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Attendance: 52,916
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 23
Jan 19, 2020 at 4.30pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

2-0

van Dijk (14'), Salah (93')
FT(HT: 1-0)

How Liverpool could line up against Manchester United

Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool could line up for Sunday's Premier League showdown with Manchester United as Fabinho and Joel Matip come back into contention.

Liverpool welcome bitter rivals Manchester United to Anfield on Sunday looking to beat the only team to have taken points off them in the Premier League so far this season.

Jurgen Klopp's side are on an astonishing run of 29 wins from their last 30 top-flight outings, including 20 from 21 this term to chalk up the best-ever start to a campaign in the history of Europe's top five leagues.

The Reds have been particularly impressive at Anfield with 18 successive wins stretching back almost a year, but their record against United has not been so good despite sitting 27 points clear of this weekend's visitors.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Klopp could line his side up for the contest.



Possible LIV XI vs. MNU

Out: Dejan Lovren (thigh), Naby Keita (groin), James Milner (muscle), Nathaniel Clyne (knee)
Doubtful: Joel Matip (knee), Fabinho (ankle)

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

Liverpool will be boosted by the returns of Joel Matip and Fabinho for this match, with Klopp confirming that the duo are in contention for a place in the squad, although it might be too soon for a starting role considering how little football either has played recently.

Matip has made only one appearance since September - in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, incidentally - while Fabinho has missed the last 13 games with an ankle injury.

Liverpool have fared admirably in the absence of both, and Matip in particular may find it difficult to reclaim his place in the starting lineup considering Joe Gomez's form and Liverpool's improved defensive record in recent weeks.

Dejan Lovren is also expected back in full training next week to provide even more competition in that position, but this game comes too soon for him while James Milner and Naby Keita remain sidelined.

It could be an unchanged starting XI from the team which beat Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, which means that the front three will have another chance to improve a surprisingly poor record against United.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have scored just one goal between them in 18 combined games against United, with Salah yet to provide a goal or an assist in his past four meetings with the Red Devils.

Mane has arguably been Liverpool's standout player this season but it is Firmino who comes into this game in the best form, having netted five times in his last six games for the club - the same number he had managed in his previous 30 outings.

However, the Brazilian is yet to find the back of the net at Anfield this season, last scoring in front of his own fans way back in April.

> Click here to see how Manchester United could line up for this match

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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring for Liverpool on November 30, 2019
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Combined XI: Liverpool vs. Manchester United
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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