Manchester United vs Liverpool
It is the biggest game in English football and as big as it gets on planet football.
Manchester United versus Liverpool at Old Trafford.
When English football’s two most successful clubs collide, the world watches.
Make no mistake. Despite the ‘new money’ that has come into the top level of English football over the past decade and a half or so, this remains the ultimate clash and the most fierce rivalry in the Premier League.
Talking Points
Both sides come into this one on the back of good results.
United were impressive as they knocked FA Cup holders Chelsea out of the competition on their own turf, while Liverpool played out a goalless draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League – a better result than many realise.
As has regularly been the case over many years, this clash has much riding on it.
Liverpool are desperate to win English football’s top prize for the first time in 29 years. When they last triumphed in 1990 it took their tally to 18 league titles compared to United’s seven.
Now, masterminded by the great Sir Alex Ferguson, United have 20 in the bank with the Merseysiders still on 18.
This season Liverpool – who have two more European Cup triumphs to their name than United (five to three) – are in prime position to end that drought but there have been recent signs the pressure is starting to get to them.
They were convincing 3-0 winners at home to Bournemouth in their last league match a fortnight ago, mind.
United have not been involved in the title race this season and are a massive 14 points off the summit.
Their form, since the appointment of interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – appointed three days after they lost to Liverpool two months ago – has been impressive though and they have climbed into the Premier League’s top four when the possibility seemed highly unlikely.
United will hope at least one of Anthony Martial or Jesse Lingard can make an earlier than expected return from injury this weekend, while Liverpool will likely be relieved Virgil van Dijk’s midweek suspension in Europe does not apply domestically.
Manchester United have won seven of their past nine home league games against Liverpool and have also won eight of their last nine Premier League matches, yet they have kept just one clean sheet in their 12 Premier League home fixtures this season, a joint-division low.
Two personal benchmarks are also very close to being reached, although only one could be in this clash.
David De Gea is one clean sheet away from his 100th in the Premier League, while Mo Salah is one shy of 50 Premier League goals for Liverpool – if he scores in this game, he will have 50 in just 63 games, making him the fastest player to reach the milestone for a single club.
Even without these intriguing stats, this has all the hallmarks of a clash which could produce many of the 2019 Premier League highlights in one afternoon.
In English football this is as big as it gets.
History
Liverpool’s 3-1 victory in this fixture at Anfield in December, when second half substitute Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri scored twice, was their first league win over United in four and a half years.
Last season, a Marcus Rashford double inside 24 minutes fired United to a 2-1 success at Old Trafford. The meeting at Anfield earlier in the campaign had ended goalless.
Both meetings the previous season also ended level. Again, 0-0 at Anfield, and then 1-1 at Old Trafford when Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelled out a James Milner penalty.
Overall, throughout a long and illustrious history, United have the edge with 88 victories, Liverpool have won 76 of the meetings and the other 65 games have ended in draws.
Betting Tip
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Manchester United vs Liverpool | Manchester United Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.26 |
| February 24, 22:05(GMT+8) |
SBOBET fans will not be surprised to know the 2019 Premier League betting odds are a close run thing.
Liverpool start as slight favourites, according to 1X2 odds @ 2.35 with United @ 2.94. The draw – a result in three of the last five meetings – is available @ 3.30.
With plenty of attacking talent on display, over 2.75 goals will pay out @ 2.03 and over 3.00 goals @ 2.38.
For a repeat of last season’s United home win, correct score 2-1 is offered @ 10.50.
You can get Asian Handicap odds on Liverpool – 0.50 @ 2.35.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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