Perhaps the two biggest rivals in English club football will meet on Sunday under unusual conditions. Before the duel at Anfield Road, Manchester United, not Liverpool, is the hunted. While the defending champions recently stumbled and have been without a win for three championship games, United have had a successful run in recent weeks and are surprisingly in first place.
Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was still considered a candidate for transfer after being out in the Champions League at the beginning of December, but the tide has now turned. The “Red Devils” have won seven and three draws from their last ten league games, leading the table for the first time since 2012/13, the last season under Sir Alex Ferguson, after the turn of the year.
Suddenly the dream of a total of 21st championship title is living with the record champion, at the same time the first since 2013. This would keep Liverpool, which holds 19 championships, at a distance. The “Reds” are three points missing from ManUnited, thanks to the better goal difference they would take the lead again if they win on Sunday.
Liverpool with a winning streak against United
The current situation in the table is not of great importance for Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp. “There is still a long way to go. Now it’s all about winning against Manchester United, ”said the German. United coach Solskjaer agreed with him. “You don’t get anything for being number one in January. It’s about where you stand at the end of the season. “
The statistics bode well for the Klopp team. Liverpool have lost only one of the last ten showdowns with their big rivals, the last United victory at Anfield Road was five years ago.
Liverpool’s major opponent in the recent past was not United, but their city rival City. The runner-up made a messed up start, but stalked to the top and, in third place, is only one point behind United in terms of loss points. Before the home game against Crystal Palace on Sunday, Josep Guardiola’s team won the last seven competitive games and has been unbeaten in 14 competition matches.
