Andy Robson’s Best Bets: Liverpool vs Manchester United

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Liverpool vs Manchester United Date: Sunday 17th December Kick Off: 16:30 Competition: Premier League Watch Live: Sky Sports Football

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Liverpool take on fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday and rarely has the biggest fixture on the English football calendar looked like more of a foregone conclusion.

United entered last season’s corresponding clash on Merseyside in a position of strength having just lifted the Carabao Cup, though they still succumbed to a record-breaking 7-0 reverse against their rampant hosts.

That was the Mancunians’ second heavy defeat on the spin at Anfield while four of their last five encounters with Liverpool overall have ended in embarrassment. The aggregate score from those meetings was a galling 21-4 in the Reds’ favour and both sets of supporters expect Liverpool to run riot again on Sunday.

United have routinely fallen to pieces on the road against high-calibre opponents under Erik ten Hag’s watch and shorn of a long list of injured players – as well as suspended skipper Bruno Fernandes – the patched-up Red Devils’ hopes of stopping the rot are slim.

Liverpool have won 11 competitive fixtures out of 11 at Anfield since the summer, scoring 34 times along the way and the Reds’ ferocious frontline will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of tearing into their rival’s brittle defence.

Unsurprisingly, most of the value on offer is on Liverpool’s side of the market and with proceedings expected to go to form, I’ve picked out some angles to consider.

**Best Liverpool vs Manchester United Bets **

Bet 1: Liverpool to Win to Nil – 17/10 (2.70)

Manchester United have been desperately short of cutting edge this season and their haul of 18 goals is the 14th-worst tally in the Premier League and is comparable to the output of the teams loitering in and around the bottom three.

Big-money summer signing Rasmus Hojlund has looked the part in the Champions League, though the Dane has yet to get off the mark domestically, while Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony have chipped in with just four league goals between them since August.

United failed to score for the third time in four fixtures when they drew a blank against Bayern Munich in midweek while we have to go all the way back to Jose Mourinho’s last game in charge (Dec 16, ’18) to find their last goal at Anfield.

Only Sheffield United, Burnley and Everton (six each) have failed to find the net more often in the Premier League than ten Hag’s misfiring charges so far, so look for Liverpool to keep them off the scoresheet again on Sunday. Liverpool have so many weaknesses to prey on, it’s difficult to see how United can get a foothold in the game and the commanding Reds should be able to land their fifth victory to nil in eight games at Anfield.

Sunday’s game will also see 7,000 extra supporters crammed into a redeveloped Anfield for the first time and with extra energy to harness from what promises to be a boisterous atmosphere, Liverpool could be even more dangerous.

Bet 2: Man Utd to Receive the Most Cards – 4/6 (1.67)

A depleted Man Utd should be under the cosh from the first whistle at Anfield and with a high defensive workload anticipated for the visitors, there is scope for a sizable card count for the Red Devils. With options limited, Erik ten Hag could plump for a more combative midfield base with youngster Kobbie Mainoo partnering Sofyan Amrabat, while a backline containing impulsive fullbacks Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot could be pressured into making mistimed tackles.

United have already collected 35 bookings to Liverpool’s 28 this season, and the Manchester giants accumulated more bookings than their biggest rivals in each of the clubs’ last four meetings. Look for a similar outcome in the sides' latest head-to-head. Liverpool have a notably clean disciplinary record at Anfield this season and they have picked up fewer cards (six) in their home fixtures than any other Premier League outfit.

Jurgen Klopp’s title hopefuls have also been dominating more possession (66.1% avg per game) than anyone else at home and United’s frustration at chasing shadows should ramp up as the minutes tick by. United committed 14 fouls and collected three yellow cards when they tried to stem the flow of one-way traffic in last season’s mauling at Anfield and the pattern of Sunday’s game could be similar. In addition, Erik ten Hag’s side also picked up more cards than their hosts in each of their previous three away tests against members of the Premier League’s top six this term (Tottenham, Arsenal & Newcastle), so it’s smart to expect more of the same.

Bet 3: Diogo Dalot to Commit +1 Fouls – 2/5 (1.40)

Dalot Diogo has been one of the few United players lucky enough to avoid injury this season and only his compatriot Bruno Fernandes and keeper Andre Onana have seen more minutes in the Premier League this season. However, Dalot will start his fifth game inside two weeks on Sunday and his overuse has been impacting the energy in his performances and the timing of his tackles.

The 24-year-old might not be at peak fitness at Anfield following another taxing runaround without possession against Bayern Munich in midweek and with other defenders missing, the right-footer is likely to be deployed at left back where Mohamed Salah will be waiting to run him ragged.

Dalot has committed at least one foul in ten of his last 13 Premier League starts so look for him to match that against Liverpool. The Portuguese international has filled in on the left flank before, however, he has rarely looked comfortable there and his prospects against Salah don’t look good.

The Egyptian winger, who tends to produce save some of his best work for games against United, has been fouled by his marker at least once in ten of his last 14 outings in the Premier League, and the 31-year-old’s close control could draw overzealous challenges from Dalot.

Team News

Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold were given the evening off when Liverpool lost a dead rubber against Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday, and all four should be restored to the XI on Sunday.

Andrew Robertson is still injured, so Greek international Kostas Tsimikas will continue to deputise at left back. Alexis Mac Allister is expected to sit out the fixture due to a gash on his knee, leaving Endo to reprise his role in midfield. With Diogo Jota still recovering from a muscle strain, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez should join Mohamed Salah in Liverpool’s front three.

Jadon Sancho, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia are confirmed absentees for United as is suspended captain Bruno Fernandes after the midfielder picked up a cheap booking against Bournemouth last week.

Victor Lindelof and Mason Mount are major doubts, as are defensive duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw after both players came off injured against Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both missed the same game through illness, though Erik ten Hag will hope to have both attackers back.

Raphael Varane is in line to start for just the fifth time in the Premier League this season while teenaged midfielder Kobbie Mainoo could start for just the third time ever in the division.