Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. There is plenty on the line in the 170th league meeting between these arch-rivals, who are separated by just a couple of points in the race to finish second. The title may be out of reach for both, but there will be no love lost in this opening top-flight fixture of the weekend.

United currently occupy second place after picking up a late 3-2 win over Crystal Palace a week ago, having temporarily fallen a spot below Liverpool following the Reds' straightforward win over Newcastle United at Anfield. Defeat for either of these sides this afternoon, though, and all of a sudden they are back looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack, with a top-four spot yet to be assured.

MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Young; Matic, McTominay; Mata, Sanchez, Rashford; Lukaku

SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Lindelof, Shaw, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard

Starting with a look at the home team, Jose Mourinho has made three changes to the side that beat Crystal Palace 3-2 on Monday night. The big news is that Paul Pogba misses out entirely for the Red Devils - a big loss for Mourinho, regardless of the questions being asked of the French midfielder in recent weeks. Scott McTominay is therefore given his biggest test yet in central midfield, alongside the more experienced Nemanja Matic.

Eric Bailly has passed a fitness test and starts at the back for United, meanwhile, linking up with Chris Smalling, while Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford also come into the side. It is a rare start for the latter, who has played a peripheral role since December, but this is a huge occasion for the England World Cup hopeful to prove himself all over again. The three players to make way are Pogba, Victor Lindelof and Jesse Lingard, with the latter two named on the bench.

There is a return for Marouane Fellaini on the bench, five weeks on from his last appearance in a United shirt, but a number of other key men miss out entirely for the hosts. As well as being without Pogba, Mourinho also cannot call upon the likes of Anthony Martial, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Daley Blind. One player who does start this afternoon, though, is a certain Alexis Sanchez, who has not exactly justified his hefty wages since arriving in January - one goal and no assists for him in seven matches.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Can, Milner; Mane, Salah, Firmino

SUBS: Mignolet, Wijnaldum, Gomez, Henderson, Lallana, Solanke, Matip

In terms of the visitors, Jurgen Klopp has restored his big-name players following the dead rubber against Porto in midweek. The German was given the luxury of rotating his side for that last-16 second-leg tie, having done the hard work three weeks prior with a five-goal win in Portugal, explaining the five changes made between fixtures. Among those to return, of course, is Mohamed Salah - arguably the Premier League's player of the season thus far.

No surprise to see Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson return to the backline, either, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has blossomed on the opposite flank to crossing specialist Robertson and also comes back into the starting XI. Further forward, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is given the nod as the carrier in a midfield three, where he will link up with the vastly experienced James Milner and soon-to-be free agent Emre Can.

So five changes made by Klopp in all, and he also has Georginio Wijnaldum back in his matchday squad following the Dutchman's recent spell out through illness. Somewhat surprisingly, skipper Jordan Henderson - one appearance short of becoming the 14th Liverpool player to feature 200 times for the club in the Premier League - is overlooked for selection this afternoon. The Englishman did pick up a knock against Porto, but Klopp appears to have favoured Can, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain today.

He may not have enjoyed the best run of form of late, but the absence of Paul Pogba from Manchester United's squad this afternoon is still a real blow for Jose Mourinho. The Frenchman drops out as one of three changes from the dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace, while visitors Liverpool make five alterations on the back of their goalless midweek draw with Porto - Mohamed Salah, in the form of his life, among those to return.

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Strangely enough, Liverpool head into this match feeling buoyed despite being a couple of points behind their opponents. Mourinho must feel a little hard done by, in fairness, as he has guided the Red Devils to second place and on the brink of a last-eight spot in the Champions League. Throw a favourable FA Cup quarter-final draw into the mix, and this could turn out to be a fairly impressive campaign for United in the Portuguese's second season at the helm.

United have been the second-most consistent side in the division over the opening 29 games of the campaign, and are now favourites to finish as 'best of the rest' behind runaway leaders Manchester City. Of course, having spent big once again in the summer, Mourinho was expected to come out on top in the Premier League this term, but the Portuguese will no doubt feel confident that his side are well positioned to offer up more of a challenge next time around.

After winning three of their last four games, United have successfully managed to stay afloat of the chasing pack to hold on to second place. The wheels did threaten to fall off a few weeks back when losing to Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the space of 10 days - both those games coming away from Old Trafford - but they have since steadied things by picking up a huge win over Chelsea here before overcoming Crystal Palace 3-2.

