Chris Sutton has weighed in on Sunday’s showdown at Old Trafford, offering a bold prediction for the latest chapter of the Manchester United and Liverpool rivalry.
Liverpool could potentially clinch Champions League football at the home of their hated rivals, if results elsewhere go in their favour, and a win is secured, at the expense of Michael Carrick’s hosts.
This will be easier said than done, however, with the Red Devils a different beast now than the one that was so often tame and laboured under the disastrous regime of Ruben Amorim, as United aim to make it back-to-back Premier League wins over the Reds, after winning 2-1 earlier in the season under the Portuguese boss.
Slot has his own back-to-back aspirations in mind, though, heading into this fierce encounter, as he could well become the first-ever Reds head coach to pick up two straight wins at Old Trafford from his first two meetings, after steering his Premier League champions to a 3-0 victory on the road last season.
Ex-Blackburn striker Chris Sutton, who lifted the Premier League title himself with the Riversiders, has offered his bold prediction on what the tense game could entail when delivering his usual BBC Sport prediction as a columnist.
Sutton’s bold prediction ahead of United vs Liverpool
On a weekend that sees Arsenal try to gain another victory at the Emirates on their charge to the title, and Newcastle United gun for a rare win, the clash between the Red Devils and Slot’s men is definitely the most hotly anticipated.
Showdowns between the two teams very rarely throw up a goalless draw, either, with only one of the last ten meetings ending in a goalless draw.
Total Goals Scored (Last 10 Competitive Meetings):
| Team | Total Goals |
| Liverpool | 29 |
| Man Utd | 13 |
| Combined Total | 42 |
Sutton reckons the goals will flood in, again, between the two Champions League chasers on Sunday, as he has boldly predicted a 2-2 draw when writing for BBC Sport.
He has written, ahead of the clash at Old Trafford: “Apart from the future of both managers, it doesn’t feel like many people are talking much about either club here, which feels odd before such a grudge match between two old rivals.
“It’s impossible to predict how this one will turn out. Manchester United were lucky to edge past Brentford on Monday, while Liverpool got a good win over Crystal Palace to take a bit of heat off Arne Slot.
“Bruno Fernandes has had an outstanding season for United, and Liverpool will need to stop the Portuguese Pied Piper from leading them a merry dance.
“It looks like no Mohamed Salah for Liverpool after he went off injured against the Eagles, but Alexander Isak scoring in that game felt big for him and Liverpool after he has had such a stop-start campaign.
“It could be that an individual – either Bruno or Isak – steps up again to win the game for their team, but I am going for an entertaining draw.
Sutton’s prediction: 2-2
Can Liverpool beat United?
Sutton is right to state that Salah being out injured will be a big blow for the Reds’ chances of another memorable win at the Theatre of Dreams, but the hope will be that Liverpool can follow up three consecutive victories in the Premier League with another three points on their short detour over to Manchester.
Stopping Fernandes will be key if Slot’s side does stand a chance of ruffling the home side’s feathers, with the Portuguese playmaker registering 28 goals and assists for the season, as one of Carrick’s main attacking focal points.
All eyes will be on Florian Wirtz to provide the creative spark for Slot’s side as the German sensation looks ready to make his mark on the Old Trafford stage.
There are so many intriguing battles to take in all across the pitch, with the clash on Sunday afternoon certainly one for the neutral to sink their teeth into.
