On Sunday, Liverpool plays home to Manchester United at Anfield. These two bitter rivals are in very different situations.
Liverpool, led by Arne Slot, is very far ahead in the Premier League and is flying high. The free agents of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold could be a distraction, but they haven’t been yet. Every Liverpool player is stepping up, and they’re putting together some great attacks.
For new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, it’s the exact opposite. He has said that they have to face the fact that they’re fighting to stay in the league. As of the start of 2025, United is seven points above the relegation zone and has lost five of its last six games. Still, they often surprise us by beating their enemies when we least expect it, but with the way they’re playing right now, it seems almost impossible for them to win at Anfield.
Here are some of the teams that people think will play against Liverpool and Manchester United. Both coaches have some big decisions to make.
Liverpool’s likely lineup
This is Alisson.
Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson, and others will not play.
—— Gravenberch —— Mac Allister ——
—— Salah —— Szoboszlai —— Gakpo ——
A. Diaz B.
A big choice needs to be made by Slot, and one of them is where to play center back. Because both Gomez and Konate are hurt, Quansah is the only center back who can play with Van Dijk. That’s what the coach will decide, but Endo can play there instead of Quansah, which could be an option since Quansah has been having a rough run lately. Alexander-Arnold’s position is interesting because he may have told Liverpool that he wants to move to Real Madrid.
But since Conor Bradley is still hurt, Trent will start at right back again. The other big choice has to be made in the middle of the field. Gravenberch will begin, but which of Jones, Mac Allister, and Szoboszlai is not there? Jones, since the other two have been picked for some big games this season. But there isn’t a wrong answer; Slot has been doing a great job switching between the three center midfielders.
In recent games, Salah on the right, Gakpo on the left, and Diaz in the middle have all played well together up top, so they’ll definitely get the nod. Due to having Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, and Darwin Nunez on the bench, Slot can change things up in attack during the game. He is very lucky to have so many choices.
The expected start for Manchester United
Onana ——-
—— Martínez —— Yoro —— De Ligt
Mazraoui, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot, and so on.
—— Amad —— Fernandes ——
This is Hojlund.
