Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: September 12, 5:30pm local time
Forget the inner-city derbies and so called spiteful clashes – Manchester United and Liverpool are the fiercest foes in English football.
With the two most successful records in English football history, these two powerhouses are always jockeying for supremacy in the EPL and their matches invariably draw the highest viewership of any regular game throughout the league season.
Both teams have fallen on lean times though in recent times, with Manchester United undergoing a changing of the guard at managerial level, with incumbent Louis van Gaal yet to reignite the premiership flame after the torch was passed from long serving manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Liverpool looked to be destined for the title just two years ago, but after finishing second to 2013/14 champions Manchester City, the Reds underwent a squad revamp with golden boot winner Luis Suarez departing for Spanish powerhouse Barcelona.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was unable to find the right men to replace Suarez with the money he received for the outgoing Uruguayan and Liverpool subsequently fell outside the top-four.
Now, only a month into the new season all the pressure is on these two sides with nothing short of a win the only option for two teams that have made an indifferent start to the campaign.
Match odds:
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Manchester United: $1.95
Draw: $3.40
Liverpool: $4.10
First goal scorer: Memphis Depay – $6.00
Correct score: Draw 1-1 $6.00
The biggest fixture in the English footballing calendar is finally here – Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford and the stake could not be any higher.
With both teams already five points off the pace setters Manchester City, a loss could leave the vanquished potentially eight points adrift to top place and the title is almost out of their grasp.
Both teams have made indifferent starts to the campaign.
Other than their draw against Arsenal in which the Reds were excellent and probably unlucky to not win, Liverpool have been poor, just scrapping home against the Cherries and falling badly to West Ham.
Had it not been for a Philippe Coutinho wondergoal in the dying stages of their opening match against Stoke the Reds could very well be in the lower half of the table right now.
Manchester United have lacked goal scoring firepower this season, with captain Wayne Rooney failing to find the back of the net in the league this season.
Only one player in their current squad has scored a goal this campaign, midfielder Juan Mata.
Both teams have failed to showcase the attacking flair that has made this rivalry such a fierce one over the years – expect that to change this weekend with both teams keen to atone.
Expect another draw here, with a Memphis Depay opener to be cancelled out late by the Reds to give both teams one point each and plenty to think about heading into game week six.
Last time out – Swansea stun the Red Devils while West Ham Hammer the Reds
Two of the biggest upsets of the season came in game week four with Swansea winning 2-1 against Manchester United in Wales and West Ham shocking the Reds at Anfield 3-0.
With the scores deadlocked at half time, an opportunistic turn in from Man U midfielder Juan Mata handed United the lead early in the second half, but the Swans equalised not long after.
With the game potentially headed for a 1-1 draw, French superstar forward Bafetimbi Gomis slid the ball past the United keeper to secure a 2-1 win, placing them one point ahead of the Red Devils in fourth place in the process.
Liverpool were woeful from the outset and conceded early to Hammer Mark Noble, then a diabolical error from 20m pound defender Dejan Lovern gifted West Ham their second to Manuel Lanzni.
Most notable event to come from the game was the red card shown to mercurial midfielder Philippe Coutinho who will be unable to make the trip to Old Trafford to take on the Reds’ bitter rivals.
Potential line up changes:
Manchester United: Romero(GK), Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Mata, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Memphis, Fellaini, Rooney.
With the failed transfer of arguably the best keeper in the world David de Gea’s proposed transfer to Real Madrid falling at the final hurdle, leaving the Red Devil’s player of the year in the precarious position of being at a club he does not want to be at.
United manager Louis van Gaal will no doubt look to rescind his decree that de Gea will remain exiled from the team with the Spaniard the obvious number one choice over Sergio Romero.
However, van Gaal has proven in the past to be a hard task master and is unlikely to hand de Gea his starting position back on a silver platter.
Expect Romero to start in goal at Old Trafford.
Marouane Fellani should get his first start in the league after serving a lengthy suspension sustained in the final week of last season, with United bereft of attacking options.
New signing from Monaco Anthony Martial is unlikely to get role in the starting 11 at this stage despite his big money transfer, and will likely come on late as a substitute of the match is deadlocked.
Liverpool: Mignolet(GK), Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Can, Henderson, Lucas, Firmino, Milner, Benteke.
The Reds have several selection dilemmas ahead of the clash with United, with the unavailability of playmaker Philippe Coutinho headlining the list of headaches manager Brendan Rodgers has.
Captain Jordan Henderson – who limped from the field almost a month ago – may be available, but has yet to confirm he is fully fit, while Joe Allen and Adam Lallana are both going to miss through injury.
Another conundrum for Rogers will be what to do at the back?
Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel have made solid starts at the back, but after several comical errors that gifted West Ham goals, will Rogers elect to make a change and leave Lovern out?
The temptation will be there but in such a big game the threat of such a move backfiring could deter the Reds’ boss.
In more positive news for the Reds talismanic forward Daniel Sturridge has resumed training fully with the Liverpool squad and could make a surprise cameo appearance at Old Trafford.
While Rogers may be tempted to start his star striker, the England international will need to be eased back into top-flight football after a lengthy lay off.
Big money signing Roberto Fiminho should get another opportunity to start and impress for his new club, with the Brazilian showing flashes of brilliance in the Reds’ last outing against the Hammers.
Another man that will be keen to fire is Christian Benteke.
Benteke has been good without being great thus far, only finding the back of the net once under dubious circumstances against Bournemouth.
If the big Belgian can net a winner against the Red Devils he will become an instant legend amongst the Liverpool faithful.
