One of football’s fiercest rivalries takes center stage again as Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford this Sunday. While neither side is in the title race this season, the significance of this clash remains massive—especially with Champions League qualification hanging in the balance.
Under the guidance of Michael Carrick, Manchester United have steadied themselves after a brief dip in form between March and mid-April. That rough patch saw them pick up just five points from four matches, but they’ve since bounced back with consecutive wins—narrow victories over Chelsea and Brentford.
Now sitting comfortably 11 points ahead of sixth place, United are within touching distance of a top-five finish. A win here guarantees their return to the Champions League, while even a draw—or potentially a loss—could still be enough depending on other results.
What’s particularly impressive is United’s consistency at home. They’ve accumulated 36 points at Old Trafford this season, a significant improvement from last year. Their attack, led by Bruno Fernandes, has also been relentless, scoring in 23 consecutive matches across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Liverpool arrive with a slightly more complicated path to Europe’s elite competition. The Reds are just three points behind United and must win this fixture to keep their Champions League hopes firmly in their own hands.
Managed by Arne Slot, Liverpool are currently enjoying a three-game winning run in the league, including a solid 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. However, their record against top-tier opposition has been underwhelming, with just one win in their last 12 matches against teams starting the day in the top three.
Team News
Manchester United could receive a timely boost with the return of Matheus Cunha, who is back in training after a minor injury. There’s also optimism around Luke Shaw’s fitness, although defensive absences remain a concern. Both Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are unavailable.All eyes will once again be on Bruno Fernandes, who is just one assist away from matching the single-season Premier League record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are dealing with a major setback: Mohamed Salah is ruled out with a hamstring injury. His absence is huge, considering his incredible record against Manchester United.
The injury list doesn’t stop there. Several other players—including Alisson Becker and Alexander Isak are doubts or confirmed absentees, which could significantly impact Liverpool’s balance and depth.
Possible Lineups
Manchester United:Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Liverpool:
Woodman; Jones, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ngumoha
Prediction
Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool
