Who: Manchester United vs Liverpool
What: Premier League
The place: Previous Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, Might 3 at 3:30pm (14:30 GMT)
How one can observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 11:30 GMT prematurely of our reside textual content commentary stream.
Manchester United host previous rivals Liverpool for a sport that would show essential within the battle for Champions League qualification.
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United have improved significantly beneath caretaker boss Michael Carrick, who took cost following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.
They sit third within the desk, three factors forward of Liverpool, and want two extra factors to secure a top-five finish and a spot amongst Europe’s elite subsequent season.
Liverpool come into the match on the again of three successive Premier League wins.
United boss Carrick relishes ‘particular’ Liverpool rivalry
Carrick believes Manchester United towards Liverpool is at all times a “standout” fixture although neither of the golf equipment are difficult for the Premier League title this season.
“Actually one in all my favorite video games, doubtless it’s a standout sport,” the United boss mentioned. “There’s large video games and massive rivalries that we’ve got with different groups, however definitely this one is correct up there.
“The historical past, the ups and downs the previous has produced in all these video games and the joy and leisure, and the emotion, which is a big a part of it. It makes it a very particular sport.”
The previous United midfielder mentioned the membership had made nice strides since final season, after they completed a depressing fifteenth within the desk, 42 factors behind champions Liverpool.
“I simply assume this in all probability exhibits the enhancements of the group, actually, and getting stronger,” he mentioned.
“And to be coming into this sport in such a superb place, on the again of excellent outcomes, and making an attempt to realize and transferring ahead.
“So, absolutely conscious of the scenario within the league and the way shut it’s between us. However that’s not one thing, actually, we’ve targeted on going into this sport. I believe it’s a one-off sport.”
Fernandes and the artwork of the help as report beckons
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is one help away from the single-season report of 20 shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Carrick believes Fernandes ought to be rewarded with the league’s Participant of the Yr award for his performances this season.
“Hopefully he does [win it],” Carrick mentioned after Monday’s 2-1 win over Brentford.
“He deserves it for the affect he has had and the moments he’s created, whether or not it’s creating or scoring or having different affect throughout the group. He’s had a giant season.”
Salah dominated out of United sport however will return earlier than finish of season
Liverpool ahead Mohamed Salah will miss Sunday’s sport attributable to a muscle damage, however supervisor Arne Slot confirmed on Friday that he was anticipated to return earlier than the tip of the season.
Salah was compelled off throughout Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace final week with a hamstring concern, prompting fears it might finish his marketing campaign and probably his Anfield profession, with the Egyptian set to depart on the finish of the marketing campaign.
Liverpool mentioned on Wednesday the damage was not as severe as initially feared and that Salah ought to function once more earlier than the marketing campaign concludes.
“As we all know from Mo [Salah], he’s at all times working extremely exhausting when he’s match but additionally when he’s injured to be again as quickly as potential,” Slot advised reporters.
“We anticipate him to be again for the ultimate a part of the season however not for Sunday [against Man Utd].
“In all methods, it’s a large aid that his damage is minor, so he is ready to play for us and on the World Cup. If ever there was a participant that deserves a giant send-off, it’s positively Mo.”
‘I’ve seen how good they’re’
Slot praised Carrick for bettering United and burdened the significance of the sport.
“We are conscious of the truth that it’s a very large sport, not solely as a result of we play United but additionally to qualify for Champions League and to get the very best potential place within the league desk,” Slot mentioned.
“We at all times know that they’re actually good however now they’re displaying it within the league desk. It is perhaps a little bit of a bonus that they solely play as soon as per week.
“When we’ve got performed them each time, I’ve seen how good they’re and now they’ve, particularly beneath Michael Carrick, grow to be extra constant of their outcomes.”
Head-to-head
The 2 golf equipment have met on 243 events, with Manchester United successful 92 video games to Liverpool’s 82, whereas 71 of the matches ended as attracts.
Final 5 encounters:
- October 19, 2025: Liverpool 1-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
- January 05, 2025: Liverpool 2-2 Man Utd (Premier League)
- September 01, 2024: Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool (Premier League)
- April 07, 2024: Man Utd 2-2 Liverpool (Premier League)
- March 17, 2024: Man Utd 4-3 Liverpool (FA Cup quarterfinal)
What occurred within the final sport between the 2 sides?
Harry Maguire scored a late winner as United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in October to inflict a then fourth straight defeat on the champions.
Bryan Mbeumo put United in entrance after two minutes and though Cody Gakpo equalised within the 78th minute, Maguire grabbed his membership’s first win at Anfield since 2016 with an 84th-minute header.
United’s staff information
Carrick mentioned ahead Matheus Cunha had returned to coaching after a current damage setback and may function and he additionally mentioned he was hopeful that Luke Shaw can be match sufficient to play.
Matthijs de Ligt continues to be working his manner again to full health and won’t be concerned towards Liverpool.
Predicted beginning XI:
Lammens (goalkeeper); Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Liverpool’s staff information
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker continues to be out with an damage, however Slot mentioned he’s “very shut” to with the ability to practice with the squad once more.
Deputy keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili can also be sidelined for a number of weeks after sustaining a knee wound within the Merseyside derby win over Everton in April, so third-choice stopper Freddie Woodman is ready to proceed in objective after impressing within the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace final weekend.
Together with Salah, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike are additionally unavailable attributable to damage – with the latter set to overlook the World Cup with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Left-back Milos Kerkez is a doubt as he has been nursing a knock.
Predicted beginning XI:
Woodman (goalkeeper); Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
