The stage is set for a fiery encounter at Old Trafford this weekend as Manchester United lock horns with Liverpool in a Premier League match with massive implications for both sides. Here’s a detailed look at the clash:

Match details ahead of Manchester United vs Liverpool clash

Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024
Time: 3:30 PM (BST)
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Competition: Premier League

Head to head

Premier League:

Manchester United: Wins – 29
Liverpool: Wins – 19
Draws: 15

Recent Form:

Manchester United: Won 1, Lost 1 in their last two meetings with Liverpool (FA Cup win, Premier League loss); Won the last encounter, a 4-3 thriller in the FA Cup quarter-final in March 2024.
Liverpool: Won their last league match, drew their last meeting with United; Drew the last Premier League meeting at Anfield in December 2023 with a score of 0-0.

Overall:

Manchester United: Holds the edge with more wins. Sources report varying numbers, but it’s around 83-91 wins for United to 71-81 for Liverpool, with the remaining matches ending in draws (around 59-69).
Liverpool: Has been dominant in recent meetings, particularly in the 2022-23 season with a famous 7-0 thrashing of United at Anfield.
United is sitting at 6th place, while Liverpool sits 1st on the table.

Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford

Tale of the Two Teams

Manchester United: The Red Devils come into the match on the back of a mixed bag of results at sixth place. A morale-boosting win against Liverpool in the FA Cup was followed by a disappointing defeat to Chelsea.

Their leaky defense (most shots conceded in Europe’s top leagues) remains a concern for manager Erik ten Hag.

Liverpool: The Reds are currently perched atop the Premier League table, boasting an almost invincible record in 2024.

Their relentless attacking style, has struck fear into opponents. However, a recent draw against United at Anfield will be a thorn in their side.

Injuries and Suspensions

Liverpool:

Thiago Alcantara (muscle injury; no indication on return date)
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota (returning to training, yet to indicate a return to play)
Stefan Bajcetic (fitness issue – currently training with yet an indication to return to play)
Ben Doak (Knee injury)

Manchester United:

Luke Shaw (muscle injury, no expected date on return)
Victor Lindelof (hamstring injury – expected to return on the 30th April)

Key players to watch

Manchester United:

Bruno Fernandes: The Portuguese maestro remains United’s creative spark. Watch for his passes, set-pieces, and ability to unlock Liverpool’s defense.
Raphael Varane: United’s defense has been leaky, but Varane’s leadership and experience will be crucial to containing Liverpool’s potent attack.
Erik ten Hag (Manchester United Manager): His tactics and ability to motivate his players will be under scrutiny, especially with United’s inconsistent form and recent performance against Chelsea.

Liverpool:

Mohamed Salah: No surprise here. The Egyptian King is in top scoring form and will be looking to continue his dominance against United.
Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool’s defensive rock will be tasked with shutting down United’s attackers, particularly Fernandes.
Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool Manager): Under the guidance of Klopp, Liverpool will aim for another win at Old Trafford to keep their spot as league leaders in this tactical match up.

How to watch the Manchester United vs Liverpool match

Catch the Premier League game on some of the following platforms:

TV channels:

South Africa – SuperSport (channel 203)
UK – Sky Sports Premier League channel
US – NBC Sports

Online streaming:

Showmax: This streaming service might be showing the match, but double-check their schedule for confirmation.
Watch live online via NBC.com & Peacock Premium
Sky Sports streaming services

Predictions and Odds

Prediction:

Experts favor Liverpool due to their superior form. However, Old Trafford has proven to be a happy hunting ground for United against their rivals. The return of key players for both teams will likely lead to an open, attacking contest.

Score Prediction: Sports Mole predicts a 1-3 victory for Liverpool, while the Opta Analyst supercomputer gives Liverpool a slight edge (44.0% win probability) over United (27.9%).

This match promises to be a blockbuster encounter, with Champions League qualification and the Premier League title both on the line. The atmosphere at Old Trafford is sure to be electric, and fans can expect a fiercely contested battle between two of England’s most historic clubs.