Liverpool vs Manchester United Predictions and Match Preview

Manchester United jumped to the top of the Premier League table with Tuesday’s 1-0 victory against Burnley but Liverpool have the chance to make an immediate return to the summit with Sunday’s heavyweight clash at Anfield.

Paul Pogba’s volley settled the matter at Turf Moor as United won their game in hand to go three points clear of their arch rivals.

Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Southampton means they have failed to win any of their last three Premier League games having drawn with West Brom and Newcastle.

Match information

When is it? Sunday January 17th

What time is kick-off? 16:30

Where is it being held? Anfield

Which channel is it on? Sky Sports Main Event

Who is the referee? Paul Tierney

Liverpool vs Manchester United Betting Tips

Here are our best Liverpool vs Manchester United predictions and we have hundreds of other markets available for Sunday’s game.

The lowdown

We had a clean sweep in last season’s fixture with Liverpool winning and under 3.5 goals at 6/5, by a 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 scoreline at 2/1 and to be leading 1-0 at half-time at 5/2, but Sunday’s match looks much more difficult to call.

The Merseysiders start the match as 19/20 favourites in the Liverpool vs Manchester United odds despite taking just two points from a possible nine and a defensive crisis which meant they started with holding midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho as their two centre-backs at St Mary’s.

However, the Reds have won this fixture by a couple of goals in the last two seasons and are unbeaten in their last four clashes with United and in their previous four at Anfield.

Indeed, if we include their two-legged Europa League meetings almost five years ago United have won just one of the last 10 matches so it’s small wonder they are 5/2 underdogs despite their lofty position.

#AskThiago is (𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚) here!

Favourite Beatles song, funniest teammate, dream five-a-side and cooking Scouse 🎶🥣@Thiago6 answers your questions… pic.twitter.com/jjPKkD184s

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 12, 2021

United, though, are unbeaten in more than two months having won nine of their last 11 matches and have the best form of any team whether using the six, eight or 10-game measure.

On the other hand, Jurgen Klopp’s side have dropped points just once at Anfield this season, the recent 1-1 draw with the Baggies, so it’s a confusing picture ahead of Sunday’s duel and we are loathe to make the result our headline prediction and as such we’ll be concentrating on some of the other markets for our Liverpool vs Manchester United betting tips.

The first price that caught our eye at 6/5 involves under 2.5 goals which has been the case in nine of the previous 11 games in all competitions.

A 𝘁𝗼𝗽 strike from @PaulPogba 🎯

What a moment! 👏#MUFC @RemingtonUK pic.twitter.com/ru8r6SqtWD

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 13, 2021

Liverpool’s last three outings would have paid out in this market and it’s four in five for United if we also include their Carabao Cup and FA Cup ties against Manchester City and Watford respectively.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fielded a second-string side for the win against the Hornets but were obviously at full strength for the game against City who outplayed United in a 2-0 victory.

If we add to the mix that United’s three encounters with traditional top-six sides have produced just one goal this season, 6/5 starts to look like very generous odds.

First goalscorer tips

Marcus Rashford did not have the best of games against Burnley but he still set up United’s winner for Pogba and he has a good record against the champions.

The England striker has opened the scoring in two of his last four appearances both against Liverpool and this season, so he has past and present form on his side.   

Anytime goalscorer tips

Harry Maguire was slightly unlucky to have a goal ruled out for a push in Tuesday’s win at Turf Moor and he looks great value at 11/1 to get on the scoresheet

1-0 away win… love it lads. Keep pushing 💪🔴 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/Yx0tj8e16B

— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) January 12, 2021

The United skipper scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Liverpool when playing for Leicester almost exactly two years ago and he has a habit of finding the net in away games.

Maguire’s last seven goals in all competitions have come away from home and with Liverpool playing two midfielders in the heart of defence he could get the chance to add to his tally at set-pieces.

Where the game will be won or lost

Liverpool may have won this fixture by two-goal margins in the last two seasons but that was with Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence and a passionate crowd urging them to victory.

United’s midfield in last season’s 2-0 defeat comprised Andreas Pereira, now on loan at Lazio, Fred, Nemanja Matic and Daniel James, with Antony Martial the lone striker.

Now, with Bruno Fernandes, Edinson Cavani and a rejuvenated Paul Pogba in their ranks they look a much more dangerous team and with their opponents unlikely to bring anyone in during the January transfer window, United smell an opportunity especially with centre-backs Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip out of action.

All eyes on Sunday… 👊 pic.twitter.com/A0qLPPm8B1

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 13, 2021

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said: “It is the trickiest situation you can imagine. You have three senior centre-halves and they are all injured. That doesn’t happen a lot but it happened.

“We have to deal with it and we cannot solve it in the transfer market.”

Liverpool’s problems at the back have not prevented them from getting forward and we fancy them to get at least seven corners at 13/10 just as they have done in five of their last six matches, including 10 at Southampton and seven against Tottenham.

The Reds got an average of 12 corners in their last two meetings at Anfield and have hit the +6.5 mark in six of their previous seven against United overall.

Finally, we’re going for a draw at 11/4 as the last of Liverpool v Manchester United predictions.

"We got the result we wanted so we're happy."

Paul Pogba admits he is delighted to see #MUFC at the top of the Premier League but reveals he was unhappy with some of tonight's VAR decisions in Manchester United's win at Burnley. pic.twitter.com/HUFMvSMYZJ

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 12, 2021

There has been at least one draw in each of the last four seasons and with Liverpool looking vulnerable this is the chance for United to keep their title rivals at bay or even extend their lead at the top of the table.

Liverpool have the best home record in the Premier League (W7 D1 L0) and United have the same statistics on the road, so they look evenly matched.