Manchester United v Liverpool: Expect goals in victory for hosts
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Liverpool may have crashed out of Europe in midweek but with a trip to Old Trafford this Sunday the Reds have little time to dwell on their exit to Basel.
Just last season – when United were languishing in mid-table and Liverpool still had a first Premier League title firmly in their sights – this game would have been easy to predict – Liverpool all the way.
The 3-0 hammering Brendan Rodgers’ side dished out in United’s own back yard showed this but in just a matter of month that temporary gap between the sides has not only been closed but seen the Red Devils overtake their bitter rivals.
This is evidence by the fact that United go into the game as 4/5 favourites after winning their last five games in the league.
Liverpool can be backed at 10/3 to take all three points, while a draw is available at 14/5, but there are some more interesting bets to be made on this hostile encounter and here are just three of them:
United may have been played off their own park by Liverpool last year but their pre-season meeting, which resulted in a 3-1 win for the Red Devils, is arguably a better indicator of things to come on Sunday.
Liverpool have won just two of their last nine games so the United win tempts but not as much as when it coupled with both sides scoring, especially as United have scored and conceded in eight of their last 11 and Liverpool have done the same in five of their last seven.
The ultimate prize may be a top four place so the stakes aren’t as high as they’ve been in the past but this match is always fiercely contested and remains one of – if not the – biggest rivalry in the Premier League.
This is reflected in the number of sendings off in the recent past, with five players given their marching orders in the last 14 clashes.
Sunday’s referee has issued 66 yellow cards already this season and gave Newcastle’s Steven Taylor an early bath in the recent clash against Swansea so is clearly not in the mood to take any nonsense.
Robin van Persie took the plaudits last time out against Stoke but the value remains with Rooney, who is enjoying one of his best starts to a season in years.
The United captain has netted 11 goals in 17 goals for club and country, including eight in his last 10 starts.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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