The Red Devils have been superb in the opening weeks of the campaign, winning six and drawing one of their first seven matches to sit level on points with table-toppers and local rivals Manchester City. For all that they have been extremely impressive so far, though, it is impossible to deny the fact that Jose Mourinho’s men have been handed a favourable fixture list: their toughest test on paper was probably a home clash with Everton, with trips to Swansea City, Stoke City and Southampton all relatively straightforward. That is not to say that United are in a false position and it is worth bearing in mind that they tended to struggle when facing smaller sides at home last time out, but it will certainly be interesting to see how they react to facing a fellow member of the big six for the first time on Saturday.
Liverpool’s early tasks have been a little tougher, including a visit to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in September and a meeting with Arsenal the previous month, but they already find themselves seven points off the pace in the early standings. Draws with Burnley, Watford and Newcastle United were frustrating, particularly as Liverpool conceded sloppy goals in all three games, while they have also been undone by wasteful finishing on more than one occasion. Nevertheless, Jurgen Klopp’s charges remain a scintillating attacking force on their day, something they have demonstrated this campaign in triumphs over Arsenal and Hoffenheim; it is, moreover, the case that they tend to perform better against the bigger sides.
Liverpool will be unable to call upon the services of Sadio Mane (hamstring), Adam Lallana (thigh), Nathaniel Clyne (back) and Adam Bogdan (knee), with the loss of the former to injury during the recent international break particularly damaging for the Reds’ chances of success this weekend. The presence in the side of Mohamed Salah means Klopp’s men should be better equipped to cope with the absence of the speedy and direct Mane, though, with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino set to join the Egyptian in a three-man attack. Liverpool have once again been suspect defensively at the start of 2017/18 and will need to keep a close eye on the dangerous Romelu Lukaku throughout Saturday’s encounter on Merseyside.
Mourinho will have to make do without Paul Pogba (hamstring), Marouane Fellaini (knee), Marcos Rojo (knee) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee), while Michael Carrick (calf) and Phil Jones (knee) will be assessed before kick-off. Fellaini would probably have started this game, largely because United will look to play long as a means of evading Liverpool’s press, but his injury means Ander Herrera is likely to come into the midfield instead. Further forward, Juan Mata will probably make way for Anthony Martial, with a frontline of the Frenchman, Lukaku and Marcus Rashford providing plenty of counter-attacking speed which could prove pivotal to the outcome here.
The best bet for this game is probably a draw in a game featuring fewer than 2.5 goals in total. Liverpool will look to play on the front foot and are likely to come flying out of the traps, but Mourinho’s side will not make life easy for opponents they frustrated in this very fixture last term. United do have plenty of their own attacking quality, although they will have to be efficient in the final third if their manager sets them up to play conservative, defence-minded football. In terms of an anytime goalscorer, Coutinho – who possesses the type of fantastic long-range shooting ability that may come in handy against a deep defence – looks like a sensible choice.
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