There arguably hasn’t been a much bigger gulf in high quality between these two sides in latest reminiscence. Liverpool sit six factors clear on the high of the Premier League desk, having performed a recreation lower than their title rivals. Man United, in the meantime, are down in 14th.
Life beneath Ruben Amorim hasn’t gone in keeping with plan because the Portuguese supervisor changed Erik ten Hag. The Purple Devils are simply seven factors away from the relegation zone, and a whopping 23 behind Liverpool.
So nobody is giving them an opportunity forward of this weekend. However is there trigger for Purple Devils followers to be optimistic? We’ve taken a have a look at a number of potential weaknesses.
Centre-back uncertainty
Liverpool stored a clear sheet of their last recreation of 2024, beating 0-5 on the London Stadium. But it surely wasn’t an ideal day for his or her defence.
With Ibrahima Konate already out injured, Joe Gomez needed to come off within the first half with a knock of his personal. He’s now a doubt for Sunday alongside Konate. Jarell Quansah got here on to interchange Gomez and is the seemingly beginning companion for Virgil van Dijk in opposition to Man United.
Quansah appeared stable in opposition to West Ham, however the Hammers supplied little or no risk and Liverpool have been snug. West Ham didn’t have a single shot on the right track on the London Stadium.
Earlier in December although, Quansah had come off the bench for Liverpool in opposition to Fulham and didn’t fare as nicely. He appeared shaky after approaching and was get together guilty for Rodrigo Muniz’s objective to place Fulham 1-2 up.
The 21-year-old has had 225 minutes within the Premier League this season and has averaged 3.6 clearances per 90 minutes. Whereas he has been on the pitch, Liverpool have conceded 4 objectives, together with three in the one recreation he performed the complete 90 minutes (a 3-3 draw with ).
Man United’s greatest likelihood of beating Liverpool can be in the event that they strike early. The Reds have conceded the opening objective in 4 of their 9 dwelling league video games this season, and every of their previous two.
Whereas Liverpool rank joint-second for factors gained from dropping positions within the Premier League this season, Man United’s report when going forward is spectacular. The Purple Devils have dropped simply 4 factors from profitable positions within the Premier League this season, with solely Liverpool (2) dropping fewer.
And it’s not even that the pattern dimension for Man United is just too small. They’ve been forward in eight video games up to now this season, profitable six and drawing two.
Liverpool’s gradual begins are additional demonstrated if you happen to break the Premier League into two a lot of 45-minute matches. If matches ended at half-time, Liverpool wouldn’t be second within the Premier League, trailing by one level. Whereas that’s not a lot of a distinction in place, Liverpool could be 11 factors worse off.
The Reds would have gained 10, drawn 4 and misplaced 4 of their 18 matches up to now. If we have a look at second halves alone, Liverpool could be seven factors clear on the high. They’d have 13 wins, 4 attracts and one defeat, fairly near their precise report after 18 video games. So, Man United simply want to verify they’ve bought a large enough half-time lead. Simple, proper?
Left-back struggles
One other concern with Liverpool’s defence is the shape and health of Andy Robertson. The Scot wasn’t afforded a lot relaxation over the festive interval, with backup Kostas Tsimikas fighting health. When Robertson did get a while off, it was as a result of he was suspended after his pink card in opposition to .
Whereas Trent Alexander-Arnold goes from power to power, Robertson isn’t the attacking or defensive pressure he as soon as was. He’s nonetheless good, however he’s lots simpler to get at than he was. In opposition to West Ham, Robertson made a mistake that led to an early likelihood for the Hammers — and he was fortunate it went unpunished.
Robertson has averaged 1.67 tackles per 90 minutes within the Premier League this season, 0.49 interceptions and 1.25 clearances accomplished. Then there’s the truth that he’ll be up in opposition to Amad Diallo, who was the goalscoring hero in Man United’s FA Cup win over Liverpool final season.
Since Amorim took cost, Diallo has been straight concerned in 5 objectives for Man United, averaging 0.68 per 90 minutes. He’s been devastating along with his dribbling too, finishing 2.58 take-ons per 90, greater than another Man United participant beneath Amorim.
Hope for the remaining
After which there’s one thing for Liverpool’s title rivals to hope for, if Man United do spring an upset. In mid-March final season, Liverpool have been nonetheless preventing on 4 fronts.
That they had already secured the EFL Cup, have been within the FA Cup quarter-finals, Europa League quarter-finals and really a lot within the Premier League title race. Liverpool’s quadruple dream got here to an finish within the FA Cup quarter-finals, with Man United’s 4-3 win after extra-time.
And that consequence appeared to take lots out of Liverpool. The Reds gained simply six of their last 12 video games of the season, falling away within the title race and dropping to Atalanta within the Europa League quarter-finals.
A 50% win price by itself isn’t too unhealthy. However Liverpool’s win price of their first 45 video games of the season — previous to the FA Cup tie with Man United — was an unimaginable 73.3%. They’d gained 33 of these 45 video games, solely dropping 4 instances. That’s only one extra defeat in 45 than they recorded amongst their last 12 video games.
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