As poor as United were for large parts of that match at Selhurst Park, they must be given credit for somehow snatching not just one point but all three. Nemanja Matic was the hero of the day, netting in added time to keep United in second place and ensuring that they have some momentum on their side for this huge showdown with Liverpool. The schedule has been pretty intense for the Red Devils, but they do not play again in the Premier League for another few weeks after this.

Attention instead turns to other competitions, with Sevilla visiting here in midweek for a nicely-poised last-16 second leg in the Champions League - 0-0 in that one after 90 minutes - and Brighton & Hove Albion to arrive in a week's time in the FA Cup quarter-finals. It would not be underplaying it to suggest that this is a truly massive week for Mourinho, whose second season at Old Trafford could well be defined over these next seven days. The cups are now United's only hope of picking up silverware this term.

United have lost only once at home in all competitions this term, going down to Manchester City in a game that killed off their title aspirations for good. Sixteen of those matches have ended in victory, ensuring that Mourinho's men are now eight points better off than at the same stage 12 months ago. The key, in many ways, has been shaking off the lesser sides on home soil - case in point being that straightforward win over Huddersfield Town here recently.

The bad news for Mourinho, however, is that he has only got the better of opposite number Klopp once in eight previous encounters, although four of those have ended all square. It has been a mixed campaign for the Portuguese is many ways, with the Red Devils' campaign now being defined by how they perform in the Champions League and FA Cup. A season of no silverware, after being backed last summer, will not be acceptable when finishing so far behind Man City.

DID YOU KNOW? Romelu Lukaku has scored 99 goals in the Premier League and will become the fifth-youngest player to reach 100 if he nets this afternoon. The Belgian will also become the second player to reach that milestone figure against Liverpool this season, with Harry Kane doing likewise recently. Lukaku has scored four in four at Old Trafford, too, so he could well play a key part in this contest.

Romelu Lukaku had failed to score in 10 matches against fellow top-six opposition, and did not even manage to find the target, prior to the recent 2-1 win over Chelsea here. That was a huge afternoon not just for Manchester United by also the Belgian, who still has a long way to go to rubbish the tag of flat-track bully. Another goal today and he really will silence his critics.

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Only Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have accrued more points than Liverpool over the last six matches, though the Reds have still be unable to climb above United. For more than 48 hours, at least, as last weekend's home win over Newcastle United - as professional a display you are likely to see - took them up to second place prior to the Red Devils' trip to Selhurst Park. 'A race for second' may not get the pulses racing, but it would be a big achievement for Klopp.

The win over Newcastle was Liverpool's third on the bounce in the Premier League and, going further back, they have lost just one of their last 20 since October 22, coming in shock circumstances away at a badly out-of-form Swansea City side. While United may have stayed two points in front heading into this fixture, more importantly is that fifth-placed Chelsea are seven points further back. Another season on Champions League football awaits for Klopp's men.

Not since 2009 have Liverpool contested Champions League football in back-to-back campaigns, and as things stand they will fancy their chances of going all the way in this year's competition. The Reds are one of four teams in the proverbial hat for the quarter-finals, having eased their way past Porto over two legs. Do not be deceived by the nature of the goalless draw against the Portuguese giants this week - the hard work was done last month at the Estadio do Dragao.

Liverpool are now unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions following that professional display against Porto, keeping five clean sheets in that spell. That is a huge achievement for the Merseysiders, as it was no so long ago they were written-off completely due to their inability to defend. It is almost as it the arrival of £75m defender Virgil van Dijk has made them more solid at the back! Now, though, the Van Dijk-Dejan Lovren axis faces its biggest test.

With Naby Keita also incoming from RB Leipzig, and a number of other big names linked, it is little wonder that supporters are getting so excited. This is all about the here and now, though, and Liverpool have lost only two of their last 27 matches in all competitions, with those defeats coming in back-to-back matches at the end of January. They have just Chelsea to face among their top-six rivals after today, too, so there is a chance to build more momentum.

Liverpool are the division's most in-form team over the last 10 matches, in fact, accumulating even more points than runaway leaders Manchester City in that time. Fourteen wins from their last 20 is a good return and yet, to come back to that previous point, they are still behind Man United - despite all the criticism aimed towards the Red Devils, and Mourinho in particular, they have been fairly consistent over the duration of the campaign.

