Liverpool vs. Manchester United: A Historic Moment in Rivalry as LFC Aims for Record-Breaking Win
On Sunday, all eyes will be on Old Trafford as Liverpool prepares to face off against their arch-rivals, Manchester United, in a highly-anticipated Premier League clash. For Liverpool, a victory in this match would not only be a crucial step in the title battle but also a chance to set an unwanted record for their struggling opponents.
Liverpool’s star player, Mohamed Salah, will undoubtedly be a pivotal figure in this game. Despite two consecutive appearances where he fell short of his best form, Salah holds an impressive record of scoring in five successive visits to Old Trafford. In total, he has found the back of the net eight times in fixtures against United. What makes this record even more remarkable is that Salah has scored more goals against United than any other team (13 goals in 14 appearances), including holding the record for the most league goals in this historic fixture (10).
As Liverpool aims to make history, United’s struggles are brought to the forefront. At this stage last season, United finds themselves 11 points worse off, sitting on 48 points from 30 games. Their performances at home have been particularly concerning, with eight wins, five losses, and one draw in 14 league games. These five home defeats mark their most in a single season since the 2020/21 campaign. In fact, United has already matched their Premier League-era record for most defeats in a season (12), set in 2013/14 and 2021/22. A win for Liverpool on Sunday would surpass this unwanted record.
Overall, United has suffered 17 defeats in 42 matches this season, a number they haven’t reached in a single campaign since 1989/90. With these statistics highlighting United’s vulnerabilities, Liverpool will be eager to capitalize on their opponent’s weaknesses.
Additionally, Liverpool’s history of scoring at Old Trafford adds to their confidence heading into this match. In their last five trips to the stadium, Liverpool has scored an impressive 15 goals in all competitions, compared to just 13 goals in the previous 14 visits. The Reds have also managed to win at least one league clash against United in every season since 2017/18. The last time they failed to score in both league meetings in the same campaign was in 2007/08. However, it’s worth noting that seven of the last 15 league meetings between these two rivals have ended in draws.
Another intriguing aspect to watch out for in this clash is the potential for a red card. Liverpool’s last red card against United came in March 2015 when Steven Gerrard was sent off for a stamp on Ander Herrera. Of the seven Reds players who have been shown red cards against United in the Premier League era, three of them received their marching orders at Old Trafford. Michael Owen was the first in 1998, followed by Sami Hyypia five years later, and Javier Mascherano in 2008. Most recently, Amad Diallo was red-carded after scoring the winning goal in last month’s FA Cup tie for over-celebrating.
When it comes to this season’s top scorers, Salah leads the pack for Liverpool with an impressive tally of 22 goals. He is closely followed by Nunez with 18 goals and Gakpo and Jota, who have both scored 14 goals each. For Manchester United, Hojlund leads their scoring charts with 13 goals, followed by Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho, and McTominay with nine goals each.
As Liverpool and Manchester United prepare to renew their historic rivalry, the stakes are high for both teams. Liverpool has the opportunity to make a statement and set an unwanted record for their struggling opponents. Meanwhile, United will be seeking redemption and a chance to turn their season around. Whatever the outcome, this clash promises to be a historic moment in the rivalry between these two football giants.