Old Trafford is ready for a Premier League classic as Manchester United host Liverpool in Round 35 this Sunday, as the season enters home-strech and an old 'rivalry plays out on the pitch. It's not about winning the league, bragging rights are at stake here.
The Red Devils are looking to complete a Premier League double over the Reds for the first time since the 2015-16 season and they can strengthen their top-three claims with victory at Old Trafford.
United have been rejuvenated by Michael Carrick and will be looking to highlight their progress against fierce rivals Liverpool, who sit fourth and are three points behind the hosts with four games left to play.
Winning just one of their four Premier League fixtures from March 4 to April 13 was a minor bump in the road rather than the start of a steady decline for Man United under Carrick.
After taking just five points from 12 during that aforementioned run, the Red Devils have responded with back-to-back one-goal triumphs, edging out Chelsea 1-0 before a 2-1 win over Brentford courtesy of Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko's efforts on Monday night.
Furthermore, the hosts' 29 points since Carrick took charge is the most of any Premier League team in that period, and with a total of 36 at the Theatre of Dreams throughout 2025-26, Man United have already posted 12 more home points than they did in the entirety of last term.
Spearheaded by PFA Player of the Year candidate Bruno Fernandes, Man United are also on an exceptional 23-game scoring sequence across all competitions, while finding the back of the net twice in six of their last seven at home.
The permutations are slightly more complicated for their bitter rivals, who start the gameweek three points adrift of their hosts in the top-flight rankings, having struggled in recent weeks. However, the reigning champions are revelling in a three-match winning sequence in the top flight, overcoming Crystal Palace 3-1 last weekend on a day where the result was overshadowed by a mass protest against the owners over ticket price rises.
A more welcome kind of rise was the Reds rising to fourth in the Premier League table, but Sunday's visitors have only won one of their last 12 top-flight games against teams starting the day in the top three, drawing seven of them.
Liverpool were also bested 2-1 by Man United at Anfield in October, but after last season's 3-0 Old Trafford trouncing, Slot could become the first-ever Reds head coach to win both of his first two away league games against the Red Devils - Premier League or First Division.
Pressure has risen on Arne Slot a number of times this season and they face a stern test at United, where Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike are among the list of headline absentees.
United, armed with the services of assist king Bruno Fernandes, have taken a huge step forward from last season’s lowly 15th-placed finish and they have been pretty dominant at Old Trafford, winning 11 of their 17 outings.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have been extremely vulnerable away from Anfield and they have lost seven of their 17 league games on the road, not the form you would expect to see from champions.
The Reds have lost five of their last seven away games, which includes going down at bottom club Wolves and Galatasaray in the Champions League, while they were blown away 4-0 at Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-final.
Even in last weekend’s 3-1 win at home to a Crystal Palace side distracted by their European commitments, Slot’s side lost the shot count 14-9 and relied on some fortuitous moments.
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Man United are likely to have all of their attacking options at their disposal this week, as Matheus Cunha was pictured in training on Thursday after missing the Brentford victory with a minor hip injury.
There is also optimism that Luke Shaw will be fine to feature, despite coming off injured last time out, while defensive duo Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Lisandro Martinez (suspended) are both missing.
Courtesy of his helper for Sesko on Monday, Fernandes is now just one Premier League assist away from equalling Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's single-season record of 20, set in 2002-03 and 2019-20 respectively.
However, Man United's biggest injury boost for Sunday's game is actually on Liverpool's side, as Mohamed Salah has been denied one last hurrah against the Red Devils due to the hamstring injury he sustained last weekend.
Liverpool have affirmed that the 33-year-old is expected back before the end of the season - meaning that he has most likely not played his final game for the club just yet - but he will not have the chance to add to his staggering 16 goals and eight assists against Man United.
Salah joins Jayden Danns (hamstring), Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Conor Bradley (knee), Giovanni Leoni (knee), Wataru Endo (ankle) and Giorgi Mamardashvili (knee), while Alisson Becker (unspecified) is yet to train and is therefore a major doubt.
Slot also revealed in his pre-game press conference that Milos Kerkez is suffering from a niggle, but Andrew Robertson - scorer of last weekend's second goal - should feature from the off in Man Utd vs. Liverpool for the last time regardless.
Key stats for Manchester United vs Liverpool
Since Michael Carrick's first game in charge, United have picked up 29 points, more than any other Premier League side
The Red Devils have won six of their last seven home league matches
Liverpool have lost five of their last seven away games
United have collected 36 points in 17 home matches, winning on 11 occasions
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has 19 Premier League assists this season and is only one behind the previous record
Manchester United Predicted line-up
Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Yoro, Mazraoui; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Subs: Shaw, Heaven, Mount, Zirkzee, Ugarte, Dorgu, Lacey, Malacia.
Liverpool Predicted line-up
Woodman; Jones, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Subs: Robertson, Gomez, Frimpong, Ngumoha, Nyoni, Chiesa, Wright.
