Red-hot Manchester United head to Anfield this weekend looking to end a winless run Premier League run at the ground that dates back to April 2016. Josh Gaillard previews.
Liverpool vs Manchester United
Premier League
Sunday 5 March
16:30
To Win Match
Liverpool 13/10 | Draw 5/2 | Manchester United 7/4
The reality is Liverpool don’t come into this Premier League fixture with a tremendous amount of confidence. They just aren’t the team we have become accustomed to under Jurgen Klopp.
For me, the most worrying thing about Liverpool is the current state of their mentality. This is a team who have built a dynasty on mentality and a ridiculous home record at Anfield. And yet now, this is a team with a handful of positive results this season as well as a Champions League second leg waiting for them in Madrid after the wheels came off in the first leg of the tie.
The murmurs around the security of Klopp’s position have started up, it seems that just as many (if not more) still hold unshakable faith and belief in their German manager. In Manchester United, they face a side who are playing with intense confidence and absolute directness.
I only mention that because Liverpool have sort of become a side who teams are finding relatively simple to get at and ask questions of their defensive line. If this game follows suit, it might be an uncomfortable afternoon at Anfield.
Manchester United – love them or hate them – are a club with great synergy and togetherness right now. You have to praise the work that Erik ten Hag has done in his first few months.
Marcus Rashford is in ridiculous form now, Casemiro has been a revelation and Wout Weghorst (who gets a bit of stick from fans) is likely the most underrated player in ten Hag’s dressing room.
I’m surprised United aren’t favourites here to be honest. It just comes down to the way they are playing. You cannot really fault the way United are playing now, the attacking nuance which has become second nature to this team is undeniable but their ability to adapt and Ten Hag’s in-game management has been superb.
United will go into this game feeling far more confident than they have in recent times and I’ll go as far as to say that for Liverpool will be apprehensive ahead of this fixture.
Verdict: Manchester United 7/4
This is a derby, so everything that has happened leading up to this game will go out of the window come Sunday afternoon. The reverse fixture was what set United up to turn their season around and I suspect Jurgen Klopp’s side might look at this game as a potential catalyst ahead of the run in.
Nevertheless, from a betting perspective, the value is surely with the visitors. They have been far superior to Liverpool this season and at 7/4 I can’t fathom how anyone would turn it down.
