodgers reacts to the absence of Coutinho. He may decide to play Danny Ings up front alongside Benteke or he may even revert to the back-three formation that proved successful for a spell last season. A lot will depend on the fitness of Henderson and Lallana.

Liverpool have a habit of starting strongly in these big games and are worth backing to score the first goal. They can be backed at 13/8 with bet365 in the Team to Score First market. Alternatively, bet365 will give you 13/2 on Christian Benteke to score the first goal.

With six victories in the last eight meetings in all competitions, the home side will be favourites and can be backed at a best price of 10/11 with bet365. The teams have only drawn once in the last 10 years so that bet should probably be avoided.

The last two meetings at Old Trafford have both ending in 3-0 victories with the home side winning the last and the away team claiming the three points in the previous game.

Six out of the last 14 encounters between the two have ended with a 2-1 score line. United can be backed at 17/2 with bet365 to win 2-1, while Liverpool are 14/1 with the same bookmaker to prevail by two goals to one.

Go To bet365

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12/09/2015     © Frixo 2024