Liverpool Aim For The Top Away At Manchester United
Premier League Match Previews and Odds
Three of the Premier League’s top five are in action on Sunday. Arsenal host Southampton at the Emirates but the stand-out game is a mouth-watering clash between two of English football’s giants, Manchester United and Liverpool. Here at InterBet we preview both matches, offering everything from team news, odds and betting tips.
Manchester United vs Liverpool
Where else could we possibly start our preview than at the Theatre of Dreams? This game promises to be a thriller. Manchester United are rejuvenated under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer whilst Liverpool are still right in the mix for a first league title since 1990.
Visitors, Liverpool, are currently second in the table on goal difference only, a win at Old Trafford will see the Reds leapfrog Manchester City at the Premier League summit. Little over a month ago Liverpool were nine points clear of Manchester City but a spate of injuries has caused a minor slump in form for the Merseysiders.
Team News
On Sunday, Liverpool will almost be back to full strength. Trent Alexander-Arnold is back to full fitness and Virgil Van Dijk will return after sitting out their midweek Champions League game through suspension. With Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren still absent, Joel Matip is set to continue in central defence.
Manchester United manager, Solskjaer, could have a selection dilemma ahead of Sunday’s game. Both Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial missed their recent FA Cup win at Chelsea and could be fit for the Liverpool game. However, in their absence United gave arguably their best performance of the season so far. One player who will return is goalkeeper, David De Gea. The Spaniard was rested for the FA Cup tie with Solskjaer opting to give Sergio Romero a run-out.
Solskjaer’s Future
Manchester United have won eight of their nine league fixtures since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed caretaker manager at Old Trafford. Ironically it was their dismal performance in the 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture at Anfield that proved to be the last straw for former boss, Jose Mourinho.
Their dramatic improvement in form under Solskjaer has led to many people calling for the Norwegian to be given the job on a full-time basis. Solskjaer has been backed his Liverpool manager, Klopp, to get the role.
Klopp explained, “There is no doubt that he will be the manager next year as well, that’s clear. Can you imagine one situation when they say ‘We are bringing in another manager?’ Then a new manager will lose one game and that’s not possible. He deserves [the job] 100% – he did everything that you have to do to be successful with them.”
Meanwhile, Solskjaer, was quick to dismiss all talk about his future, instead choosing to focus on the job in hand.
The United caretaker boss explained, “I’m focusing on us and what we have to do to get to where we want to be. It’s a three-horse race for the title and fourth, that’s my focus. I played a few of these [games against Liverpool] myself and know the magnitude of it for the fans and everyone who works here. It’s our job to be focusing and channelling all that energy into performance mode when we start the game on Sunday.”
Form
Liverpool make the short trip East boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just 15 goals in their 26 league games. The Reds know that just a draw will be enough to see them return to the top of the league table.
However, history would certainly favour a home win on Sunday. Manchester United have been dominant in this fixture in recent years, winning seven of the past nine meetings. In fact, Liverpool have not won at Old Trafford since March 2014. Liverpool have failed to win away from home in their past seven games against sides starting the day in the top four.
Manager, Jurgen Klopp, has been to Old Trafford as the opposition manager on three previous occasions and has not won once, drawing two and losing the other.
With just a draw enough to see Liverpool go back to the top of the league and their inability to win away at the major rivals, a draw could be the favoured bet for many neutrals. Liverpool have scored in every away match in this season’s Premier League whilst Manchester United have conceded at least once in each of their past six home games. A 1-1 draw is available at 49/10.
Match Odds
Manchester United – 39/20
Draw – 241/100
Liverpool – 139/100
Arsenal vs Southampton
In the day’s other Premier League game, Arsenal and Southampton go head-to-head at the Emirates with very different objectives. For Arsenal, they aim to continue their challenge for a top four finish whilst Southampton are looking to stave off the real threat of relegation.
The Gunners have impressed recently under manager, Unai Emery, and go into Sunday’s game on the back of six successive home wins in the Premier League. The Gunners are 12 unbeaten at home in the league and if results go their way on Sunday, they can move back into the league’s top four.
Southampton are in equally impressive form under their new manager, Ralph Hasenhuttl. The Saints are unbeaten in four away league games and have lost just once in six games.
However, in recent head-to-head meetings in London, it is without doubt Arsenal who have the advantage. Southampton have never beaten Arsenal away from home in the Premier League, not at Highbury or the Emirates. Arsenal’s unbeaten home run against Southampton now stretches back 23 league games to November 1987.
Arsenal’s upturn in form has been down to the promising strike partnership that has been forged between Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Former Dortmund forward, Aubameyang, has scored six in six at home in the Premier League. Since joining Arsenal, Aubameyang has scored 25 goals in 38 Premier League appearances.
Meanwhile, Lacazette could become the first Arsenal player since Robin Van Persie to score in four consecutive Premier League games at the Emirates. The France international is Evens to score anytime and 7/2 to score first with InterBet.
Match Odds
Arsenal – 47/100
Draw – 71/20
Southampton – 11/2