Twentytwo13

Manchester United can do the double against Liverpool

No matter where they are in the English Premier League table, Liverpool versus Manchester United will always be the match of the week.

It is no different on Monday (12.30am) when Liverpool hosts its bitter rival at Anfield, with the teams separated by four spots and 10 points.

United is on a high after winning its first trophy after six years, beating Newcastle 2-0 in last week’s League Cup final.

Under Erik ten Hag, it has become a more cohesive unit, with good attacking flair and solid defenders.

It is no secret that the team began to show its true potential after it got rid of Cristiano Ronaldo in November.

Although the Portuguese will forever be a club legend, his attitude since his return two seasons ago, disrupted the players’ harmony.

Still in the hunt to win three more trophies – Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League – ten Hag is seen by many as the new Sir Alex Ferguson.

If he can be half as successful as the Scot, he will probably get a statue at Old Trafford.

Liverpool, meanwhile, is going through a torrid season. It came close to the quadruple last season, winning the League Cup and FA Cup, but lost in the Champions League final, and finished runner-up to Manchester City.

Many expected it to continue its form this season, but its players have gone off the boil, although they found a bit of form of late, with four consecutive clean sheets in the league, and three victories.

Like United, it has taken 10 points out of a possible 15, but the Red Devils will start as the favourites despite playing at Anfield.

United won the reverse fixture at home earlier this season, its first win over Liverpool in the EPL since 2018.

It, however, beat the Reds in an FA Cup tie in 2021.

Elsewhere, Manchester City continues its pursuit of league leader Arsenal with a home game against fifth-placed Newcastle tomorrow (8.30pm). City is second in the table, five points behind the Gunners, who will host Bournemouth (11pm).

Tottenham, in fourth, travels to struggling Wolves, hoping to consolidate its position in the last Champions League place.

FIXTURES (Malaysian time)
SATURDAY

Manchester City vs Newcastle (8.30pm)
Chelsea vs Leeds (11pm)
Arsenal vs Bournemouth (11pm)
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace (11pm)
Brighton vs West Ham (11pm)
Wolves vs Tottenham (11pm)

SUNDAY
Southampton vs Leicester (1.30am)
Nottingham Forest vs Everton (10pm)

MONDAY
Liverpool vs Manchester United (12.30am)

TUESDAY
Brentford vs Fulham (4am)