EPL Match of the Round – Liverpool vs Manchester United

The Sporting Base match of the round sees Manchester United travel to Anfield, taking on the top of the table Liverpool in the North-West derby.

United are under pressure having only won just one of their last four matches over all competitions after they were beaten 2-1 against Valencia in the Champions League earlier in the week.

Liverpool entered the round of 16 after defeating Napoli 1-0 and remain undefeated in the English Premier League season, having won 13 of 16 matches including three draws. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expects it to be a competitive match.

“I know it will be a very intense game and we will be ready for that.

“This week we reached a big target in the Champions League, we had one day to feel the relief of that. Since yesterday we are back on track. I’m really looking forward to it,”Klopp said.

The Red Devils have up to nine players either ruled out of doubtful for the weekends clash, but JoseMourinho plans to come out firing and attack. “I’m going to try(to win). We know that we are going to play against the leader, against a team on a high. But we have our qualities, we have our potential, and even with the problems we have and the doubts in terms of team choice, of tactics, approach,philosophy.

Manchester United sit sixth on the table, some 16 points behind the top side with a 7-5-4 record.

“We have doubts about everything because we don’t know who’s available, but we are going to arrive on Sunday and with the players we have available, we are going to have a team capable of going there and fight for the victory,” Mourinho said during the week.

Marcos Rojo, Alexis Sanchez and Victor Lindelof all appear to miss the clash with injury clouds over Chris Smalling, Diogo Dalot, Anthony Martial, Matteo Darmain, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay.

Nemanja Matic and David de Gea should return after being rested during the week. Paul Pogba has been disappointing of late and the 90 million man missed a big chance against Valencia and was criticised for giving the ball away too easily.  

Liverpool will need to restructure their defence with Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnoldand Joel Matip missing through injury. James Milner has been suggested to replace Alexander-Arnold at right back, with Nathaniel Clyne rumoured to be back in the squad having not played since September.  

The Merseysiders haven’t conceded more than one goal in any of their past 19 Premier League appearances and have not had a better start to a season since entering the competition.

Mohamed Salah is one of the most talented players in the Premier League. He has scored 10 goals for the season and stands alongside Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the league’s top scorers.

Likely starting lineups:

Liverpool: Alisson, Milner, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Keita, Salah, Firmino & Mane.

Manchester United: De Gea, Young, Bailly, Jones, Shaw, Herrera, Fellaini, Matic, Lingard, Lukaku & Rashford.

History – 201 games, Liverpool 65, Manchester United 80, 55 drawn.

The Sporting Base Selection:

Liverpool look like they should get a result after a horrible Man United performance earlier in the week.

United have not lost in their most recent eight performances against Liverpool – Won 5, drawn 3.

Prediction: 1-0 Liverpool