After an intense week of Champions League action, the Premier League returns this weekend with a mouth-watering encounter between Liverpool and Manchester United.
This bitter rivalry will be the showpiece event on Sunday and will also see two of the league’s biggest personalities in Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho pit their wits on the touchline.
Klopp’s Liverpool are coming into this match off the back of a quite sensational week for the club, first leapfrogging Man City at the league’s summit and then narrowly edging past Napoli to secure group-stage qualification in Europe.
For Mourinho, his United side thwarted a toothless Fulham at the weekend but came unstuck against Valencia in their final Group H match on Wednesday.
Read on for Liverpool vs Man Utd live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats, and TV channel info.
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When is Liverpool vs Man Utd?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Anfield
Date: Sunday 16th December
Kick-off: 4:00 PM GMT
Match Preview
Liverpool and Manchester United are on two completely different paths this season; the former is currently in a two-horse race for the league title, while the latter is struggling to keep speed in the race for top four.
The Reds have never won a Premier League trophy and have been chasing a top-flight title since 1990, but they are looking good value this season, recently climbing to the top of the table, and unbeaten in 16 games.
Klopp’s side also boast the best defensive record in the competition, just six goals conceded so far, and have also kept their goalscoring rate at a maximum, finding the opposition net on 34 occasions.
Man Utd, by contrast, have been leaking goals for fun in quite atypical Mourinho fashion. So far they have conceded 26 while scoring 28, eight of which came in the club’s previous three encounters.
Mourinho has already conceded that the club’s domestic objective is a top-four finish, but they currently sit sixth, and eight points adrift of fourth-place Chelsea.
Three points would go a long way in aiding each club’s respective goals this campaign, but whatever the result, this blockbuster battle is going to be intense.
Where can I watch live?
Liverpool vs Man Utd can be viewed by UK residents on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Main Event HD.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV for US-based viewers.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about fuboTV
Has Alisson overtaken De Gea as the league’s best ‘keeper?
Both clubs have two of the best goalkeepers in the world among their ranks, but who has been the better performer this season? Of course, Liverpool’s newly-formed defence has helped Alisson significantly, but he has still proven his worth when called upon.
This campaign, Alisson has made 36 saves to De Gea’s 56, which is more of an indictment on United’s defence, but the Brazilian averages six saves per goal, to De Gea’s 2.33 per goal.
Alisson has also made more punches (9 to 4) has a better distributions accuracy (41.1% to 30%), a better rush-out success (6 to 1) and has kept more clean sheets (10 to 2).
Will Paul Pogba play?
After another underwhelming performance against Valencia, Craig Bellamy believes Pogba, who has been dropped for the club’s last two league matches, should remain on the bench.
“If you’re Mourinho, after Pogba’s performance it will be very difficult to say he has to play, he has to leave him out again,” he told Sky Sports.
Head To Head
Two of England finest footballing aristocrats, these two giants have locked horns on 228 occasions, with the Red Devils edging the Merseysiders in this North-West derby.
Liverpool wins: 75
Draws: 65
Man Utd wins: 88
Team News
Klopp could be forced to tinker with his starting XI after James Milner came off against Napoli with cramp but he should be available, while there are serious doubts about whether Trent Alexander-Arnold will be fit.
Liverpool will also be without Joe Gomez, Nathaniel Clyne, Dominic Solanke, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rhian Brewster and recently-injured Joel Matip.
Mourinho will travel with a number of notable absentees, Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling picked up slight irritations against Fulham, while Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof did not travel to Spain. Alexis Sanchez, Marcos Rojo and Scott McTominay are also unavailable
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Milner, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Mane, Firmino, Salah.
Predicted Man Utd XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Bailly, Young; Matic, Pogba, Herrera; Rashford, Lukaku, Mata.
Squawka Predictions
Muhammad Butt: There’s a Metallica song called Creeping Death which is actually about the worst and final plague God inflicted upon the Pharaoh of Egypt in Exodus, but it might as well be about Manchester United this season. There’s an intense feeling of dread hanging around Old Trafford, like something horrible is lurking just around the corner. United have avoided humiliation all season, with Mourinho hanging on by his fingernails. Well no more, now the something horrible is here. They’re going to go to Anfield and despite the best efforts of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are going to make José Mourinho’s Manchester United ride the lightning. 5-1 Liverpool.
Ben Green: It is the age-old bitter rivalry between two of English football’s great aristocrats. The Reds have been scintillating, while United have been anything but. Jurgen Klopp will be eager to continue his unbeaten league run, and they should have enough panache to overcome a stagnant Jose Mourinho side. 2-1 Liverpool.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Marcus Rashford has scored two goals in two matches and will look to make it three this weekend. He has directly contributed to five goals in his last three Premier appearances (one goal, four assists).
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