Man United look to halt a late Liverpool Champions League charge

This is a big week for Manchester United. They’ve got the Europa League Semi Final first leg to play against Roma and before the small matter of a home game against Liverpool on Sunday.

While games between these two bitter rivals are always intense, this one has a little bit of a back story behind it that includes something called the Champions League, remember that Legacy Fans?

Liverpool, England’s most successful European club are desperate to get their season on track and finish in the top four after a hugely disappointing campaign. Manchester United, comfortably cruising in second place will look to do anything in their power to stop Liverpool climbing up the table.

It does seem mad that Liverpool are not further up the table, but as we’ve mentioned beforehand, they have been bad champions. They crashed out of the Champions League against Real Madrid and drew their last Premier League match too leaving them four points behind Chelsea in fourth spot. 

The race for the top four is certainly the most exciting section of the Premier League table now. Manchester United’s goalless draw at Leeds last week helped City put one hand, and perhaps a few fingers on the title too, so now it’s all about the top four.

The Red Devils hit form at the right time and look for a strong finish. They are undefeated in their last six games and are looking to go all the way in the Europa League too.

Liverpool’s run in is quite a tame one, if you exclude this tie. Southampton, West Brom, Burnley and Crystal Palace await the Reds who will need to get maximum points from those four. Still, that might not be enough as their European destiny is no longer in their hands. 

The fact that West Ham are still above Liverpool in the Premier League shows us what an unpredictable sport this is and just what a strange season we’ve experienced. Still, there is time and Liverpool are kings of a late comeback so you can never write them off.

Klopp’s men have looked off-colour all season, but that is down to football’s cycles. This squad won the Champions League and then the Premier League title the year after and while great teams should last much longer there are reasons why this one hasn’t. Fatigue crept in which is understandable considering just how brilliant they were and just how intensive Klopp’s style of play really is. Still, some summer signings were hardly worth the hype and the injury crisis that gripped the club hardly helped. Jurgen Klopp helped build one of the Premier League’s best ever squads so it will be interesting to see whether he can re-build another one next season. 

The first matchup between these two great rivals this season was a missed opportunity for Manchester United who failed to capitalise on Liverpool’s horrible early season form. A 3-2 classic in the FA Cup followed, and we’re hoping this Sunday’s match will be more like the latter.

Manchester United’s reaction after a goalless draw against Leeds gave an insight into the winning mentality the club is building. Captain Harry Maguire called for improvements and United’s recent consistency should see them go for glory against Liverpool. Interestingly, Harry Maguire is on course to break Gary Pallister’s club record of consecutive Premier League minutes. He’s played every minute of his club’s last 71 Premier League games in a row which is incredible. 

Back him to help United claim a clean sheet with a United win at 4/1 or 5.00. 

Our prediction: Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool, yours at 17/2 or 9.5. 

 

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