The 34 goals scored by Liverpool on their travels is matched only by Ligue 1 side Lyon in Europe's top-five leagues, meanwhile, and the Reds have also managed to win their last three away games, scoring an unanswered 10 goals in that time. It goes without saying, really, that Mohamed Salah - a player whose valuation was questioned when he arrived from Roma last summer, remember - has played a key part in this recent winning run.

The Egyptian forward has scored in five successive Premier League games, while attacking partner Sadio Mane has five in five overall. Roberto Firmino, too, has stepped things up following Philippe Coutinho's departure in January; the trio forming one of the most formidable forward lines on the continent right now. The question now is whether they can break down United's defence - the reward if they do, and can hold on at the other end, is a spot in second place.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! This is the 170th meeting between Manchester United and Liverpool in league competition, with the Red Devils edging it 67 wins to their rivals' 55. The last four encounters have finished all square, meanwhile, including that stalemate on Merseyside five months ago when David de Gea starred - again - and Jose Mourinho came in for some serious criticism for the tactics deployed.

With kickoff at Old Trafford now just a couple of minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Jose Mourinho: "For me, it's just a big match between two historical clubs not just in England but the world and in this moment important for top four, important for second, but I still don't look to some matches as special opponents. It's just a big match because we are speaking about two big clubs. I want to win of course, it's a big match, big opponent, it's the team just behind us. It's a team that is already in the Champions League last eight so of course it's a big match, but I'm not very good on that rivalry. Every opponent is a rival."

Jurgen Klopp: "It's a good moment to go there but still unbelievably difficult. They have quality and it's an advantage for them to be at home. It's our job to level that. They're a very experienced team with a very experienced manager. It's quite a job to do. Two very good football teams will face each other. I hope all my players are involved in our defending. If someone says we have parked the bus I have no problem with that but we want to bring our football on the pitch as well because we know we're difficult to cope with. It will be a big fight but hopefully it ends with a positive result for us."

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KICKOFF! Great atmosphere inside Old Trafford for this 170th league meeting between Manchester United and Liverpool. In case you were unaware, these two teams quite simply do not like each other! What an afternoon we are in store for.

Sanchez attempts to close down Liverpool's centre-backs but soon realises he is on his own in doing so. The Chilean then appeared to ask his teammates whether they were going to push up high or allow the Reds to pass it around - strange.

That game has yet to really settle down, but that was to be expected in a fixture of this magnitude. Liverpool now being allowed to knock the ball around just inside the United half; the big question is whether they can feed Salah, Firmino and Mane.

Not a lot to report back on in the opening seven minutes of the contest. Liverpool had a turn bossing possession and now United are doing likewise, with neither side able to really get the ball into the final third of the field.

Firmino attempts to find Mane through the middle when he had Salah breaking down the right - bad choice. Looking at the possession stats, the visitors have seen three-quarters of the ball in the early stages here, which is quite surprising.

Rashford unlucky after getting to the ball first but failing to keep it in play. Both sides struggling to really keep a hold of the ball so far, but in many ways that is what many expected due to the tension that comes with this fixture.

What a finish from Marcus Rashford! The Englishman may have been frustrated by a lack of minutes over the past couple of months, but there is no way Mourinho can leave him out on the basis of this goal. Lukaku with the flick-on, allowing Rashford to nod the ball forward, before cutting inside on his right and bending it out of Karius's reach - goal number five of the Premier League campaign.

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That was the first shot of any sort in that match, with the finish belying the quality of the contest up until that point. Alexander-Arnold should have done better, being bullied by Rashford after finding himself slightly out of position.

Firmino does well to keep the ball in play when many had fallen asleep. The Brazilian sent a decent delivery into the box, too, with the ball inches above the head of Mane at the back post. Up the other end, Robertson gets across to deny Rashford.

Man United have taken the lead in 352 previous home games and lost just three of them, most recently to Liverpool. Still just the one shot of any sort at Old Trafford this afternoon, leading to the game's breakthrough goal.

A quarter of the way through what has been a quiet contest, with Rashford's well-taken strike 14 minutes in proving to be the only piece of quality thus far. Klopp will not be too concerned at the moment; still plenty of time to turn things around.

CHANCE! Good defending from Valencia to cut out a pass intended for Firmino around the back. From the resulting corner, Van Dijk fails to find the target from five yards. Under pressure from Matic, he could only meet the cross with his shoulder and not his head.

