Liverpool vs Manchester United
Competition: English Premier League
Date: 17 January 2016 - Time: 14:05 GMT
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Liverpool team scored a last-gasp leveller to secure a 3-3 home draw to
leaders Arsenal on Wednesday night. The Reds' form in Premier League has
been patchy, with two wins, two draws and two defeats from their last
six league games. They sit ninth in the table, three points behind Van
Gaal's men.
We may see Jurgen Klopp name a very similar starting
XI to the one that held Arsenal in midweek with Adam Lallana, Roberto
Firmino and Jordon Ibe upfront and midfield trio of Henderson, Can and
Milner. The likes of Joe Allen and pushing for a start in midfield but
they are both expected to be benched. Steven Caulker could be in line to
make his first start for Liverpool as Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtell
are still out injured. Philippe Coutinho, Divock Origi and Danny Ings
remain sidelined, while Daniel Sturridge is still edging his way to full
fitness.
On Tuesday, Manchester United were denied a third consecutive win in all
competitions at the start of 2016 as they drew 3-3 at Newcastle. The Red
Devils are only two points off a Champions League spot, but there is a
sense of discontent around Old Trafford as they are not dominating games
that they arguably should.
Bastian Schweinsteiger remains a
huge doubt for the trip to Anfield, Michael Carrick is out injured and
this means that Marouane Fellaini or Ander Herrera could partner Schneiderlin in midfield. Juan Mata was rested on Tuesday night, and
could return to the offensive midfield trio alongside Anthony Martial
and Jesse Lingard. The back four of Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Daley
Blind and Matteo Darmian may remain unchanged. Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo
and Antonio Valencia remain sidelined.
The Red
Devils have
dominated the most recent meetings between the pair as they have won
their last 4 matches against Liverpool in all competitions, scoring at
least 2 goals in each of those games. The Red Devils sealed a 3-1
victory at Old Trafford earlier this season and they snatched a 2-1
league win at Anfield in the 2014-15 season.
Probable lineups:
Liverpool: Mignolet – Clyne, Caulker, Sakho, Moreno – Henderson, Emre Can, Milner – Ibe, Firmino, Lallana.
Manchester United: de Gea – Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Young – Carrick, Schneiderlin – Mata, Herrera, Martial – Rooney.
Liverpool last 5 matches:
30/12/15 Sunderland 0 – 1 Liverpool
02/01/16 West Ham 2 – 0 Liverpool
05/01/16 Stoke City 0 – 1 Liverpool
08/01/16 Exeter City 2 – 2 Liverpool
13/01/16 Liverpool 3 – 3 Arsenal
Manchester United last 5 matches:
26/12/15 Stoke City 2 – 0 Manchester United
28/12/15 Man United 0 – 0 Chelsea
02/01/16 Manchester United 2 – 1 Swansea City
09/01/16 Manchester Utd 1 – 0 Sheffield United
12/01/16 Newcastle 3 – 3 Man United