The standout fixture of the Premier League weekend comes from Anfield on Sunday (16:30) as red-hot Liverpool host a Manchester United team who are struggling to find any form under Ruben Amorim.
It has been a marvellous start to Arne Slot's first season on Merseyside as the Reds entered the weekend with a six-point cushion and are long odds-on to lift the title, while United are in the doldrums having lost five of their last six matches.
- LIVERPOOL TO WIN TO NIL
- OVER 2.5 LIVERPOOL GOALS
- VIRGIL VAN DIJK TO SCORE AT ANY TIME
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Red Devils Could Struggle To Breach Hosts
Dominant festive wins over Tottenham (6-3), Leicester (3-1) and West Ham (5-0) have kept Liverpool firmly in the Premier League driving seat and the Reds should have no problems in sweeping aside Manchester United.
Liverpool's sole league loss came at Anfield against Nottingham Forest in September but that shock defeat looks better now in the context of Forest's excellent form and they have responded by winning 10 of their last 11 home matches in all competitions.
Everything is rosy on Merseyside but all is not well in Manchester as the Red Devils have, if anything, regressed under Amorim, who is struggling to get a tune out of a squad which looks poorly suited to his 3-4-2-1 formation.
Since his November appointment, the Portuguese coach has led United to just two victories and their last three Premier League outings resulted in defeats to nil against Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle.
A clash with the Reds represents a step up in class and it's not one that United have relished in recent seasons - they have not scored a goal at Anfield since December 2018.
Liverpool's defence has not been watertight of late but they kept a clean sheet against West Ham last time out and might not be overly troubled by United's profligate attack.
LIVERPOOL TO WIN TO NIL
Liverpool Should Cut Loose Again
Manchester United held Liverpool to a goalless draw in this fixture last season but it's hard to see them keeping the hosts at bay now given their respective performances over the last few weeks.
Liverpool ran out dominant 3-0 winners at Old Trafford in September and their previous two home clashes with the Red Devils resulted in 7-0 and 4-0 wins.
Spearheaded by the brilliant Mo Salah, Liverpool's attack is flying, scoring 14 goals in their last three matches, and they can find the net at least three times.
OVER 2.5 LIVERPOOL GOALS
Towering Van Dijk Looks A Set-Piece Threat
Salah and the rest of Liverpool's forwards should be licking their lips at the prospect of facing the Red Devils but Reds captain Virgil van Dijk catches the eye at bigger odds in the anytime goalscorer market.
The towering Dutchman has scored just two goals this season, against Milan in Europe and Arsenal in the Premier League, but he has the ability to create corner chaos against a United team who have looked clueless when it comes to defending set pieces this season.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK TO SCORE AT ANY TIME
