Table-topper Liverpool head to United with widest gap in years
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp (centre) with his players during a training session on Thursday.
Liverpool have won just five times at United in the Premier League era and the Red Devils have won the fixture 16 times, but the gulf in quality between the sides has widened significantly in recent years.
While Juergen Klopp’s side have a 100% record in the Premier League, United have just two league wins this season and after their 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United the international break, they are down in 12th place, 15 points behind their arch-rivals.
To add to their problems, United look set to be without goalkeeper David De Gea who picked up a groin injury on international duty with Spain.
“David needs a scan. I think he’ll be out. It certainly looked like it anyway...so it’s just one of those things,” said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Argentine Sergio Romero is expected to stand in for De Gea and can expect a busy time against Klopp’s potent attack.
French midfielder Paul Pogba has not yet recovered fully from his ankle injury but there is better news on the fitness of forward Anthony Martial and full backs Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
“I can’t tell you 100 per cent (who) is going to be fit as something might happen,” said Solskjaer.
“But hopefully Aaron and Anthony will last the training this week and be available for selection. If it’s for half a game or 30 minutes I don’t know but let’s see where they’re at,” he said.
United’s Spanish midfielder Juan Mata believes the clash with their old rivals offers an opportunity to kick-start the season.
“We have a great chance to change the dynamic and we are all very motivated to take the win. We are United, we are playing at home and we will give everything to be able to take the victory that our fans deserve in such a special game,” Mata said.
United will try to sign one or two players in the January transfer window to improve their chances of finishing in the top four but will not spend big on transfer fees and wages, Solskjaer has said.
Solskjaer sanctioned the departures of forwards Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in the close season without reinforcing United’s attack and the Norwegian also has goalkeeper De Gea and midfielder Pogba.
“We’re looking at one or two new signings. We’re one or two players light,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports. “If the right ones are available in January then we might do something. If not, these players will give everything (for a top four finish).
“I’m not going to go down the route of bringing players in on big contracts and big fees if they’re not the right ones for the whole group and for the future. The money is there to strengthen in January and in the summer.”
United started the season with a 4-0 win over Chelsea but have scored five goals in seven league matches since and Solskjaer said an injury to forward Martial, who has not played since August, was a factor in their struggles.
“There’s many reasons, but one of them is injuries to Anthony,” the 46-year-old former United player said.
“Creating chances has been a challenge for us with teams dropping deep. But we’re practising patterns every single week. When we get the players fit, I’m going to make Marcus and Anthony score those scruffy goals, as that’s what I did.”
Champions Manchester City face a tricky trip to Selhurst Park to face a Crystal Palace team who beat them at the Etihad in January.
City are eight points adrift of Liverpool. Palace sit just two points behind City in sixth position after an impressive start to the season, but this fixture is the first of a straight run of five against sides directly above them.
Tottenham Hotspur, beaten 3-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, will look to bounce back against winless bottom club Watford.
Reuters
