Game Week 8 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Manchester United

Liverpool vs Man Utd at Anfield: High stakes for title-chasing Reds against struggling Devils. Can United break Anfield curse? Verdict: Liverpool win.

Liverpool's form and Manchester United's inconsistencies meet at Anfield, which of the frailties will give way for a new hero to rise? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Liverpool vs Manchester United

Anfield

4:30pm

Whatever it is Liverpool decides to do on Sunday at Anfield, they must know it will impact their season, so they must ensure they don’t drop points against Manchester United.

What is at stake? Arsenal’s win at Fulham on Saturday means the Gunners now have a four-point advantage over the champions. If Liverpool doesn’t cut that advantage going into the next run of games, it’s dangerous considering how things panned out last season.

Away from Arsenal for a moment, Manchester City beat Everton on Saturday, taking them two points above the Kops, and a loss against Manchester United would automatically take Bournemouth above Liverpool on goal difference. Add Tottenham’s potential point against Villa, and Liverpool goes 5th, one point above Chelsea and Sunderland.

What is at stake for Manchester United? Bragging is useless right now, considering where the Red Devils are and where they should be if you also consider the fact that they play only once a week with no European football.

United currently sits in 11th, nine off Arsenal at the top, but a win over Liverpool takes United within two points of the champions. It’s all down to perspective, but it’s noteworthy that an unlikely win at Anfield hands Ruben Amorim his first back-to-back wins in the Premier League since his arrival.

It’s not going to be easy for United, as they haven’t won at Anfield since 2016, a 1-0 success under Louis Van Gaal. They have had tonnes of managers since then with no success. Can the Anfield hoodoo be finally broken on Sunday?

If there’s one game in which Manchester United can prove to their fans that they have turned the corner, it is this one. History, rivalry and collective achievements tell a rich story of long-standing feud; they have 40 league titles between them, and this kind of game is where they can both find distinction.

What do they both have to offer? The hosts have struggled of late, losing back-to-back league games for once under Arne Slot, and you wonder if they can really wait for the January window to bring in a central defender. United could exploit the defensive frailties of Liverpool; it would be intriguing to see.

The attacking trio of Mattheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko could have a field day, but how will the United defence cope with Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Mohammed Salah and Hugo Ekitike? How does Arne Slot fit in his two big-money signings?

This game is one that could say a lot about the title. Too early, but a win for Liverpool tells everyone the champions are not going away, while any points dropped here could send Liverpool out of the title race for good. Let’s have fun.

Verdict: Liverpool to win.