The choc-a-bloc Premier League schedule returns to a more sedate pace this weekend… with the biggest rivalry in English football as Liverpool v Man United kicks off at 4:30pm on Sunday!
Any optimism from the early days of Ruben Amorim’s tenure has been quickly extinguished by a shocking run of form that’s seen Man United slide towards the relegation zone, while their traditional rivals from Merseyside look down from a lofty, err, perch at the top of the table and look set to win another league title.
Ex-Reds striker Peter Crouch gave us his take on both sides and his pick of the punts for Sunday – and remember, Paddy’s Super Sub offer means your bet rolls on even if your player selection gets taken off early…
Liverpool v Man United Bet Builder
Alternative Handicap: Liverpool -1
Mo Salah to score or assist
Luis Diaz to have 1+ shots on target
Bruno Fernandes 1+ shots
Harry Maguire to be shown a card
A bet builder with these selections pays at approximately 8/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP
WHEN: Sunday, January 5, 4:30pm
WHERE: Anfield, Liverpool
TV: Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League
Honestly, Rubin Amorim can’t afford to stick to his principles. He just won’t get that much time at Man United, unfortunately.
They have to give him some leeway now as he’s the man the new ownership group have picked, otherwise it just looks bad all around.
I like how he speaks, he comes across well, but it’s results at the end of the day. Look at the way they’re playing – they probably look worse than they did under the previous manager!
Take the Newcastle game this week, you had Christian Eriksen and Casemiro against Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes – it was no contest. They were always going to get overrun.
I’ve been in sides where the manager’s drastically changed the tactics midseason and there are always teething problems.
And his system is what worked for him at Sporting, so he has to stick to his beliefs.
It makes it hard to judge him until he gets his own players in. Erik ten Hag and the club bought awfully during his tenure, so the manager will need to be given time and a transfer window or two before he can be assessed really.
Ruben Amorim says Man Utd are involved in a relegation battle.
The 2025/26 Championship title race between them and Man City will be fascinating to watch.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 31, 2024
I can’t believe that United possibly being relegated is even being discussed. I know the manager’s mentioned about surviving the other day, but on the question of if there are three worse teams in the league than United, I think the answer is clearly yes.
They have players like Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho – these are players capable of carrying United through a difficult time.
But, ahead of this game, everything seems to be going Liverpool’s way at the moment – even other teams’ results. Look at the Christmas Chelsea have had, I thought they would start putting the pressure on but they’ve dropped points against Fulham and Ipswich.
And ending the year the way they did against West Ham was great. Let’s be honest, that was a poor West Ham team, but good sides still have to put them away, and that’s what Liverpool did. They were brilliant.
Mo Salah to score or assist
Mo Salah got two more goals and has 20 for the season already. I was talking to a Liverpool fan recently who goes way back and he said the only one probably better than him was Kenny Dalglish. I never really saw him play but for Mo Salah, he has to be in the conversation of the greatest Liverpool players ever.
You look at his stats this season – 37 goals and assists already and it’s the start of January!
He’s relentless, just like this Liverpool team, and he should definitely add to his tally on Sunday.
Alternative Handicap: Liverpool -1
It might sound odd, but the pressure could be off United a little bit here, just because expectations are so low from them at the moment.
I used to quite like playing in games like this, when the side is having a nightmare and nothing is going right and you’re up against a team that’s much better. Often you end playing better too because no one really expects anything of you in a game like this. You might even take your opponents by surprise.
But you can’t really see anything more than a comfortable Liverpool win based on how the teams are playing.
Luis Diaz to have 1+ shots on target
Salah deservedly gets a lot of the plaudits but the Liverpool front three has really impressed me in general. Luis Diaz in a more central role and Cody Gakpo off the left has been brilliant. It makes you wonder why Jurgen Klopp played them in the other way around.
I’d fancy all three of them to trouble Andre Onana’s goal on Sunday, but with take Luis Diaz in my Bet Builder to get at least one shot on target.
Bruno Fernandes 1+ shots
He’s the one constant threat, isn’t he? Someone you can rely to do something and keep trying in this United team. You do wonder what he must be thinking about his career and what he could be achieving in a team like City’s or Liverpool’s, because he could really play anywhere and he must be gutted to be where he is right now.
Harry Maguire to be shown a card
It’s going to tough day for the United defence and Harry Maguire is going to be up against some of the best forwards in the league. He’s had four cards already his season in limited action and I can see another here.
Peter Crouch’s Liverpool v Man United tips
Alternative Handicap: Liverpool -1
Mo Salah to score or assist
Luis Diaz to have 1+ shots on target
Bruno Fernandes 1+ shots
Harry Maguire to be shown a card
A bet builder with these selections pays at approximately 8/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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