Well who’d of thought that after 2 games both these sides would be sitting in the lower half of the table, with United rock bottom. Yes, it’s early days but still… and with United priced around 4/1 that’s the biggest odds I can remember seeing for a home game against anyone. This week’s saga started with Agbonlahor slating United, only for Klopp to bite back and end up defending them, this is a new one on me and with this only being week 3 but still, a must win for both sides albeit, for different reasons, it’s definitely going to be a spectacle for the neutral.
This is United’s worst start to any PL season after losing their opening two matches, this only epitomises how far they’ve fallen, the Theatre of Dreams has turned into a Punch and Judy show and who’s that behind you? It looks like it’s Ronaldo trying to slip out of the backdoor only to be caught trying to leave by a stream of anti-Glazer protesters waiting outside. Dismal defeats to Brighton 1-2 and Brentford 4-0 have compounded the lacklustre transfer window with ten Hag’s amateurish tactics playing five attacking flair players against Brentford with Fred as CDM was the reason they got destroyed. United didn’t win a single game last season when starting as the betting outsiders (D3, L6).
Liverpool come here looking for their third consecutive win at Old Trafford, a feat they’ve not achieved before and Salah is only 1 goal away from becoming the first Liverpool player to score 10 times against United, with 6 of those goals scored away from home. They go into this game with a growing injury list, a suspended Nunez and having conceded first in their previous 6 PL matches so it’ll be imperative that they get back on track and don’t allow United’s rivals City to pull further ahead than the 4 point lead they already have over them.
With a total of 60 PL H2Hs having been played, United easily hold the better record (W28, D14, L18) but Liverpool have only lost once in the last 12 H2Hs (W5,D6). They met in pre-season where United stormed to a 4-0 victory but that result can be totally dismissed as Liverpool fielded an under strength side.
Key stats
* Last 5 H2Hs have seen over 3.5 goals
* 50% BTTS from last 20 H2Hs
* Salah’s scored 9 times against United
* No win in last 5 matches for United
* Liverpool conceded first in last 6 matches
With both sides in dreadful form and neither wanting the backlash of a defeat I see this one being a 1-1 draw. I think the Red Devils will take an early lead possibly from a Fernandes set piece or penalty allowing Liverpool the opportunity to level in the second half through a piece of Salah magic. Discipline will be a key aspect in this game and as it sometimes turns into a frenzy I see todays referee Micheal Oliver being at the centre of attention.
