How Manchester United could line up against Liverpool

Manchester United will be the latest team to attempt to stop the Liverpool juggernaut when they visit the home of their greatest rivals on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Devils are responsible for the only blot on Liverpool's Premier League copybook this season, recording a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford - the only one of the leaders' 21 outings so far that they have failed to win.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side travel to Anfield sitting 27 points adrift of their hosts and without an away goal in any competition so far this calendar year.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how United could line up for the contest.

Out: Paul Pogba (ankle), Scott McTominay (knee), Marcos Rojo (muscle), Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring) Doubtful: Marcus Rashford (back), Luke Shaw (hamstring), Eric Bailly (fitness), Timothy Fosu-Mensah (fitness)

> Click here for Manchester United's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

United's big concern ahead of this match surrounds top scorer Marcus Rashford, who was forced off just 16 minutes after coming off the bench during the midweek FA Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Solskjaer admitted that the gamble of bringing Rashford on as a sub had "backfired", and in his pre-match press conference suggested that he did not expect the 19-goal forward to recover in time to face Liverpool.

However, it would not be the first time that Solskjaer has attempted to pull the wool over the opposition's eyes with an injury doubt to a key player; in the reverse fixture he claimed that David de Gea would not be able to play, only for the Spaniard to start at Old Trafford.

Reports suggest that Rashford will play through the pain barrier, and considering the magnitude of the game United are likely to allow him to do so.

The 22-year-old's importance to the team cannot be overstated, having scored the opening goal in a joint-league high six games this season, while only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has netted the winning goal on more occasions.

Should Rashford not pass a late fitness test then Mason Greenwood could come in, while Anthony Martial is expected to lead the line - that trio has scored United's last 15 Premier League goals and have netted more across all competitions this season than Liverpool's vaunted front three.

Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay remain sidelined through injury, while Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are all major doubts, meaning that Solskjaer could name an unchanged team to the one which thrashed Norwich City last time out.

One significant change which has happened since that victory is that club captain Ashley Young has left the club, leaving Harry Maguire to lead the team out as United's official new captain for the first time.

> Click here to see how Liverpool could line up for this contest