Liverpool vs Manchester United Predicted Lineups, Preview, Odds & Prediction

The most storied rivalry in English football – Liverpool vs Manchester United. The two most successful clubs in English football history – 138 top flight trophies between them. Two working class cities that share a bond but when it comes to football there is no love lost. Liverpool started the season off tremendously with 5 wins from 5 and created a 5 point gap over Arsenal, but after two consecutive losses to Crystal Palace and Chelsea, they now sit 1 point behind Arsenal. Slot is facing issues around the pressing system how he accomodates Salah, and ball progression from deep without Trent Alexander-Arnold. The international break may have provided the perfect reset and time for the Premier League champions to fix some issues that have crept up.

Manchester United on the other hand are coming off a win last weekend unlike their rivals, so they likely enter the game with more momentum despite the overall bad vibes around the club. However momentum is not something Amorim has been able to capture during his time as United Manager, and their 3 wins this season have come against two promoted sides in Burnley and Sunderland, and a Chelsea team that was down to 10 men for 80+ minutes of that game. Facing even a slightly faltering version of this Liverpool team at Anfield will be a tough task, and Liverpool will certainly be looking to put some things right and regain their own momentum with a win over their Northern rivals. Can Amorim really get his first set of back-to-back wins at the expense of Liverpool and hand them 3 straight league defeats, or will Slot’s Reds show improve and get their title defence back on track?

• Can Liverpool get their season back on track and show they have found solutions to certain issues?
• Can Amorim get his first ever set of consecutive league wins against United’s biggest rivals?
• Favourite bet: Alexander Isak to score (20/21) – click here to place on Betrino/Betway

Find out all of that and much more in our preview of Liverpool vs Manchester United. We have a match preview, predicted lineups, team and injury news, live odds, our score prediction and more for this GW8 matchup.

Match Details:

Fixture: Liverpool vs Manchester United

Stadium: Anfield

Date: Sunday 19th October

Kick-off: 4:30pm BST

Match Betting Odds:

Liverpool to win: 4/7

Draw: 3/1

Manchester United to win: 21/5 (Great value on Betrino/Betway)

Both Teams to Score Odds: 

Yes: 8/15

No: 6/4 (Great value on Betrino/Betway)

Player to Score Odds:

Alexander Isak: 20/21 (Favourite bet on Betrino/Betway)

Mohamed Salah: 11/10

Bryan Mbeumo: 11/4

Player to Score or Assist Odds:

Alexander Isak: 8/13

Mohamed Salah: 8/15 (Great value on Betrino/Betway)

Bruno Fernandes: 7/5 (Great value on Betrino/Betway)

Bet Builder Suggestion:

Liverpool to win + Salah to score or assist + both teams to score: 21/10 – click here to place bet!

 

Betrino is currently offering over 20% better value on Both Teams Not to Score compared with the average market line at most major sports books! Do not miss out!

Premier League Head-to-Head Record:

The head-to-head between the two biggest clubs in England over recent seasons certainly favours Liverpool. Now Manchester United have knocked Liverpool out of the F.A. Cup in Klopp’s last season and held Liverpool to draws in both league games that season as Liverpool chased the title but eventually fell short, so it hasn’t all gone Liverpool’s way.

However, Manchester United have not beaten Liverpool in the league since 2022, and have only won 2 league games over the Reds since 2018. So that shows you how far United have fallen in this rivalry, and that draws are looked at as bad results for Liverpool and good ones for Manchester United. Overall, in their last 5 league meetings Liverpool have won 2, which includes the historic 7-0 thumping at Anfield under Ten Haag, and the clubs have drawn the other 3 matches – no wins for United.

Liverpool Manchester United Last 5 Premier League Results

05/01/25 - Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United

01/09/24 - Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool

07/04/24 - Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool

17/12/23 - Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United

05/03/23 - Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United

Liverpool Overview and Form:

Liverpool are reeling a little, coming off back-to-back losses in the league to Crystal Palace and Chelsea, and 3 losses in a row in all competitions. They have struggled somewhat integrating all of their new players and finding the right balance in the starting XI’s and putting the right skill-sets in the right positions on the pitch. Slot is also not finding it as easy to cover for an older player like Salah out of possession if he is not producing astronomical numbers as he was last season, especially now that the attack does not need to flow all through him to thrive with the likes of Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz having now joined. Despite all of this, they do only sit 1 point behind Arsenal and they now return home to Anfield after 3 straight away games in all competitions, and hope that they have solved some issues over the international break and can get back on a winning run starting with their biggest rivals coming to town.

