Manchester United must overcome a huge psychological hurdle as well as an injury crisis and their own weaknesses against Liverpool… the stats are damning and all point to more Anfield misery for Erik ten Hag’s men

• Man United are heading to a buoyant Liverpool at the worst possible time 
• Their chances of winning on Sunday are estimated at a lowly 11 per cent  
• Manchester United fans must be DREADING Anfield trip – It’s All Kicking Off 

Manchester United will not only be fighting against Liverpool, an injury crisis and their own shortcomings when they visit Anfield this Sunday.

They’ll have to overcome psychological hurdles, too, because the home of their arch-rivals has become a place of nightmares in recent times.

Following a week in which United were humiliated 3-0 at home by Bournemouth and crashed out of Europe, a trip along the M62 to Merseyside is the last thing Erik ten Hag needs.

They face a buoyant Liverpool side sitting top of the Premier League, unbeaten in nine league matches and determined to rub United’s noses even further into the dirt.

United must also cope with up to 11 absentees either through injury, suspension or simply being banished to the reserves.

After their European exit, Manchester United face a daunting Anfield trip to face Liverpool

Memories of Mohamed Salah and Co tearing them to shreds in a 7-0 Liverpool win in March remain at the forefront of minds as United head down the M62

That seven-goal thrashing was the joint-heaviest suffered by United in their entire history

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Their debilitating injury list worsened in Tuesday night’s defeat to Bayern Munich as Harry Maguire went off with a groin injury and Luke Shaw suffered a hamstring issue.

However, Ten Hag confirmed on Friday that Shaw should make the match with Maguire facing a few games on the sidelines.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both missed that one through illness with only the former passed fit for Sunday. 

Captain Bruno Fernandes is suspended after talking himself into his fifth yellow card of the season during the Bournemouth debacle.

Given the Portuguese midfielder’s petulant behaviour when United crashed 7-0 at Liverpool back in March, that may be a blessing in disguise.

Of course Jadon Sancho remains an outcast, and other injured players include Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof and Amad Diallo.

But it isn’t just a physical challenge for United, it’s very much a mental one too.

Rarely will their fans have set off for a game with Liverpool feeling so despondent about their team’s chances of winning. The stats around the fixture only support this low mood.

Liverpool are undefeated in their last seven Premier League home games against United, winning four of them.

United captain Bruno Fernandes threw a hissy fit at Anfield in March but will be suspended for Sunday’s return visit

Erik ten Hag’s side are given a minimal chance of winning at Anfield after recent setbacks

The stats don’t bode well for United 

Courtesy of Opta

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home games against Manchester United (W4 D3), winning the last two by an aggregate score of 11-0. They last had a longer run without a league defeat at Anfield against them between 1970 and 1979 (9). 

Manchester United have failed to score in their last four Premier League away games against Liverpool. They last had a longer run without an away league goal against an opponent between 1969 and 1974 (6 vs Everton). 

Liverpool have lost just three of their last 17 games against Man Utd in all competitions (W7 D7), winning four of their last five against the Red Devils (L1). 

Liverpool have won all seven of their Premier League games at Anfield this season, only in 2019-20 (first 17) have the Reds began a Premier League campaign with a longer home winning run.

Liverpool are also averaging three goals per game at home in the league this term (21 goals), their most in a single season in the competition.

Jesse Lingard scored United’s last goal at Anfield back in December 2018 

Manchester United have failed to win any of their last 13 Premier League away games against sides starting the day in the top eight of the table (D3 L10) since beating Spurs 3-0 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in October 2021.

This exact fixture last season finished 7-0 to Liverpool, Man Utd’s joint biggest margin of defeat in the club’s history.

Since winning back-to-back Premier League trips to Anfield in March 2015 (2-1) and January 2016 (1-0), Man Utd have since failed to win any of their seven league visits (D3 L4), failing to score in each of the last four.

Liverpool have lost more Premier League games (29) and conceded more goals (81) against Man Utd than they have against any other side. However, no side has more Premier League wins against the Red Devils than Liverpool (19 – level with Arsenal & Man City). 

United last came away from Anfield with three points on January 17, 2016, when Wayne Rooney’s goal gave Louis van Gaal’s side a 1-0 win. An awful lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then.

More pertinent is the fact Liverpool have won their last two meetings there by an aggregate of 11-0.

There was that seven-goal shellacking last season – a curious game in which Liverpool only led 1-0 at the break after United had been on top – and a 4-0 humbling the previous April with Ralf Rangnick in charge.

The last time Liverpool had a better home run against United was during their 1970s heyday, when they accumulated nine straight unbeaten.

That seven-goal loss last season was the joint-heaviest in United’s entire history and it must have left a mental scar for the players involved.

Worryingly, United have failed to score on their last four visits to Anfield. Jesse Lingard was the last to score there in a 3-1 loss on December 16, 2018.

Harry Maguire’s groin injury just adds to United’s problem ahead of a demanding Anfield trip

United were knocked out of the Champions League and all European competition in the week

That match proved the final straw for Jose Mourinho and Ten Hag will be hoping and praying this Sunday isn’t his swansong, even if it appears his job is safe for now.

The last time United had a longer run of failing to score away to a league opponent was six games against Everton between 1969 and 1974.

Given we’re already looking at a case of damage limitation, it’s hardly ideal for United that Liverpool are averaging three goals a game at home this season – their highest ever in the Premier League.

There are also clear signs of how the pendulum has swung from United to Liverpool in their rivalry.

While Liverpool have lost more Premier League games (29) and conceded more goals (81) against United than any other team, they also have 19 wins against them (the joint-most with Arsenal and Manchester City).

Salah loves scoring against United, with 12 overall and nine in his last five meetings with them

Mohamed Salah’s favourite opponents, with United topping the list. Courtesy of Opta

But recent history has greater relevance and Liverpool have actually lost only three of their last 17 meetings with United in all competitions (seven wins, seven draws).

As with quite a few opponents, the tables have turned since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 and not in a positive way for United.

As usual, Mohamed Salah will be one of Liverpool’s principal threats and the Egyptian just loves playing against United.

Salah has scored 12 goals in 12 appearances against the Red Devils, more than against any other team and he also has four assists.

Recent encounters with the forward have been especially painful for United.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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In the 2021-22 season, he scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford in Liverpool’s 5-0 win before netting twice in the aforementioned 4-0 at Anfield.

Last season, he scored a consolation in a 2-1 loss in Manchester before grabbing two goals and two assists in that 7-0 thrashing.

Salah has scored nine times and contributed four assists in his last five games against United and will doubtless be licking his lips at the thought of taking on their makeshift defence this Sunday.

With all that in mind, it’s perhaps no wonder Liverpool’s win probability for Sunday is a very high 74 per cent, with United’s just 11 per cent.

Adversity can sometimes inspire fighting qualities but the brutal truth is all signs point to another chastening Anfield afternoon for United this weekend.

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