WHO: Liverpool vs Manchester United
What: English Premier League
Where: Anfield in Liverpool, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, October 19, 4:30 p.m. (15:30 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll do all the construction Al Jazeera Sports from 2:30 p.m. (13:30 GMT) before our live text commentary stream.
The Premier League’s two most decorated clubs face each other in one of the riskiest derbies in years: Liverpool face Manchester United on Sunday.
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The Reds suffered their first setback under Arne Slot, who led the Anfield club to the Premier League title last season in his first year in charge.
The Red Devils have been under increasing pressure since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013 and despite improved performances, results remain at a low ebb for Ruben Amorim, who is about to begin a year as manager at Old Trafford.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at what’s in store for the clubs who have won and won the English league title 22 times each but find themselves at opposite junctures in their current situation and the clubs they can’t afford to lose.
How is Liverpool preparing for the visit to Man Utd?
Liverpool coach Arne Slot said “results don’t lie” after a three-game losing streak and called for defensive improvements ahead of the visit to Manchester United.
The Premier League champions won their first seven games of the season in all competitions, but the poor performances were masked by a string of late goals.
Liverpool suffered defeats against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray in the Champions League Chelsea before the international break and are one point behind title rivals Arsenal.
After battling for the title last season, Liverpool spent almost £450 million ($604 million) on new signings, paying club-record transfer fees Alexander Isaac And Florian Wirtznone of whom have ever scored a goal in the Premier League.
On the other hand, Slot’s men have conceded two or more goals in four of their seven Premier League games.
“We played ten games, won seven and lost three. The three defeats were close,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“But as I keep saying: we shouldn’t rely on margins like that.
“Results don’t lie – when you lose three times in a row, you have to do better. We are aware of that and we have to react.”
What has been Liverpool’s biggest challenge this season?
Mohamed Salah’s sensational form helped Liverpool win the title last season, but the 33-year-old Egyptian has struggled to adapt to the changes made to the squad during the transfer window.
Slot highlighted the lack of game-winning moments from his star-studded forward line and problems with set pieces.
“We didn’t create as many chances as we did last season and there’s a reason for that – the opponent’s style of play and we have to find answers to that,” he said.
“The first answer is not to concede as many goals as we do. If a team scores one or two goals, then we need three goals.”
“In the first half of last season we mainly scored these goals in a special moment from one of our front three. In the second half we needed set pieces against a deep block.
“This season we didn’t have those special moments and we didn’t score from set pieces.
“It is clear that four goals conceded from set pieces is far too much for a team that wants to keep up.”
Mohamed Salah has been involved in six goals in ten games for Liverpool this season, which would be fine for most, but that would be considered below average for a player of his ability.
In his last 24 games in all competitions, Salah has only scored four goals without a penalty.#LFC pic.twitter.com/DA4Uqi9b7J
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 7, 2025
How is Manchester United preparing for the trip to Liverpool?
Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim welcomed the support of co-owner Jim Ratcliffe but said it would not ease the pressure to quickly turn around his team’s fortunes.
Ratcliffe said during the international break that despite a difficult first year in charge, Amorim should be given the opportunity to prove himself at Old Trafford for the full three years of his contract.
Amorim has never won two Premier League games in a row and has just 10 of his first 34 games in charge ahead of the Anfield clash.
That record has put him under pressure, but Ratcliffe, who appointed him last year, reassured him in an interview with the Times last week.
“He tells me all the time, sometimes with a message after games – but you know, I know and Jim knows that football isn’t like that,” Amorim said in his press conference on Friday.
“It’s really good to hear that. I think it helps our fans understand that the leadership knows it’s going to take a while.
“But at the same time I don’t like it because it gives the feeling that we have time to sort things out, so I don’t want that feeling in our club. It’s good to feel the support but we have to show people that we are ready to win games. I know it will take a while but I don’t want to think like that.”
United, who finished in the bottom half of the Premier League last season, sit 10th in the table, five points behind Liverpool.
What happened the last time Liverpool played Manchester United?
The pages draw 2:2 last season at Liverpool, which was arguably Amorim’s most impressive result since he took over, and there were other commendable performances against top clubs too, but the former Sporting coach says it exposes a mentality problem.
“Maybe the expectations of having to win and the responsibility of winning are a lot more difficult,” he said.
“When you play at big clubs you have to win every game. Sometimes we find it difficult to play with that responsibility. Maybe it’s easier for the players to perform when Manchester United aren’t expected to win, but we have to change that.”
When did Manchester United last win at Liverpool?
United have not won at Anfield since 2016 and few will expect that to change on Sunday when the old rivals meet for the 100th time at Liverpool Stadium, despite Liverpool’s run of three defeats in all competitions.
“It’s another game in which we have to prove again that we are playing better,” said Amorim. “We have to be better in both boxes. It’s another game we have to win.”
Head to head
This will be the 218th meeting between the two teams, with Manchester United winning 83 times while Liverpool have emerged victorious in 72 encounters.
United’s last league win over Liverpool came in 2022, when Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford scored a brace for the home side at Old Trafford, while Mohamed Salah gave the Reds a late consolation.
Since then, United have lost three of their five league games but beat Liverpool en route to winning the FA Cup in 2024.
Liverpool team news
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains out with a hamstring injury, but there was better injury news for Liverpool as Ryan Gravenberch is fit for the game against United despite missing out injured during the international break for the Netherlands.
Manchester United team news
Lisandro Martinez is not ready to return yet as he recovers from a knee injury, while Noussair Mazraoui is questionable.
Liverpool have predicted the starting lineup
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike; Isaac
Expected Manchester United lineup
lambing; Yoro, Von Ligt, Shaw; Amat, Ugart, Fernandes, Dalot; Mbeumo, Mountain, Sesco
