‘Scared’ Man Utd face a ‘proper hiding’ against Liverpool

Liverpool vs. Man Utd

• When: Sunday 19 January
• Where: Anfield
• Kick-off time: 4.30pm (GMT)
• TV channel: Sky Sports Premier League

Manchester United could be in for a “proper hiding” as they face champions-elect Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Few believe Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side have a chance against Jurgen Klopp’s runaway league leaders who have not lost in the Premier League for over a year.

And with injuries to key players the signs are not good for United, against a Liverpool side who have won 12 league games in a row.

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Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas believes United will be there for the taking on Sunday.

“Manchester United are going there scared. For the first time in many years, you could see Liverpool giving them a proper hiding,” he said. “Man United will not want to be embarrassed, but if Liverpool score quickly and get their two full-backs bombing, it could spell trouble.”

That view is echoed by the London Evening Standard, although it notes that United are the only team to have taken points off the league leaders this term – when they held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in October.

“United’s consistently inconsistent form doesn’t bode well for a trip to Merseyside,” it says. “Liverpool haven’t lost on their own turf since April 2017 and a United side hit by injury stand little chance of changing that.”

Writing in the Daily Telegraph Jamie Carragher reflects on how the two clubs’ fortunes and roles have reversed in recent years.

“It is often suggested Manchester United in 2020 resemble Liverpool in the 1990s – expensive and underperforming, where the only signs of hope come from the emerging youngsters,” he says. “I would switch the argument. The Liverpool of 2020 has more in common with United in the early 1990s, just before Sir Alex Ferguson lifted his first title; a well-drilled, disciplined and brilliantly managed team who bought well, improved those signed and introduced academy gems at the right time.

“United have spent £840m since [Alex] Ferguson retired. What Klopp is achieving at Anfield is more a triumph of coaching and management, aided by skilled recruitment, than the flexing of financial muscle.”

Team news

With Ashley Young leaving Old Trafford, Harry Maguire has been made full time captain. Although he has been wearing the armband at times this season will don it as official skipper for the first time at Anfield.

Marcus Rashford will be given as long as possible to see if he recovers from the back injury he sustained against Wolves in midweek, but is likely to miss out along with long-term absentees Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba.

Liverpool are without Naby Keita and James Milner but Fabinho could be available for the first time since November.