Liverpool’s attack is so star studded with such high expectations, they have been a little disappointing thus far but the overall numbers are  good. The attack has been finding it’s feet, and the balance between getting all of their star attackers the ball in the positions they thrive in has been a challenge so far. Wirtz adapting slowly, Isak still basically being in pre-season mode, Salah having the worst start to a season in his Liverpool career, Gakpo being in bad form and Ekitike getting himself suspended has not helped in terms of building rhythm and chemistry. Despite all of this, they are 7th in xG and 5th in Big Chances Created despite playing a tough fixture list so far and I expect with the world class players they have in their forward line, they will climb both of those tables over the coming weeks. They have scored the 3rd most total goals in the league through 7 Gameweeks with 13 goals, trailing only Manchester City and Arsenal. There is no need to panic here, Slot showed last season he is brilliant when it comes to adjustments and I am confident he will find the right system and balance to optimise this stacked attack.

Defensively is where Liverpool have not been good enough in key moments despite the solid defensive numbers against good opponents.  Van Dijk is still the best defender in the world but Konate has been inconsistent, as has Kerkez. Bradley has been solid and Szoboszlai excellent at right-back, but ball progression needs from deep without Trent might turn Szoboszlai into an auxiliary right-back this season. The press, with Slot liking to have one man spare at the back while pressing high is allowing teams to play too easily through midfield into Liverpool’s final third. This is something Slot will need to address. Overall they have conceded 9 goals in 7 games which is too many for a title contender. They are 5th best for xG conceded so overall they aren’t conceding tons of high quality chances or tons of chances overall. A big factor as to why Liverpool have conceded too many goals is actually their play on the ball, as they have needlessly given away the ball in dangerous positions to allow counter attacking opportunities when Liverpool’s rest defence is not set and the team is not anticipating losing the ball. If the team can cut those mistakes out in possession, Liverpool will find winning games a much easier task.

Slot will look for his team to start much stronger in this game than against Palace and Chelsea where they went down 1-0 fairly early in those games. He will have had all international break to plan for what his most complete starting XI is and how to improve the team in and out of possession. He will look for them to be better in duels and faster to second balls also, and for all of this to allow Liverpool to control this game, dominate possession and the chance creation numbers and to comfortably put away a United team they really should not struggle to beat. But we know derby’s aren’t played on paper.

Manchester United Overview and Form:

Just as it looked like the wheels might be coming off for Ruben Amorim he managed to do as he has done a few times and pick up a random win to quiet the oncoming storm. United were embarrassed by relegation candidates Brentford in GW6, and Amorim’s seat was as hot as it had ever been, but then United go out and convincingly beat Sunderland the weekend after and naturally fans are happier. We then got word that “Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years” from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, so it seems his seat is cool for now. Manchester United sit 10th in the league, with 3 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses and a negative goal difference after 7 games. Their 3 wins have come against 2 promoted sides in Sunderland and Burnley and a Chelsea team that were down to 10 men for 80 plus minutes.

From an attacking standpoint Manchester United are certainly improved this season, but that is the bare minimum given the additions they made and two of them were Premier League proven players in their primes. The issue will always remain with Amorim’s system but more importantly the principles of his version of that system that leave United a flawed attacking team. Personnel issues don’t help; Ugarte and Casemiro being 2 of your 3 midfielders that profile well in a deeper role is not ideal. But how much is asked of that 2 man midfield in his system, and being so rigid within that system that you then play Bruno Fernandes there, and ostracise Mainoo who could perform well there and has legs, is a perfect example of how the problems do lie squarely Amorim’s feet regardless of recruitment failures.

Manchester United have scored 9 goals in 7 games this season despite being 1st in xG on the season with 14.1xG. There in lies the issue with xG – lots of half chances that accumulate xG can make it seem like United should be scoring far more and are finishing poorly but that is not really the case. United are only 7th in Big Chances Created so their xG is more a volume stat than a measure of their chance creation quality. Cunha, Mbeummo and Sesko, the three big major additions have all had moments, particularly Mbeumo, but have yet to really set the world alight. There would be no better time to ingratiate yourself to Manchester United fans than to go light it up at Anfield, but Slot will know how to defend Amorim’s system.

