It is the mouth-watering tie of the FA Cup weekend as Manchester United host bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams have a rich history in this competition with United winning it twelve times to Liverpool’s eight. We came through the last round with a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, whilst the Merseysiders overcame Southampton 3-0.
Do or die – last chance for silverware
Erik Ten Hag has been under pressure this season with results and performances not being in our favour but the Dutchman could lead the Red Devils to two major trophies in as many seasons. Having already won the League Cup last season, United made it through the earlier rounds of the FA Cup by beating Wigan Athletic and Newport County respectively. We then faced a fellow Premier League side in Nottingham Forest in the fourth round.
The game looked as if it would be heading towards extra time with the match goalless. Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick was met by the head of Casemiro in the 89th minute to put us through into the quarter-finals. Our record in the last eight of the competition has seen us alternate between wins and losses since the 2014/15 season.
Having reached the Wembley showpiece final, United will be hoping to go one better this time and win the FA Cup having lost to our neighbours Manchester City last season. Our form of late has seen us win seven out of our last nine games having defeated Everton 2-0 last weekend in the Premier League thanks to penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
It could have been a different story had Everton taken their opportunities on goal. This is not the case for United as we are currently on a 13-match scoring streak across all competitions going all the way back to Boxing Day.
Manchester United Team News
United are expected to see the return of striker Rasmus Højlund to the squad after overcoming a muscular injury that kept him on the sidelines for the last couple of weeks. Before the injury, the Danish international had been in a rich vein of form for the Red Devils. There is also optimism that Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be fit for the visit of the Merseysiders.
Long-term absentee Mason Mount has finally returned to training and is set to make the match day squad. Whilst Rasmus Højlund will be given the nod, Omari Forson is a doubt for Sunday. Anthony Martial (groin), Luke Shaw (muscle), Tyrell Malacia (knee) and Lisandro Martinez (knee) are still recuperating from their respective injuries.
It was revealed on Friday that second-choice goalkeeper Atlay Bayindir has suffered a muscle strain that will keep him out for the next two weeks not that he would be in the starting eleven any way.
Manchester United Possible Lineup
Onana;
Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof;
Mainoo, Casemiro;
Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford
Hojlund.
Opposition Preview
Liverpool showed no signs of complacency on Thursday evening as they ruthlessly dispatched Sparta Prague from the Europa League 6-1 (11-2 on aggregate) in the second leg of round 16. The Reds had scored four goals within the first 14 minutes of the game. They were helped by the opposition’s defence as Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Bobby Clark, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were all on the scoresheet.
As we reach the business end of the season, Jurgen Klopp’s side is still chasing another three trophies having already won the League Cup back in February. They overcame Arsenal, Norwich City, and Southampton to reach this stage of the competition.
Last weekend saw Liverpool draw 1-1 against fellow title contenders Manchester City leaving Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners only lead the race because of a better goal difference but still have to go to the Etihad after the international break.
The Reds are unbeaten in their last nine games and have six wins from their last six FA Cup quarter-finals. Back in December at Anfield, the teams drew 0-0 in the Premier League with the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford seeing United run out 2-1 winners.
Liverpool Team News
Our opponents did not entirely come out unscathed from the victory over Sparta Prague on Thursday evening as Bobby Clark who was on the scoresheet came off during the second half with an ankle issue, which Jurgen Klopp was slightly concerned by. Whilst easing those fears, he can call upon Ryan Gravenberch for Sunday. However, it is touch and go whether Ibrahima Konate will be fit.
Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (muscle), Diogo Jota (knee), Ben Doak (knee), Joel Matip (knee), Alisson Becker (thigh), Curtis Jones (shin) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee) are all set to miss out.
Form Guide
Manchester United FA Cup form: WWW
Manchester United (all competitions): WWLWLW
Liverpool FA Cup form: WWW
Liverpool form (all competitions): WWWWDW
Prediction
With several players returning to the United squad in the coming weeks, it will give us a huge boost with only two months left to the end of the season. Performance levels have to increase if we are to match Liverpool in every area of the pitch on Sunday afternoon. The atmosphere is set to be ferocious at Old Trafford. This is a one-off cup game and form goes out of the window. It is who will be the better team on the day.
Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool
