This is going to be so much fun. Sports fans will definitely be tuning in this coming Sunday as arch-rivals Liverpool and Manchester United square off in a pivotal Premier League matchup. Only two points separate the two sides in the league table and with Champions League qualification at stake in this match, expect both squads to lay it all on the line at Anfield.
Read on below for a preview of this showdown between England’s two winningest sides and while you’re at it, you can check out our Gran Clasico preview as Real Madrid and Barcelona renew their bitter rivalry on the La Liga stage.
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Liverpool vs. Manchester United Betting Preview
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
When: Sunday, March 22, 9:30 AM ET
Line: Manchester United (+250) at Liverpool (-107), tie +225; total: 2.5 – view all EPL lines
What’s At Stake
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Liverpool can leapfrog Manchester United into fourth place in the league table with a victory on Sunday. The Red Devils, on the other hand, can cement their place in the top four with a win this coming weekend. If results go United’s way, the Red Devils can find themselves in sole possession of second place, jumping ahead of rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.
Betting on Liverpool
Liverpool moved to within two points of the much-coveted Champions League places after eking out a narrow 1-0 victory over Swansea City on Sunday. Jordan Henderson grabbed the winner in the 68th minute to help the Reds grab the precious win and stretch their Premier League unbeaten run to 13 games.
It’s really quite remarkable how the Reds have managed to turn their season around. They looked dead in the water when they lost to Manchester United at Old Trafford in December but since then, they have gone undefeated as they racked up 10 wins and three draws in their next 13 league matches.
Providing the impetus for their impressive run is their excellent defense. The Reds have conceded just eight goals during this period, recording a total of eight clean sheets in the process. Liverpool’s shutout victory over Swansea was their sixth consecutive clean sheet away from home. The Reds have accomplished that feat in the top flight just two times before, doing it back in 1966 and 1972.
Their tight defense will serve them good heading into their all-important showdown with Manchester United. The Reds know full well the capabilities of the United offense, suffering a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Red Devils in their first league meeting this season.
With that said, this Liverpool squad is not the same team that was humiliated at Old Trafford three months ago. Since that defeat to United, the Reds have outscored their Premier League opponents, 24-8. Liverpool also has had some form of success against Manchester United in recent times, winning two of their last three league meetings, grabbing the double against them last season.
Liverpool will bank on Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard to lead the attack for the Reds. They lead the team in scoring this season, netting 10 goals apiece. Gerrard will be desperate to deliver a match-winning performance as this will be the last time he’ll face rivals Manchester United in the Premier League.
Manchester United solidified its place in the top four with a resounding 3-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday. It was a huge bounce-back victory for the Red Devils who were coming off a shock FA Cup quarterfinal defeat to Arsenal a week ago.
Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney scored the goals for the Red Devils who are now just two points behind Manchester City for second place in the league table. United can’t rest easy, though in the race for European places, as their bitter rivals Liverpool are lurking right behind them in the team standings in fifth place with 54 points to their name.
That sets it up quite nicely for their crucial clash with the Reds this coming Sunday. Liverpool may be the in-form team at the moment, grabbing 16 points out a possible 18 but United aren’t far behind taking 13 points in their last six matches.
Manager Louis van Gaal fancies his team’s chances of grabbing all three points at Anfield because of the excellent play of Wayne Rooney. The England captain has been on a scoring tear for United of late, scoring three goals in the Red Devils’ last three league matches. Rooney is United’s leading goal-scorer this season with 13 to his name.
Aside from Rooney’s return to form, van Gaal will also be delighted with his team’s performance on the defensive end. They have not conceded in their last three league games, outscoring their opponents, 6-0. That will come in handy against a Liverpool attack that has already scored 43 goals this season, sixth-best in the Premier League.
Manchester United are 4-1 in their last five matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Liverpool and Manchester United cancel each other out in an entertaining 2-2 draw (+225).
