Key events
“Thanks to the Isak injury, yet again Slot is forced to fight fires rather than just manage,” laments Ian Copestake. “Unless it is in January, I hope one day he will be able to say, ‘same team as last year.’”
Now that would be a turn up for the Trent.
Sky Sports reckon Curtis Jones will play right-back for Liverpool with Jeremie Frimpong in midfield. This is how they have the formation.
Liverpool (possible 4-2-3-1) Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Gakpo.
“Without looking, how many times have Liverpool let in two or more goals this season?” writes Virgil van Dijk’s Ghost. “As Richie Benaud would say… Chwenty Choo. An astonishing number of times.”
That’s a statgasm and a half.
Arne Slot’s pre-match thoughts
It’s a fantastic game to be part of, especially if you win.
[On Alexander Isak] After the season we’ve had, nobody can be surprised that we have more injuries. It wasn’t much, but unfortunately it was too much for him to be able to play today.
Injuries can never be an excuse not to perform; we all have to prove ourselves today.
I think one win would probably be enough [to secure Champions League football]. Let’s take it game by game.
Jamie Jackson
It was two years ago that Jamie Carragher offered Casemiro a rather withering piece of advice: “Leave the football before the football leaves you.” Fast forward to this season and the Brazilian’s record for Manchester United reads: nine goals (second only to Benjamin Sesko), two assists, and 2,417 minutes played in 31 starts from a total of 32 appearances, with 13 games finished, including seven of the past nine.
Consider, too, how the January announcement of Casemiro’s departure from United at the end of the current campaign has led to supporters pleading with the 34-year-old to stay, and that Casemiro is again a midfield first-choice for his national team in the buildup to a World Cup.
As ripostes to a pundit advising you to retire go, Casemiro’s has been emphatic, not to mention revealing of a strong character given Carragher’s words, delivered on Monday Night Football following United’s 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in May 2024, came at a time when Casemiro did indeed appear to be heading for an Old Trafford exit amid a downturn in his performances.
Eli Junior Kroupi, Bournemouth’s brilliant teenage attacker, has just doubled their lead from the penalty spot.
In the early Premier League game at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth lead Crystal Palace 1-0 after half an hour thanks to an own goal from their former player Jefferson Lerma. If it stays like that, Bournemouth will be sixth in the table.
Team news
The fit-again Matheus Cunha replaces Amad Diallo in the only Manchester United change. Liverpool make two enforced changes: Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch come in for the injured pair of Mo Salah and Alexander Isak.
Liverpool have four central midfielders plus Florian Wirtz in their team; please don’t ask me how they will line up.
Man Utd (4-2-3-1) Lamments; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.
Subs: Bayindir, Dorgu, Malacia, Mazraoui, Yoro, Mount, Ugarte, Amad, Zirkzee.
Liverpool (possible 4-1-4-1) Woodman; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Wirtz; Gakpo.
Subs: Pecsi, Gomez, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha, Ndiaye, Wright.
Referee Darren England.
That said, as Man Utd v Liverpool games go, this feels a bit mid. Both sides have all but qualified for next season’s Champions League, so there isn’t a huge amount riding on this game. The good news for lovers of anticipation is that this remains the biggest rivalry in English football, and the wider context is only ever part of the story. It’s Man Utd v Liverpool for goodness sake!
Preamble
Preamble? It’s Manchester United v Liverpool: there’s your preamble!