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Pundit Predictions: Liverpool v Man Utd predictions and best bets from Sky Sports Soccer Saturday pundits
Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas and Matt Le Tissier have their say on the big Liverpool v Man Utd clash on Sunday.
Phil Thompson
Liverpool v Man Utd - initial thoughts...
With this run Liverpool have been on, you look at how and when there could be a banana skin. I look at this game, and the reason you look at it again is because of how Manchester United turned up against Manchester City at the Etihad.
People had it as a home banker, but it was probably the best 45 minutes I have seen under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They literally, dare I say it, blew Man City away for the early part, and then managed to hold on.
This is my worry. If they do turn up and take the shackles off, it could be a worry. They will defend deep as they did at Old Trafford, and as they did at the Etihad, and hit on the counter. Liverpool have to be wary of that.
💥 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Marcus Rashford wasn't 100% fit for the Wolves game
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) January 15, 2020
🚑 So should he have played him? With his injury meaning he's a doubt for Liverpool now?#MUNWOL #FACup pic.twitter.com/CYlZ82HbpD
Once there is a turnover in possession, Liverpool have to be cautious of the pace that Anthony Martial, Daniel James and Marcus Rashford possess. It is a similar thing to when they went to the Etihad. Everybody’s money was on City. It looks as though Solskjaer is getting a tune out of his side; it has been the bigger games where they have turned up this season.
If Liverpool win, it is expected. The pressure is on Liverpool to deliver, while Man Utd have nothing to lose and then can play with more freedom. For Liverpool, they seem to just keep on going. It seems as though Jurgen Klopp and his staff have the players focused, although they rode their luck in the last ten minutes against Tottenham. For 70 minutes, Liverpool could have been 3-0 up.
It is still classed as one of the biggest games in the world, and rightly so. No matter where the sides are in the Premier League, it has always had huge interest all over the world. Some of the games at Anfield have not obviously lived up to it, but it will be interesting to see how the two teams shape up in the first 10-15 minutes, and then we will know how the game will pan out.
Liverpool's approach…
Liverpool are getting quite close with the opposition playing three at the back and packing the midfield. You can see how coaches have worked on their shape in the week and counter when there is a turnover against Liverpool. This is where Liverpool have to be patient and wide-awake if this does happen.
It could take 80 minutes of Liverpool possession before they break them down. Liverpool must have found some solutions in these games, as it has been such a long unbeaten streak. My thing is if Liverpool do have more possession, then they must be patient.
If they do this, they will win the game. Liverpool have found a way to win games over the last 18 months and I see no reason to think differently this weekend.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)
Talking Tactics
Alex Keble runs through the main tactical battles at Anfield this Sunday.
Matt Le Tissier
Liverpool v Man Utd - initial thoughts...
Manchester United are the only ones who have taken points off Liverpool this season, so they will believe they can do it again. A lot of teams are beaten before they even turn up at Anfield. It will be more difficult for them with it being at Anfield, and if they have a bad day, it could become a bit embarrassing.
I am sure the failings of the Manchester City match, among others this season, will still linger in their minds, but they must be at it from the off and at 100 per cent - otherwise, they could be 3-0 down by half time in the blink of an eye once more.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must come up with a plan to nullify the threats that Liverpool possess, but they come from all over the pitch. He did it once with a 0-0 at Old Trafford, so let’s see if he can do it again.
Do you think Manchester United will shape up similar to Old Trafford?
I think this is a strong possibility. If it works once, there is no reason why it will not work again. He could switch it up and come up with something that they are not expecting and wrong-foot them almost. I just think regardless of how Man Utd set up, Liverpool have such good quality that I am not sure however way you set up makes them any less dangerous.
How should Liverpool approach it differently to that match at Old Trafford?
I think it will be different at home. Liverpool will have even more pressure on the United goal at home. They will be reduced to the counter-attack, in which case they have some good players to play like that. Liverpool’s record at Anfield is phenomenal at the moment and I think they will create enough chances to take all three points from the match.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)
Charlie Nicholas
Even as an Arsenal fan, it is a huge game. Many may think it has lost its gloss. This was always the game for someone that loves the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson always identified Liverpool away on the list, even when the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea were better. It was always the toughest and he wanted to walk away with something. If they had lost, they would hate it but he wouldn’t care how they played as long as they came away with something.
Manchester United are going there scared. For the first time in many years, you could see Liverpool giving them a proper hiding. What does that mean for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? What does that mean for the young players? Marcus Rashford is carrying them.
Defensively, you do not know where the next mistake is coming from, but there will be one. David De Gea has been good and ‘just’ good, he is a great goalkeeper but he has not been great for a while.
It will be fiery; I would be amazed if there is not a red card. Man Utd will not want to be embarrassed, but if Liverpool score quickly and get their two full backs bombing, it could spell trouble. If Man Utd are looking towards Rashford and Anthony Martial for the counter-attack, but there is nobody to support them, then they are in trouble too.
I am not saying this is easy to do, but Liverpool have something within them right now that is saying they are not giving up the belief that they can go unbeaten. Liverpool have kept six successive clean sheets and that is telling us they have tightened up there. Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will be fired up, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. The two full backs will become wingers and it is like a front five once more.
Even with Man Utd’s decent players, I cannot see them trying to control this game. They proved me wrong at the Etihad and they may do so again, this is Man Utd. If Liverpool score, United have to open up - Solskjaer does not like playing defensively, and I do not blame him, but he does not have the personnel to play like that. He is using the only players he has left, and for that reason, I can only see a very comfortable Liverpool win.
Man Utd have to play a back five, as they got a point at old Trafford. That is what leads me into the breakdown. When you play that at home, you have 70,000 of your own supporters, who had to accept it as long as they did not get embarrassed on the day. The fans were celebrating that and that tells you where they are.
They got a good win against Norwich but the fans are angry. They realise the reality of what this team has, it is limited. Any of them Man Utd fans would snatch your hand off for a draw right now, as they know it could be sufferance for them. I do not think Solskjaer has any choice.
He does not have enough to open up and attack. He may have enough but where does he go? Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial do not really do the defensive work, while Daniel James does his fair share. Jesse Lingard will be in behind but then you have Nemanja Matic and Fred, will they have enough to match in defence with the back four or five? No. I do think they will play a back five.
Brandon Williams and Aaron Wan-Bissaka must confront the full backs and they have to pick the back five to see if they can keep them at bay. Man Utd will not mind the wing backs getting crosses in from deep. They can match that with the height they have. If they have time to deliver with pace and get around the full backs it is a completely different presence.
They have to get this right. Tottenham tried that but they could not get out. This is Anfield, the crowd will want blood and for Liverpool to give them more; it is one of these days where Liverpool will flex their muscles, say they will be champions, and that is what I think will materialise.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Manchester United (Sky Bet odds: 9/1)
Sky Sports and talkSPORT presenter Laura Woods begins her new fortnightly column, providing her unique football insight.
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Robert O’Connor looks at how Liverpool need to avoid letting their long unbeaten run get in the way of their primary objective of winning the Premier League.
Odds correct as of 1700 GMT on 17/01/20