Defensively Man United are also flawed. Coaches know Amorim’s system and principles to a tee and know how to attack it and pick it apart. There are also personnel issues – starting Luke Shaw consistently in 2025 is not a winning formula. Then there is De Ligt and Maguire both playing the central CB role of the 3 CB roles in an ideal world, and there is also the lack of bodies and legs in midfield that leave the defence vulnerable. They have conceded the 4th most xG in the league which is truly unacceptable for a Manchester United team, and they are one of 8 teams who have conceded 11 goals or more this season. Things will need to improve if United are to even dream of Conference League football next season.

Amorim will of course look to play his game because that’s all he really does. The system is the system. Fielding a full strength team at Anfield with Liverpool reeling will give United the boost of confidence they need to feel they can get something from this game, but Slot will have his team ready to expose Amorim and this United team as many others have.

 

Lineups will be updated throughout the week in live time as and when injury and lineup news is announced.

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Liverpool Predicted Lineup:

Liverpool Predicted Lineup GW8

GK - Mamardashvili

RB - Szoboszlai

CB - Konate

CB - Van Dijk

LB - Kerkez

CM - Gravenberch

CM - Jones

AM - Wirtz

RW - Salah

ST - Isak

LW - Ekitike

Liverpool Team News:

Arne Slot speaking to the media Friday morning revealed big news around Gravenberch and Konate’s fitness. Slot revealed “Ryan is completely fit, but he still has to train twice, but if you ask me, he is fit”. Sounds like Slot expects Gravenberch to train and to start as he usually does. He is so key for Liverpool.

Slot also informed the media that “Ibou (Konate) came back to us and started his sessions and is expected to train today”, so if there are no setbacks in training today, with recovery Saturday, Konate should be ready to start on Sunday.

On goalkeeper Alisson’s fitness, Slot stated “Alisson is out, not training today – it is difficult to say when he will be fit, but he will not play this weekend or next weekend”. Looks like Mamardashvili in goal for at least 2 more Premier League games, potentially more.

Szoboszlai will likely be Liverpool’s starting right back for the next few games at least while Liverpool and Slot work through their tactical issues. Szoboszlai’s passing and quality on the ball is what Liverpool need from their defence with Trent now gone and Konate and Kerkez not being high level passers. He provides progressive passing and ability to switch play and find passing angles from deep that Bradley and Frimpong do not.

Curtis Jones has taken another jump as a player. He is an even better progressive passer this season and is passing forward faster than ever before – so adding that to his press resistance, height, phyiscality, legs and pressing as well as the combined ability to play deeper as well as add things in the final third is exactly what Liverpool need from Gravenberch’s partner right now. Jones has had good link up with Wirtz also which is key. His out of possession quality is what gets him in this team over a Mac Allister who has been dealing with fitness and form issues of late.

Isak started and got his first goal contribution in the league for Liverpool with the assist for Gakpo. Slot spoke on Isak on Friday stating Now he’s had his five or six weeks of pre-season, fitness wide he is close to the level he should be. Now we can judge him in a fair way from now on. His pre-season has finished now, he’s played a few games, so we see where he is in the coming weeks”. He will of course start against United and it is big news for Slot to state that Isak’s pre-season is over. Expect to see Slot comfortable to play him a full 90 minutes now if need be.

Gakpo had a very good international break with the Netherlands national team, and is nominally Liverpool’s starting LW but has been in poor form for club from about Gameweek 3 onwards. Ekitike has been one of Liverpool’s best players, has built great connections with Wirtz and Salah, is in better form in front of goal and offers more from deep. He also will utilise Kerkez better as he is a more agile player with better dexterity of feet and will be able to attack his full-back while able to execute feeding Kerkez if he goes inside and is doubled up on. Gakpo has missed Kerkez on the overlap in really good positions a bunch of times this season.

Young Italian centre-back signed from Parma, Giovanni Leoni, who had a promising debut against Southampton in the EFL Cup, has sadly torn his ACL in that game. He will be out for the rest of the season.

Liverpool Players to Watch:

Alisson: Could return after the international break but likelier to miss GW8.

Konate: Training on Friday after knock picked up with France, and should be fit to start by Sunday.

Gravenberch: Fit after knock picked up on international duty. Will start.

Mamardashvili: Will start any games Alisson misses.

Ekitike: Has been too good to leave on the bench.

Szoboszlai: Will start at right-back, allowing Slot to get him, Gravenberch and Wirtz in the team along with another midfielder.

Jones: Has been Liverpool’s third best midfielder this season behind Gravenberch and Szoboszlai. Brings a needed skillset.

Wirtz: Has struggled but Slot and Liverpool are not reactionary. He will start.