Many have questioned why Rashford has not started more games this season - the opening 26 minutes have done little to quieten those queries. Yet another brilliantly composed finish from the Englishman, tucking home a loose ball after Lukaku's through-ball was cut out. Two chances, two goals... game over?

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Good cross into the middle of the United box is cut out before a player in white could convert. I said 10 minutes ago Klopp will not be too concerned; maybe he will be now, as Rashford has given United some breathing space at Old Trafford.

YELLOW CARD! Half an hour in and Rashford now has a yellow card to go with his couple of goals. The forward slid in on Milner, giving away a free kick that the Reds could not convert from. United then clear away from the corner.

SAVE! Technically a first save of the afternoon for De Gea to make, but he barely had to break stride to keep out Firmino's shot from the edge of the box. The Reds in desperate need of some inspiration here after a slow start.

SAVE! Roberto Firmino with another straight shot from the edge of the box. This one had a little more conviction, but it will require a lot more than than for David de Gea's net to be breached for just the seventh time here this season.

Less than 10 minutes to go until half time and United are in complete control of this match. That will all change if Liverpool can find a way through, but that does not look like happening on the basis of the opening 36 minutes.

YELLOW CARD! A frustrated Oxlade-Chamberlain is cautioned for going through his man. Bailly initially does well but then ponders his next move for too long, allowing Firmino to pounce, but the Reds just unable to find that killer final pass at the moment.

CHANCE! Glorious chance for Mata to effectively kill off this contest. The Spaniard is picked out unmarked six yards from goal but, rather than controlling the ball and getting a shot away, he instead went for an overhead kick. Bad contact in the end, with the ball flying wide of the target.

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Mata may have missed the target from that big chance, but the home fans certainly appreciate the build-up play. Liverpool caught completely cold by their opponents this afternoon, though while it remains at just 2-0 this one is not quite over.

United need to remain focused now as we enter the final stages of the first half. Young with some solid defending to cut out the cross, with Salah finding himself in some space at the back post. The Egyptian forward has had a quiet first half.

Lovren gets his head to the corner but cannot send it goalwards. Not too dissimilar to Van Dijk's miss earlier in the half, coming just a couple of minutes before Rashford's second goal of the contest to put the hosts in complete control.

Marcus Rashford's first-half brace has put Manchester United well on course to all three points as we reach the midway point at Old Trafford. Liverpool have no really turned up, getting in just a couple of tame shots from range, and now have it all to do in the second 45.

Rashford scored his first goal of the match from the first attempt of any note at either end, nodding Romelu Lukaku's flick-on into his path before cutting inside Trent Alexander-Arnold and firing home with his right foot. Goal number five of the Premier League campaign for Rashford soon became six, and it was another composed finish from the youngster as he swept home the loose ball after Lukaku's through-ball was cut out.

The Englishman's second goal came moments after Virgil van Dijk had squandered a big chance at the other end of the field, failing to make proper contact with a corner when swooping in from five yards out. That would prove to be the Reds' only real opportunity in the first half, managing just a couple of weak shots from range through Roberto Firmino.

United could well have been home and dry before the interval, as Juan Mata sent an overhead kick narrowly wide at the end of a flowing move when he had time to first bring the ball under control. The Red Devils rather comfortable at the break, then, but we can surely expect an improved showing from Liverpool once play resumes. Let us remind ourselves of both teams' benches...

BENCH WATCH!

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Lindelof, Shaw, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Wijnaldum, Gomez, Henderson, Lallana, Solanke, Matip

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RESTART! You have to go back to 1984 to find the last time Manchester United last a home league game at Old Trafford after taking a lead into half time. The odds very much stacked against Liverpool, who are unchanged for the second half.

The visitors attempting to show a little more urgency from the off, but a dreadful pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain put paid to that. Klopp will likely make a change or two in the next 10 minutes if the game continues in this manner.

Lallana among those to have been sent out to warm up by Klopp, so we could see a change shortly. United's gameplan working a treat at the moment, stifling Liverpool and looking very comfortable with their two-goal advantage.

Van Dijk sends a header on to the roof of the net after climbing highest to meet the corner. Young then had his hands all over Salah inside the box - had the Egyptian gone to ground the visitors may well have been awarded a penalty kick.

Mourinho looks the more likely of the two managers to blink first when it comes to a change, with that first alteration about to be made - Fellaini possibly to grab more control of midfield. Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot is blocked by Matic.

