Super Sunday at Anfield promises to be a blockbuster, as high-flying Liverpool welcome a dejected Manchester United in a pivotal Premier League clash.
It has been a dismal week for Erik Ten Hag, who saw his team humiliated on Saturday by a 3-0 defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth, followed by getting knocked out of the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are having a good time, sitting on top of the Premier League, despite losing in their Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1.
Despite their miserable European campaign, United’s form in the league has been inconsistent, with nine wins and seven defeats in their 16 games this season, Liverpool, on the other hand, are in terrific form, taking 13 points from their last five games.
Ten Hag found himself in a similar situation last season, when he lost his first two games in charge, but a 2-1 win at home against the same opponents, ignited some spark into the rest of the season.
However, with the team out of Europe and six points off the top four, he now faces an even more difficult task, to get them back to the Champions League, despite the small possibility of the extra fifth spot.
United’s last trip to Anfield ended in a horror show, as they were thumped 7-0 thanks to double strikes from Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Coady Gakpo before Roberto Firmino put the final nail in the coffin.
However, despite their abysmal form, the Red Devils Boss is confident that his side can produce a performance at Anfield, to try and get their season back on track.
“I haven’t seen that last season we were scared there. It was a bad experience and we cannot ignore it. But we go there and we will be confident.”
Ten Hag: BBC Sport
Regarding the team’s exit from Europe, Ten Hag sees this as an opportunity to get back into next season’s competition.
“I think the way you describe that is true. We have had so many injuries in the first part of the season but now we have fewer games so the load will be less. That will give players opportunities to recover and more time on the training pitch.”
Ten Hag: BBC Sport
Meanwhile the Reds Boss eyes the Christmas period as a crucial one for his team’s aspirations of the Premier League Title.
We have never had a December together and December in English football is the toughest month ever,” “Now we have to show how far [along] we are with that. If you are top of the table in early December, people start thinking about different things. We obviously don’t.
Klopp: BBC Sport
Post the huge clash on Sunday, Liverpool will face stiffer tests against West Ham and Arsenal, and Klopp is confident that his team can handle the upcoming challenges.
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“They have jobs to do. Some have to start the game and some have to kill the game off. At this moment in time, each player enjoys that role. That is something pretty special about the group to be honest.
Klopp: BBC Sport
Team News
The hosts are likely to recall seven first-team members i.e. Alexis Mac Allister, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota, Stefan Bajcetic and Any Robertson, after making nine in Thursday night’s defeat in Brussels.
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire who went off injured against Bayern Munich misses out, however, Marcus Rashford returns, after missing the Bayern Munich game due to illness, but Anthony Martial is still unwell.
Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Christian Eriksen and Amad Diallo are all injured.
Predictions
Judging by the form of both teams, I’m going for a 2-1 victory for LIverpool, but as Ten Hag’s side showed last year, anything can happen.
Who will prevail in this crucial encounter?
Liverpool win and the title is going to Anfield this season