Mac Allister: Potentially benched.

Isak: Will start.

Bradley: Has been fine but Szoboszlai provides what they need on the ball in the first third of the pitch.

Frimpong: Impact attacking sub right now.

Manchester United Predicted Lineup:

Manchester United Predicted Lineup GW8

GK - Lammens

RWB - Amad

CB - De Ligt

CB - Maguire

CB - Yoro

LWB - Dorgu

CM - Casemiro

CM - Fernandes

RAM - Mbeumo

LAM - Cunha

ST - Sesko

Manchester United Team News:

Speaking on Friday, Ruben Amorim revealed “Lisandro Martinez is not fit for Liverpool game, but he is near but almost returning to the training with the team… Noussair Mazraoui I don’t know… The rest of the guys from the national team, they are ready but some players play in Japan, so we need to be careful. Diogo (Dalot) didn’t play the last game, Bruno (Fernandes) play 62 minutes, so we have to try to balance everything so that they area ready”. No major team or injury news revealed outside of it does not seem like Mazraoui will be fit to start at least, but could still make the squad.

Amad returned to the squad and starting lineup for Sunderland. Dalot played LWB but likely just due to rotation, I think Dorgu comes back for this one.

Cunha started last game on the bench, likely due to not pushing him too hard upon his return from a hamstring injury. Two starts in a week may have been pushing it. He will very likely start against Liverpool.

Amorim revealed Mazraoui is out until after the international break with an undisclosed injury/issue. All Amorim said on the matter was “He is out also. He will not be back until the international break”.

Lammens has replaced Bayindir and is likely the number 1 going forward. It always felt like it would happen eventually.

Yoro has to come in for Shaw. He will get destroyed by this Liverpool attack in transition or even if their defence is set. Yoro is much better defensively and also good on the ball – I simply do not see what Amorim is seeing in Shaw to continue starting him. This experiment has to end. Maguire and De Ligt should be locks to start, although both are better suited to the central CB role rather than the wide RCB role.

Manchester United Players to Watch:

Amad: Likely to return to training and to the squad this week. Would start at RWB if he is ready to play.

Mazraoui: Could return to the squad.

Yoro: Has to replace Shaw as the left centre-back. Just the far more talented and athletic player.

Shaw: Has to become a backup. Cannot continue starting.

Casemiro: First choice to partner Bruno in midfield over Ugarte.

Liverpool vs Manchester United Preview & Predicted Score:

Liverpool will set up in their usual 4-2-3-1 system with some personnel tweaks to maximise the system and each player more. Amorim will of course trot out his 3-4-3 that he is so wed to.

I believe the first thing Slot will want to see is a level of physicality, effort and commitment out of possession and to win duels, be first to second balls and to really let Manchester United know that they will not have the success Chelsea had or Crystal Palace had in the first half really making things tough for Liverpool. In possession, the slight personnel and system tweaks Slot likely will have made over the break should have Liverpool progressing the ball up the pitch to their forwards and Wirtz more successfully and should have Liverpool creating more structured attacks and executing those attacks better, but also sets up the right profiles being in the right places so counter attacks should be more deadly and the overall flow of Liverpool’s attack should look much better. Once the system is working for players, they can build chemistry and you start to see the star powers of players like Wirtz, Isak, Ekitike and Salah truly maximised and unleashed. This may be a process but one Slot will want to begin this weekend at home vs a rival in a must-win.

United will of course look to be able to defend compactly and deep at times when needed and to frustrate and keep Liverpool out, and then be deadly on the counters utilising the wing-backs to cause Liverpool issues and Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko being deadly outlets, Amorim will want to continue exposing some out of possession and transition issues defensively that have hurt Liverpool over recent weeks. If Manchester United can get ahead or even just keep things tight, Anfield will get antsy and maybe Liverpool’s confidence dips with the hangover of recent results.

I can see United having moments, especially on the counter. But I truly do believe Slot and Liverpool will have fixed some issues over the international break from a starting XI and profiling standpoint and a tactical standpoint – especially with the press, and they will be deadly focussed on getting back on track at home. With a nearly fully fit squad at their disposal and serious talent on the bench too, and with Slot’s ability to adapt and also pick apart an opponent, Amorim’s system likely becomes the undoing of United again. Yes, Liverpool should have beaten a weakened Chelsea team, but they did enough to win that game, won the game on xG (for whatever that is truly worth) and not everyone is hitting 20 yard screamers like Caicedo. Liverpool will get back on track here with a convincing win.

Score Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United