Liverpool vs Man Utd predicted as Jota and Rashford tipped to make difference
The fortunes of both sides may change, but the intensity of a Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture remains.
English football’s two most successful sides lock horns again at Anfield on Sunday, with the visitors suddenly the team in the ascendant thanks to their hugely impressive season.
United have succeeded Liverpool as League Cup winners, and there is even talk of a title challenge from Erik ten Hag’s side as they continue to impress under the Dutchman.
Liverpool have been reduced to battling for a top four finish, and their odds of that have been improved with three wins from their last four league matches, all without conceding a goal.
So which way will it go at Anfield? We asked our Mirror Football team what they think:
Rich Jones
Manchester United need a win to keep any slim hopes of the title alive, and Liverpool need a win to keep top four hopes alive.
The most likely outcome, then? A draw, obviously.
United are the team in form but Liverpool have tightened up the last few games, at least in the Premier League, and will be right up for it at Anfield.
Whilst it’s not a result that will particularly please anyone, I think it’ll prove hard to separate the two teams. I’m expecting a cagey game whereby both sides have players capable of a clinical moment to find the net and ultimately cancel each other out.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United
Darren Wells
Liverpool have had a season to forget but they now have a top four place in their sights and form very much goes out the window when Man Utd come to town.
Despite their thumping at the hands of Real Madrid, Liverpool have shown improved performances in the Premier League and will relish the chance to finally stick a fork in any faint hopes United have of mounting a title challenge.
This game also comes amid a hectic schedule for United and almost seems like a bit of a lesser event for them, having beaten Barcelona, won the Carabao Cup and progressed in the FA Cup all in the last fortnight.
That said, United come into the clash as the favourites and Ten Hag was able to rotate his squad to good effect in midweek. Expect a battle of tactical wits between the Dutchman and Jurgen Klopp, who could cancel each other out.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United
Dan Marsh
Tipping Manchester United to beat Liverpool, at Anfield no less, would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. But it’s hard to look past Erik ten Hag’s side right now given their recent run of results.
On the other hand, it’s still hard to work Liverpool out: every time it feels as though they’ve taken a step forward, they take two steps back. I’m still not convinced they recover and bag a top-four finish.
United have already proven they are capable of taking points off the big six this season. And given that their confidence should be sky high after beating Barcelona in dramatic fashion in the Europa League before ending a six-year trophy drought last weekend, I’d expect them to do the same again on Sunday.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
Jacob Leeks
How times have changed.
When these two sides met in August, Manchester United were rock bottom of the Premier League. Now, they are one of the division’s in-form teams and are on a high after winning the Carabao Cup last weekend.
Liverpool meanwhile are in the midst of a disappointing campaign, though they are well in the race to secure a top four spot. A win over Wolves in midweek should give the Reds a confidence boost heading into the visit of United.
But the Red Devils will present a much tougher test for Jurgen Klopp’s side, especially after having rested several of their top stars for Wednesday’s comeback win over West Ham. United will have the advantage in midfield, led by Casemiro, over the Reds’ ageing options.
Marcus Rashford is also bang in form and Trent Alexander-Arnold will have a difficult day in store attempting to keep him quiet. The Liverpool right-back will not be successful.
Prediction: Liverpool 0-2 Manchester United
Tom Blow
On form, United should win this. In their last three games, Ten Hag’s side have knocked Barcelona out of Europe, won the Carabao Cup and completed a decent comeback in the FA Cup. It’s hard to fault them at the minute.
Liverpool, meanwhile, still don’t look back to anywhere near back to their best – proven by their 5-2 mauling at the hands of Real Madrid. If ever there was a time to play Klopp’s often relentless team, it’s now.
But this Liverpool vs United… form goes out the window. As such, it’s impossible to call this one – but I’ll have a go anyway!
I’m going to back Mohamed Salah to score a second-half winner – followed by screams of “Liverpool are back” and “United aren’t title contenders” by whatever pundits Sky Sports bless us with on Sunday.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United
Alex Smith
Since Wayne Rooney’s winner against Liverpool in 2016, Manchester United have either lost or drawn 0-0 at Anfield…and I can’t see United losing!