United a tad fortunate for a second time in this second half as Robertson's cross hit Valencia's arm. Seen them given, though on this occasion the referee was probably right to let play continue. Still awaiting that United change.

Liverpool starting to turn the screw a little now. It is all very scrappy at Old Trafford but United are doing enough to keep Salah, Firmino and Mane quiet. Mourinho will not breathe easily unless his side net a third goal of the afternoon.

Smalling pushes Salah to the ground and somehow gets away with it. This second half has been very scrappy and bereft of any chances, which will suit the home side - leading through two Rashford strikes - down to the ground.

LIVERPOOL SUB! Jurgen Klopp makes his first change of the afternoon, bringing on Adam Lallana for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in what is essentially a like-for-like change in midfield. Will fresh legs equal fresh impetus?

Mourinho criticised for his tactics at Anfield in October but there can be no complaints this afternoon. Still 25 minutes to play but his side are cruising towards the finish line at the moment, with Liverpool not really showing any signs of scoring.

It has now been more than half an hour since the last shot on target from either side. Not been a classic Premier League affair, though this heavyweight fixture very rarely is these days. United fans will not care whatsoever, of course!

Now then! The atmosphere around Old Trafford has completely changed with one swipe of Bailly's boot. Mane did well to find a yard out wide and swing the ball towards the front post, where Bailly was waiting to rather comically send the ball past De Gea. Think it came off the defender's calf in the end.

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How often do we see this? A team a couple of goals ahead and bossing a game, before conceding and then being left hanging on. United next exactly having to defend for their lives just yet, but we can expect Liverpool to go all-out attack now.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Rashford makes way for Fellaini, as Mourinho shores up the middle of the pitch. A standing ovation for the Englishman, who as things stand will be the matchwinner in the 170th league meeting between these sides.

A little over 15 minutes left to go at Old Trafford and it is still very much all to play for. Liverpool seeing plenty of the ball since pulling a goal back, but United forming a brick wall to keep their opponents out. Can the hosts see things through?

Both managers with a huge part to play in the remainder of the contest. Fellaini and Lallana the players brought on for United and Liverpool respectively so far - who will be next to join them? Lallana's cross goes behind for the Reds' ninth corner.

Still technically have not had a shot on target for around 50 minutes or so now. Bailly's own goal has given third-placed Liverpool a real lifeline in this match, setting up the grandstand finale we were after at Old Trafford.

Klopp absolutely furious with the officials after a decision goes against Lovren for his double foul on Fellaini. Craig Pawson having a few words with the German, reminding him that he cannot leave his technical area.

Done Klopp a slight disservice there - it was Lovren he was having a pop at, not the officials. Young sends a free kick into the middle, slightly out of Marouane Fellaini's reach, with Karius able to get two big fists to the ball.

LIVERPOOL SUB! Dominic Solanke has been thrown on in place of Robertson, as Klopp goes all out for a goal. Prior to that, Wijnaldum - doubtful today due to a recent illness - replaced Alexander-Arnold. All three Liverpool changes made.

Mata's shot is blocked as United go in search of a third goal. Liverpool have not registered a shot since Bailly put into his own net to drag them back into the contest. Milner with a delivery into the box, which Valencia was there to clear.

The referee stops play due to matters boiling over a little. Solanke caught Smalling in the groin area and a couple of players came face-to-face - handbags, more than anything. Now just a couple of minutes of normal time left to play here.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Mourinho able to run down the clock by making his second change of the afternoon, bringing on Lingard for Mata. Antonio Valencia is cautioned for a high boot on Sadio Mane, catching his opponent close to the shoulder.

A collective gasp let out around Old Trafford as the fourth official holds up his board, indicating a further six minutes of time. Liverpool have created so very little in this second half; they must now launch the ball into the box.

McTominay sends the ball around the back for Lukaku to chase down, but Lovren got across to prevent the Belgian from charging through on goal. Still, that has eaten up a further minute or so and we are now in the dying embers.

The whistle sounds for full time, meaning that Manchester United hold a five-point advantage over Liverpool in the race for second place. Another huge home win for the Red Devils, hot on the heels of overcoming Chelsea here by the same scoreline, with Marcus Rashford's brace proving the difference in the end.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Old Trafford. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while all the fallout from the Theatre of Dreams can be found elsewhere on the site in due course. Thanks for joining!