Written by Ciaran Coyle
One of the great rivalries in English football is renewed on Thursday evening in a game with huge significance on the Premier League top-four race as Manchester United host Liverpool.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side come into this clash on the back of their first league defeat in 15 games when Brendan Rodger’s Leicester City side came away with all three points on Tuesday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are unbeaten in their last five Premier League fixtures but have historically struggled when making the trip to Old Trafford, with their last win at the Theatre of Dreams coming back in March 2014.
Tomorrow’s home side haven’t had the best of records against Liverpool in recent years with the Red Devils only managing to emerge victorious once in their last ten attempts but United fans will feel this is their best opportunity to improve that wretched record.
Thursday’s visitors currently sit seven points off Chelsea in fourth place, with just four games to make up the difference and battle their way past both the Blues and West Ham to make it into the Champions League places.
Anything other than a win for Klopp’s side at Old Trafford would all but confirm a finish outside of the top four which would be the first time that has happened since the 15/16 Premier League season.
Team News
Solskjaer will be without captain Harry Maguire who sustained an ankle injury against Aston Villa last Sunday. There is also likely to be wholesale changes ahead of the game with the United manager deciding to field a weakened side in their last game due to fixture congestion.
Liverpool will be without January signing Ozan Kabak who missed the Red’s 2-0 win against Southampton in their last game. James Milner, Naby Keita and Ben Davies will also be unavailable for selection through injury.
Sub-edited by Cameron Winstanley
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