Due to their early-season struggles in the 2022–23 Premier League, two fierce rivals will face off on Monday, making for an exciting game of teams that will likely have a touch of additional desperation on both touchlines.
Liverpool, who has only achieved two frustrating draws through the first two games of the season, heads to the Theatre of Dreams to take on Manchester United. The Reds have watched championship rivals Man City open up an early four-point lead in the standings.
With Man Utd losing both of their first two games and Liverpool drawing both of theirs, neither of these two teams have had the Premier League seasons they anticipated. However, despite a plethora of injuries and new signing Darwin Nunez’s suspension, Liverpool enters this derby encounter as the overwhelming favorite to win with the bookmakers.
Form Guide: Liverpool
Liverpool is currently in 12th place in the Premier League standings and has largely failed to hit its stride this season. The Merseyside outfit was held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace last week and will need to take it up a notch in this fixture.
Liverpool may not have won a game, but with two consecutive draws, they at least have two of the six points available. Even though both games ended in draws, there was a slight improvement in their play between the season opener against Fulham and the encounter against Crystal Palace. Who knows, the Reds might have even won if Darwin Nunez hadn’t lost his cool.
But Jurgen Klopp’s team would need to find a way to win the season’s first Northwest Derby to avoid falling far behind in the title chase. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side won last term’s meetings 5-0 and 4-0 and will smell blood here.
Form Guide: Manchester United
Manchester United lost to Brighton 2-1 at home to begin their 2022–23 Premier League season on August 7 before being shocked by Brentford 4-0 last weekend. All of the goals scored by the home team came in the first half of the game.
The Red Devils are now at the bottom of the division as a result of the two losses and their already dismal goal differential. Another defeat on Monday would put even more pressure on Ten Hag, who has been tasked with helping to restore probably the biggest football club on earth.
Manchester United will finish August away to Southampton before traveling to Leicester City at the start of September, three days before a huge fixture against Arsenal at Old Trafford; the Gunners have shown huge improvement early in the season, while Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have suggested that they will once again be up there when it comes to challenging for the top four this season.
The Red Devils finished sixth last season, 13 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, which is an indication of the turnaround that needs to occur for the club to return to the Champions League spots; Casemiro’s arrival is a huge step in the right direction, but more signings are needed before the end of the window.
How the game could go
Manchester United have won only one of their last 12 Premier League matches against Liverpool and is winless in their last eight games against their arch-rivals.
Liverpool has won three consecutive Premier League games against Manchester United and could secure four victories in a row against the Red Devils for the first team since 2002.
This game represents the first team Liverpool and Manchester United are playing against each other within the first three games of the campaign in nine years – Liverpool won the previous such game by a 1-0 margin.
Liverpool will undoubtedly be the favorites heading into Monday’s encounter, and it would certainly not be a surprise to see the Merseyside giants secure all three points. Manchester United will have had a long time to prepare for this match, though, and we just have a feeling that the Red Devils, cheered on by a vocal home crowd, will be able to secure a share of the spoils at Old Trafford.
Betting Predictions
Liverpool to Win
Liverpool has won each of the last three league meetings between these two great rivals, including their last two trips to Old Trafford. Manchester Utd might have beaten Liverpool 4-0 in pre-season but the Re Devils have looked so poor in their opening two league games of the campaign that it seems highly unlikely that the hosts will even be able to put in a performance good enough to draw against an injury-hit Liverpool side. Bet9ja have 1.63, 1xbet have 1.64 and Paripesa have 1.64 odds.
Over 2.5
Both teams have been lacking defensively with United conceding six goals in their first two fixtures and Liverpool letting in three. They are both searching for their first wins in this season’s start to the campaign. Despite the woes faced by both teams, we are sure of goals in this match as they have scored more than 2 goals in their last five meetings. Three of Liverpool’s and United’s games have witnessed at least three goals scored and we expect the away side to win convincingly on Monday night. Bet9ja have 1.50 odds, Paripesa have 1.51 and 1xbet have 1.51 odds.
Anytime Goalscorer (Liverpool)
Salah
Salah finished the last Premier League campaign as the joint-top scorer alongside Tottenham’s Son and the Egyptian is already up and running for the season having scored in the 2-2 draw with Fulham. Salah has a fantastic record against Man Utd, scoring 8-goals in his last four games against the Red Devils in league and cup, so you can see why we’re backing him to score on Monday night. Bet9ja have 2.10 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 1.80.
Luiz Diaz
Darwin Nunez will be missing against United due to suspension, while Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota are both injured Klopp would be looking to the brilliance of the Colombian forward as he can provide his sides with the creativity and goals to help them win. He scored the solitary goal against Crystal Palace that saw his side rescue a draw after going a man down, he would be instrumental today and he will turn up against this big side. Bet9ja have 2.95 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 2.75.
Anytime Goalscorer (Manchester United)
Ronaldo
All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo as far as the goal is concerned. No United player has been on the scoresheet so far this season with their only goal against Brighton being termed an own goal. His experience would be needed up front as the team needs a figure up top to help lead the line. Bet9ja have 3.05 odds for him to score while Paripesa have 2.20.
Football Lover. All-round junkie of the beautiful game. Could be found watching football most of the time. If not he’s writing about them or making some punditry you don’t agree with. A certain bias for Arsenal and Santos FC.
