Manchester United v Liverpool Preview and Prediction – Premier League Sunday 24th Updated for September 2024

Updated: 14th September 2024

English Premier League preview: Manchester United v Liverpool – Old Trafford – Sunday, February 24, 2019 – 14:05hrs GMT

Manchester United v Liverpool Correct Score Predictions

Correct Score predictions for the 24/02/2019 Manchester United v Liverpool Premier League  match.

Manchester United 1-3 Liverpool at 16/1 Betfred Odds *
Manchester United 2-3 Liverpool at 25/1 Betfred Odds *

* The Manchester United v Liverpool odds are taken from online bookmaker Betfred and were correct as of 22/02/2019 – subject to change.

Manchester United v Liverpool Preview

Although Liverpool may be 14 points ahead of Manchester United on the Premier League table, Jurgen Klopp's Reds harbour few illusions of an easy win when they visit Old Trafford for the Sunday afternoon's clash.

United are a much different side to the one when Jose Mourinho exited as manager in early November. New boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has extricated a beleaguered Red Devils side struggling to remain in the Top 8 to a much impressive 4th presently.

Of the 13 games he has managed since taking over reins at Old Trafford, the Norwegian coach has steered the club to an incredible 11 wins.

The only blips were an inexplicable 2-2 draw against a lowly Burnley in January and a recent 0-2 humbling by a classy Paris St. Germain at Old Trafford in a UEFA Champions League clash.

The Red Devils have however recovered from the hiccup against PSG as evinced from the brilliant 2-0 win over Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge in a 5th Round FA Cup clash last Monday night.

The Liverpool juggernaut of 2018, meanwhile, may have slowed down a bit. Having ended the previous year with 20 unbeaten Premier League games (17 of them being wins), the New Year began with a defeat to title holders Manchester City.

The once rampaging Reds have been held to 2 draws in their last three fixtures and have just come out of a gruelling goalless Champions League encounter against Bayern Munich at Anfield, a match they were tipped to win.

Even though Jose Mourinho rejects like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have found their touch under Solskjaer, much of United's recent successes can be attributed to the heroics of David de Gea, saving as many as 84 per cent of shots faced under the stewardship of the Norwegian.

Liverpool custodian, the ultra-pricey Alisson's saves-ratio was 64 per cent in the same period.

According to Opta's xG statistics, de Gea saved 5 certain goals compared to the Brazilian goalkeeper's one.

With Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard, out with groin and thigh injuries the United attack will be spearheaded by the duo of the pacy Rashford and the in-form Paul Pogba, who already have a combined tally of 14 goals under Solskjaer.

De Gea is certain to return on Sunday after being rested for the FA Cup encounter. This despite Sergio Romero's impressive performance at Stamford Bridge.

Some of other long-term absentees have been Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian, but that has hardly mattered, as Solskjaer seemed to have found winning combinations. For Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez it would be another opportunity to regain their lost forms.

United's starting XI for Sunday could thus look like this. De Gea (goal), Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, Ander Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lukaku, Rashford.

Liverpool fans will be hoping their front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah can add to the 38 Premier League goals they have chalked up between them this season. The trio were unexpectedly muted against Bayern Munich although Sane found a number of opportunities to score which he could not. Jordan Henderson and Alexander-Arnold who were so impressive in that game are likely to start and cast their influence on Sunday's game.

The return of Virgil van Dijk from a 2-match suspension will be huge boost to the Reds' defence and of course to their entire game.

Liverpool will likely go into the game with a must-not-lose approach since Manchester City are on equal points with them but fortunately for the Reds, the title holders have played a game more, 27 vs 26.

For the Red Devils a win is a must if they are to remain in the Top Four, as they are just a point ahead of 5th Arsenal who have a comparatively easy home outing against Southampton and look set to win three comfortable points from it.

Jurgen Klopp's potential starting XI: Alisson (goal); Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane.

With the kind of attacking riches both sides possess, it's going be a breezy affair at Old Trafford on Sunday with the possibility of the game swinging from end to end. Bookmakers' odds though are favourably stacked on a Liverpool win as seen below.

Manchester United v Liverpool Bet365 Odds

Manchester Utd to win: 21/10

Liverpool to win: 11/8

Draw: 5/2

Odds subject to change and were correct as of 22/02/2019.

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