That would be a result that does nothing for anyone, but with Liverpool’s resurgence in recent matches and United’s comedown after a week of ecstasy (barring the first half against West Ham) it looks like this one will nullify itself into a bore draw. Thanks omens.
So let’s kick fate in the nuts and predict a 2-3 thriller. United’s victory back in August kickstarted the Erik ten Hag era, and a good win here would put a bit more substance behind their ambitions to properly enter the title race.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-3 Manchester United
Tom Victor
Manchester United might have only lost once in 2023, but they haven’t been entirely convincing from week to week.
Both Leeds matches could have gone the way of the opposition with better finishing, while a refereeing decision took centre-stage in the victory over Leicester.
Liverpool, meanwhile, look impossible to gauge right now. Just as they looked to have turned a corner, a collapse against Real Madrid was followed by a dismal draw with Crystal Palace, though their home league form has been the one thing keeping their slim top four hopes alive.
One thing Erik ten Hag’s visitors have been able to do consistently is score goals, but surely a Liverpool team who put nine past them without reply last term haven’t fallen *that* far.
The 2-1 Man Utd win in August felt like a shock, but no scoreline would feel that surprising as two capable teams face off, so I’m going to hedge my bets and back the draw.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United
Freddie Keighley
“Thank God it means absolutely nothing on Sunday”, said Jurgen Klopp of Manchester United’s imperious form compared to that of his Liverpool side in his press conference on Friday.
As it happens, the two arch-rivals come into this derby having collected the same number of points (10) from their last four Premier League games. Although United are in the title race and Liverpool are having to settle for a top-four challenge, this fixture should be a closely-contested one.
The key battle is Marcus Rashford versus Trent Alexander-Arnold on United’s left flank, but a cagey affair is likely between two sides with identical defensive records (28 goals conceded in 24 games).
There have been signs of Liverpool’s attack beginning to click in recent weeks and the derby could be decided by a moment of quality from either front line, with the hosts’ home advantage giving them the edge.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United
Nathan Ridley
It’s been seven years since Manchester United last won at Anfield and the clocks have only changed once since Liverpool thrashed them 4-0 last April.
United are already a different beast, though, with Erik ten Hag firmly in the saddle and cultivating a winning spirit.
This isn’t a team who’ll suffer the same humiliation at the hands of their rivals, with Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez at the core of the Red Devils’ new-found fortitude, poised to step up on an occasion like this.
Liverpool may be looking towards some green shoots after a dark winter like the return of Diogo Jota, and United aren’t yet solid enough defensively to be confident in a clean sheet, but Ten Hag has the momentum over Jurgen Klopp and continues to pass every test handed to him.
The Red Devils’ devastating attack should strike fear into a flaky home defence, while the respective midfield departments look like night and day at present.
Perhaps the Anfield crowd – which has rattled even the greatest United sides in years gone by – will knock the visitors down a peg, but right now they look unstoppable.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
Mark Jones
A couple of weeks ago it had seemed as though this game could resemble the Anfield one in 2009 which Liverpool came into off the back of four straight defeats in the dying embers of the Rafael Benitez days.
Anfield roused itself that day and the let off when David Ngog sealed a 2-0 win late on was immense. Then Liverpool went winless for the next five.
This Reds side are nowhere near as bad as that one, and after the midweek win over Wolves they haven’t conceded a Premier League goal for a month, picking up 10 points from the last 12 available.
There slowly seems to be a realisation that they don’t need to be at their previous highs to get into the top four, because frankly it isn’t as hard as going blow for blow with Manchester City in a title race.
Manchester United have been brilliant under Erik ten Hag, and the Carabao Cup success is a superb springboard, but I do feel they are being a little overrated by some as they do give up chances. Quadruple talk is insane.
If Liverpool’s midfield holds up – Jurgen Klopp seems happier with Fabinho now, Jordan Henderson can do 90 minutes of running in 60 and Stefan Bajcetic is a star in the making – then they could punish a United side who haven’t dealt with the intensity their rivals can produce, or at least used to.
Having Diogo Jota back is enormous for Klopp, and I can see him breaking the deadlock.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United
