Liverpool v Man United: Red Devils set for record-breaking win
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Liverpool and Manchester United meet in European competition for the first time this week and despite the Reds having home advantage for the first leg recent history suggests a win for the Red Devils.
Louis van Gaal has come in for a lot of criticism during his tenure as United boss but one thing the Old Trafford faithful can’t complain about is the Dutchman’s record against their bitter rivals from Merseyside.
Since Van Gaal took the reins at United his side have won five straight games against Liverpool – including a 3-1 victory in the International Champions Cup.
Win on Thursday and Van Gaal will go into the United record books as the first man to ever oversee five successive competitive victories over the Reds.
United’s recent dominance over Liverpool stretches back further than Van Gaal’s reign, however, with the Anfield outfit coming out on top just twice in the last 10 meetings and United winning the other eight.
With this in mind the value could lie in backing Van Gaal’s men to extend their run, with United priced as the 11/4 outsiders to win the first leg.
Liverpool can be backed at 21/20, with the draw on at 11/5, but with goals flying in at both ends in the fixture there could be plenty of interest in the total goals market.
Over 3.5 might tempt at 7/2, with four goals seen twice in the last five meetings, but with eight of the last 10 clashes seeing three or more strikes the safer bet appears to be the 5/4 on over 2.5 goals.
With Wayne Rooney still on the sidelines it could fall once again to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to put United on the front foot.
The former burst on the scene with four goals in his opening two games but has failed to score in two outings since.
Having netted a brace against Arsenal, however the teenager has shown he can handle the big games and at 8/1 to net first and silence the Anfield crowd it could pay to back the youngster to hit the headlines once again.
All odds and markets correct as of the date of publishing.
