There arguably hasn’t been an even bigger gulf in high quality between these two sides in current reminiscence. Liverpool sit six factors clear on the high of the Premier League desk, having performed a sport lower than their title rivals. Man United, in the meantime, are down in 14th.
Life below Ruben Amorim hasn’t gone in line with plan for the reason that Portuguese supervisor changed Erik ten Hag. The Crimson 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 Crimson Devils followers to be optimistic? We’ve taken a have a look at just a few potential weaknesses.
Centre-back uncertainty
Liverpool stored a clear sheet of their last sport of 2024, beating 0-5 on the London Stadium. However it 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 exchange Gomez and is the doubtless beginning accomplice for Virgil van Dijk towards Man United.
Quansah seemed stable towards West Ham, however the Hammers provided little or no menace and Liverpool have been snug. West Ham didn’t have a single shot on track on the London Stadium.
Earlier in December although, Quansah had come off the bench for Liverpool towards Fulham and didn’t fare as effectively. He seemed shaky after approaching and was get together in charge for Rodrigo Muniz’s purpose 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 targets, together with three in the one sport he performed the total 90 minutes (a 3-3 draw with ).
Man United’s finest likelihood of beating Liverpool shall be in the event that they strike early. The Reds have conceded the opening purpose 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 shedding positions within the Premier League this season, Man United’s document when going forward is spectacular. The Crimson 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 to date this season, profitable six and drawing two.
Liverpool’s sluggish begins are additional demonstrated if you happen to break the Premier League into two a number 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 can be 11 factors worse off.
The Reds would have gained 10, drawn 4 and misplaced 4 of their 18 matches to date. If we have a look at second halves alone, Liverpool can be seven factors clear on the high. They’d have 13 wins, 4 attracts and one defeat, fairly near their precise document after 18 video games. So, Man United simply want to verify they’ve received a large enough half-time lead. Straightforward, proper?
Left-back struggles
One other subject 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 scuffling with health. When Robertson did get a while off, it was as a result of he was suspended after his pink card towards .
Whereas Trent Alexander-Arnold goes from energy to energy, Robertson isn’t the attacking or defensive drive he as soon as was. He’s nonetheless good, however he’s lots simpler to get at than he was. Towards 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 towards 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 instantly concerned in 5 targets 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 below 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 combating 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 shedding to Atalanta within the Europa League quarter-finals.
A 50% win price by itself isn’t too dangerous. 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 unbelievable 73.3%. They’d gained 33 of these 45 video games, solely shedding 4 occasions. That’s only one extra defeat in 45 than they recorded amongst their last 12 video games.
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