Liverpool Vs Manchester United: Rise Or Fall

Manchester United are facing a difficult situation because they have to travel to Liverpool headquarters (Instagram/@manchesterunited).

Ruben Amorim said Manchester United was experiencing one of the worst moments in the club's history.

After the defeat to Newcastle United, things will not be easier because on Sunday, January 5, 2025, they have to travel to Anfield to face Liverpool.

The Reds are leaders of the Premier League standings and they have ambitions to widen the advantages of the teams chasing them.

Both of these tough rivals enter the match with a contrasting position and performance. Arne Slot's Liverpool are at the top after three consecutive wins.

While Manchester United are in 14th place after three consecutive defeats in the league. Amoram hopes to win convincingly after defeating Manchester City rivals in December 2024, which is their last win.

To do so, they must silence Mohamed Salah. The Premier League top scorer has scored one goal or one assist in each of Liverpool's last 11 matches.

Mohamed Salah has scored 17 goals and 13 assists this season. The contribution to Liverpool's 30 goals was 10 more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.

Apart from Salah, Manchester United must also look for ways to reduce Liverpool's productivity, which is the most productive team in the league (45 goals).

Productivity of The Reds and Salah will be a problem for The Red Devils United who only recorded one clean sheet under Ruben Amorim.

Manchester United had to close their eyes with the scary statistics of Liverpool and focused on finding ways to beat the leader of the standings.

You see, Liverpool's record can disturb the psychology of the Red Devils. Imagine, the difference of 12 points between the first and 14th rankings is the biggest difference between the two teams since September 2012.

In 2012, Manchester United, who were in second place, won 2-1 over Liverpool who were ranked 17th. That season was the year Manchester United won their last Premier League title, while Liverpool ended that season in seventh place.

Manchester United did lead head-to-head with 29 wins, 16 draws, and 20 defeats in the Premier League meeting.

However, in the last 13 Premier League meetings, Liverpool took the far lead. The Reds had a record of seven wins, five draws, and one defeat with a score of 32-8.

In that range (the last seven seasons), the 26 points earned against Manchester United equaled the seventh record against a team in that range. However, the +24 goal difference is the second best difference after Bournemouth's record against Bournemouth (+28).

Fact Data

Liverpool vs Manchester United

Anfield

Sunday, January 5, 2025

23.30 WIB

Formation Forecast

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Virgil van Dijk, LB Andrew Robertson; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz; Darwin Nunez

Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Andre Onana; Matthijs de Ligt, Leandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui; Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Diogo Dalot; Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes; Rasmus Hojlund