Manchester United vs Liverpool Preview, Prediction, Team News and Head-to-Head
Manchester United will be looking to secure their place in next season’s Champions League elite when they host bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford this Sunday.
In what remains the most storied fixture in English football, the stakes for this Matchweek 35 clash are exceptionally high for both side’s European ambitions. The Red Devils currently occupy third place in the Premier League table with 61 points, sitting three points clear of their fourth-placed visitors.
A victory for the hosts would mathematically guarantee a top-five finish and a return to Europe’s top table, a remarkable feat for interim manager Michael Carrick, whose side has collected more points than any other team in the division since he took charge.
Manchester United vs Liverpool:Match Preview
Old Trafford has become a fortress under Carrick’s stewardship, with United winning six of their last seven home fixtures. They enter this contest on the back of consecutive 2-1 victories over Chelsea and Brentford, showing a grit and resilience that was often missing in the early stages of the campaign. However, they face a Liverpool side that has finally found its rhythm under Arne Slot.
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The Merseysiders have won their last three league outings, including a dominant 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend. While United are playing to clinch their spot, Liverpool likely need five more points from their remaining games to be absolutely certain of Champions League football, making this a pivotal encounter for the final top-four standings.
Manchester United vs Liverpool; Team News
The headline news from the Liverpool camp is the confirmed absence of Mohamed Salah, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in the win over Crystal Palace. This marks a significant blow for the visitors, as the Egyptian forward is set to leave Anfield this summer and will miss his final career appearance at Old Trafford.
“Mohamed Salah is expected to be available to play again before the end of this season,” the club confirmed.
“The issue that caused his withdrawal has now been confirmed as a minor muscle injury. It is, however, anticipated Salah will return to action ahead of 2025-26’s conclusion and his departure from the Reds this summer.”
Liverpool also have concerns in goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili sidelined and Alisson Becker rated as a major doubt, potentially leaving Freddie Woodman to continue between the posts. The visitors are also definitely without Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, and Hugo Ekitike, while Milos Kerkez faces a late fitness test.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are expected to name a largely unchanged side from the team that beat Brentford, though the defensive shape will be under scrutiny against a Liverpool attack that leads the league in expected goals from open play.
“We’re in good shape really,” Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
“Matheus has done a little bit of work, so we’re hopeful. We’re not sure but we’re hopeful.”
Manchester United vs Liverpool: Head-to-Head
Historical clashes between these two giants have been closely contested in recent years, with a trend toward high-scoring draws. In their last seven meetings across all competitions, the spoils have been shared on four occasions, while Liverpool have claimed two wins to United’s one. The Red Devils did, however, manage to secure a 2-1 victory at Anfield earlier this season in October 2025, and they are now aiming for their first league double over the Reds since the 2015/16 season. Statistically, this fixture is a goldmine for neutral fans, averaging three goals per game over the last three years, with an eighty-six percent rate of matches featuring more than two goals.
Manchester United vs Liverpool Prediction
Despite Liverpool’s high-octane attacking style, the absence of Mohamed Salah and the uncertainty surrounding their goalkeeping situation tips the scales slightly in favor of the hosts.
Manchester United have developed a knack for winning tight games by a single goal under Carrick, and the motivated atmosphere of a packed Old Trafford should provide the necessary edge. Statistical probabilities currently give United a forty-two percent chance of victory compared to Liverpool’s thirty-three percent.
A narrow two-one victory for Manchester United seems a likely outcome, a result that would spark celebrations in Manchester as they officially book their ticket back to the Champions League.
