MX23RW : Monday, January 18 20:51:12| >> :60:3437:3437:

How Liverpool could line up against Manchester United

Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool could line up for Sunday's blockbuster Premier League showdown against Manchester United at Anfield.

The champions host the league leaders on Sunday in a blockbuster showdown between English football's two most successful teams as Liverpool welcome Manchester United to Anfield.

The hosts come into the match having failed to win any of their last three league games and failing to even score in their last two, although they did return to winning ways in the FA Cup last time out.

Liverpool's blip in the Premier League has allowed Sunday's visitors to leapfrog them in the table ahead of this match, though, with Man United moving three points clear at the top by beating Burnley on Tuesday night.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Jurgen Klopp could line his side up for the mouth-watering contest.



Possible LIV XI vs. MNU

Out: Naby Keita (muscle), Diogo Jota (knee), Virgil van Dijk (knee), Joe Gomez (knee), Kostas Tsimikas (knee)
Doubtful: Joel Matip (adductor)

> Click here for Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Liverpool are hoping that Joel Matip makes a timely return for this match, after deploying a centre-back pairing of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in their last league outing.

Klopp has confirmed that Matip is "close" to being fit and that he will be assessed when he returns to training ahead of this match, but the manager also suggested that he will not take any risks over the Cameroonian's fitness.

Matip may therefore have to settle for a place on the bench, which once again leaves Klopp with a headache regarding whom to start alongside Fabinho.

Henderson is again an option but his presence in midfield was missed in the defeat to Southampton and so he could return to his favoured position, leaving Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams to battle it out for a place.

The lack of pace of those two players may cause concerns against a speedy Manchester United attack, but Klopp is down to the bare bones in terms of defensive options and it could be Phillips who gets the nod.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas remain sidelined, while this match also comes too soon for Naby Keita and Diogo Jota, but Liverpool's injury problems elsewhere have generally eased.

Thiago Alcantara is one of those to be back in the fold, and the Spain international is in line to make his home debut for the club some four months after joining.

After back-to-back blanks in the league, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were among the scorers when Liverpool returned to winning ways in the FA Cup against Aston Villa's youngsters and so they will hope to end their mini-drought in the top flight.

Xherdan Shaqiri had a marked influence on that match when he came off the bench and he has also hurt Manchester United in the past, and so he could play some part on Sunday too.

> Click here to see how Manchester United could line up for this contest


Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


ID:430738:cQx

How you voted: Liverpool vs Man Utd

Liverpool
44.7%
Draw
17.0%
Manchester United
38.3%
470
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Liverpool's Joel Matip celebrates scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on December 6, 2020
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Combined XI: Liverpool vs. Man United
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rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester UnitedMan Utd18114334241037
2Manchester CityMan City17105229131635
3Leicester CityLeicester18112533211235
4Liverpool1897237211634
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs1896333171633
6Everton1710252821732
7Chelsea1885533211229
8Southampton188552621529
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham188552521429
10Aston Villa1582529161326
11Arsenal197482019125
12Leeds UnitedLeeds187293034-423
13Crystal Palace196582233-1123
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves196492129-822
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle185581827-920
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton193882229-717
17Burnley17449922-1316
18Fulham172691425-1112
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom1825111441-2711
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1912161032-225

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