EPL preview: Can United dent Liverpool’s 20th league title chase?
Sunday’s Premier League match between bitter rivals Manchester United and Liverpool promises to be another exciting tactical war.
When deciding on a squad for this weekend, Erik ten Hag and Jurgen Klopp will have to consider the exciting seven-goal extra-time thriller that these two clubs played out at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarterfinals two weeks ago.
While Liverpool is leading the table and with two points ahead of Arsenal and three ahead of Manchester City and They know that this clash against their bitter rivals is possibly their biggest remaining obstacle on the path to a farewell premier League title for Jurgen Klopp, United needs three points to try and force their way into one of the Champions League spots.
However, the team led by Erik ten Hag continues to be completely messy as they lost 4-3 to Chelsea on Thursday.
MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS
As painful as the outcome was for Man United on Thursday, Ten Hag’s defensive issue got worse when the Red devils lost two more center backs to injury: Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans. Evans replaced the Frenchman at halftime before being substituted out himself. The availability of the two for the Liverpool game was not confirmed by Ten Hag, but Willy Kambwala, 19, is expected to start alongside Harry Maguire after Victor Lindelof (thigh) and Lisandro Martinez (calf) were recently declared out for many weeks.
Casemiro was withdrawn 15 minutes from time on Thursday against Chelsea, while Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial and Altay Bayindir are all out due to injuries.
Curtis Jones returned for the win against Sheffield United on Thursday for Liverpool. However, the Reds are still going have to play without Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic who are all injured. But Wataru Endo might be back for the Reds.
MANCHESTER UNITED PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP
Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Kambwala, Dalot, McTominay, Mainoo, Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund
LIVERPOOL PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP:
Kelleher, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Endo, Szoboszlai, Salah, Nunez, Diaz
MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL TIME AND VENUE
Kick-off date is Sunday 7th April, 2024.
Kick-off time is 3:30pm WAT
Venue is Old Trafford
Referee will be Antony Taylor
MANCHESTER UNITED VS LIVERPOOL PREDICTION
It looks more likely that Klopp’s team will take advantage of their hosts’ depleted defensive lines to maintain control of the title race. Additionally, Ten Hag’s team may still be suffering psychologically from Thursday’s crushing defeat in London.
PREDICTION : 2-1. A Liverpool win.
Also read: FIFA rankings: Argentina remains top globally, Morocco leads Africa… Nigeria drops
