Into the red zone
Mo Salah (L) will be the go to man for Liverpool today. Lukaku has been banging them in for both club and country.
What you need to know:
- English Premier League. Old, bitter rivals Liverpool and Manchester United headline this weekend’s Premiership action with a high-stakes clash at Anfield that represents the first big test of Red Devils’ manager Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten season, and for which a loss could be the beginning of the end for Jurgen Klopp.
Manchester United face the first real test of their Premier League title ambitions against rivals Liverpool at Anfield today.
United sit second on the table - level on points with leaders Manchester City - after a superb start to the season, winning six of their seven opening games and scoring 21 goals in the process.
But Jose Mourinho’s side are yet to face any other realistic title contenders, and Liverpool will be desperate to make a statement against the Red Devils. Jurgen Klopp’s side have been thrilling and infuriating in equal measure, with the brilliance of Liverpool’s attack being hamstrung by a soft defence to sit seven points off the pace.
Still, form counts for little whenever United head to Anfield, and Liverpool know a win in their famous ground against Mourinho’s men will send a message to the rest of the top flight.
Team news
Klopp has been dealt a huge blow with the news that Sadio Mane is out for six weeks. Mane will miss this weekend’s match as well as a big clash against Tottenham, and is a doubt to face Chelsea on November 25.
Roberto Firmino was left out against the Magpies, but will likely start against United.
Midfielder Adam Lallana (thigh) is running outside again but is still several weeks from a comeback while right-back Nathaniel Clyne is also recovering well from a back injury.
Mourinho is still set to be without Paul Pogba after confirming that he thinks of the midfielder as a “long-term” injury problem, while Marouane Fellaini will also miss out after damaging his knee ligaments on international duty for Belgium.
Fellow Belgian Romelu Lukaku will likely recover from an ankle problem in time to face Liverpool. With United lacking the height of Fellaini and Pogba, Mourinho could be tempted to play a three-man defence, bring Ander Herrera into midfield for added security before throwing on the likes of Anthony Martial to make an impact in the second half.
Predicted line-ups
Liverpool starting XI:
Simon Mignolet; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno; Emre Can, Jordan Henderon, Phillipe Coutinho; Mo Salah, Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino
Man Utd starting XI:
David De Gea; Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku
