Liverpool vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest score, news, goals and updates from Anfield

Liverpool vs Manchester United LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest scores, news, updates and analysis from Anfield

12:20: Twelve months ago Liverpool were brilliant up front and posed so much of a threat that Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was content to ‘park the bus’ at Anfield and leave with a goalless draw.

After seven games last season Liverpool had scored 18 but that has dropped to 13 from seven this time around, although the number of chances they are creating has not fallen.

Not being able to convert has, arguably, cost them as much as not keeping a clean sheet. Klopp remains confident they will get through their current drought, although they will have to do so without the injured Sadio Mane.

12:15: Gary Neville: “Yeah, big test. Manchester United have not played anybody in the top six. If they want to win the league, this is the place to give you the confidence to do it.

“You looked at Romelu Lukaku. What he’s done so far has been what has been asked of him, to actually win the games, convert the draws from last season.

“But now, just looking at him now with his hood up, this is where you’ve got to deliver, Anfield away. Liverpool away, ultimately that is the real test. It is a real test, it’s a test of your mentality, a test of everything really.”

12:10: I’m surprised to hear that only six Liverpool players have been shown red cards against Manchester United in the Premier League. Can you name them?

OK, I don’t like playing this game online. The answers are; Hyypia, Shelvey, Owen, Murphy, Gerrard & Mascherano (2). Give yourself a pat on the back.

12:05: “There he is, the fella who nicked me job!”

That was quite an awkward little exchange between Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

Quick handshake, a couple of words spoken with the usual Van Gaal expression of confusion and disapproval, and then Mourinho walked off with a frown.

Like a father meeting his daughter’s new boyfriend for the first time…

12:00: Is that Louis van Gaal I see at Anfield. Where the hell has his clipboard gone?! Or are those two guys with him carrying two of them on his behalf?

11:55: Things are a bit simpler with Liverpool’s formation with only Emre Can and Roberto Firmino returning. In fact, I’ll just let Jurgen Klopp explain it himself.

He said: “I thought it makes sense to bring in a strong line-up and in the end that was the result. I’m happy. We know Sadio’s not available and that is not the best news, but when all the other boys came back in good shape, feeling good and looking forward to the game it was not too difficult.

“I have to say, a few decisions were close because a lot of players were in good shape before we left for the international break, but it was a decision for today and I hope it will work out.”

11:50: I think I’ve done you a disservice folks. It appears that Jose Mourinho is actually playing with three at the back with Matteo Darmian joining Chris Smalling and Phil Jones at centre-back.

That would leave Antonio Valencia at right-back and Ashley Young deployed at left-back.

In short, I have no idea what formation Jose Mourinho is playing today…

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Paul: Seriously can’t see Liverpool getting the result today even though they are at home united just look too good and too strong.

Tom: Interesting to see Ashley Young starting in a more attacking position. Also looking forward to seeing Phil Jones and Chris Smalling together.

Paul: I am not a one for criticising Liverpool players too much, but I have seen enough of Alberto Moreno and feel enough is enough!

11:40: Jose Mourinho has been tinkering folks. Three changes to be precise.

The lesser-spotted Matteo Darmian starts at left-back while Ashley Young, who always starts at Anfield, is deployed in the winger role.

Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial also start with Marcus Rashford (who’s got a knock) and Juan Mata dropping to the bench. Marouane Fellaini is out injured.

Few eyebrows raised at the absence of Eric Bailly, but Manchester United have confirmed that he sustained an injury while on international duty.

11:35: Right, let’s start with Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has made two changes from the side who drew 1-1 with Newcastle before the international break.

Roberto Firmino and Emre Can replacing Daniel Sturridge and the injured Sadio Mane.

Elsewhere Alberto Moreno keeps his role at left-back despite calls for Andrew Robertson, who’s not in the matchday squad.

11:30: Here’s those starting XI’s folks. I see Roberto Firmino is back for Liverpool.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Salah, Coutinho, Firmino.

Subs: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Klavan, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge, Solanke.

Manchester United XI: de Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Darmian, Ander Herrera, Matic, Young, Mkhitaryan, Martial, Lukaku.

Subs: Lindelof, Mata, Lingard, Blind, Rashford, Romero, Tuanzebe.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.

11:28: Couple of minutes until those starting XI’s arrive folks. I’ll bring them your fast as fast as my sausage fingers can type.

11:25: Soccer AM have already had Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher sparring this morning. Not literally obviously, although I think Carra would walk it…

Anyway, they’ve both delivered their predictions with Neville opting for a 1-1 draw, while Carragher, well, I think you know what he went for.

“I think there has been a lot of pessimism from Liverpool supporters going into the game,” Carragher said.

“They haven’t been on a great run. But I just think with Manchester United coming, the atmosphere, being at home. I think it’s going to be a very tight game, it always is against Jose Mourinho’s teams. But I think Liverpool by one goal. I’m going to go 1-0.”

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Ben: I know Liverpool normally turn up in these big games, but I just don’t see it today. Manchester United are much better than us.

Chris: Hope Jose starts Anthony Martial today. He’s in great form and imagine the impact on the crowd of Marcus Rashford coming on in the second half.

Rishi: Sadio Mane is a big miss for Liverpool. Mo Salah and Philippe Coutinho need to be at their best for Liverpool to get something out of this game.

11:15: And that’s exactly why he’s lost the captain’s armband in my Fantasy Football team…

Last season’s United leading man Zlatan Ibrahimovic wasted a glorious chance to snatch victory at Anfield.

This time it will be Romelu Lukaku leading the line, with the 24-year-old looking to become the first player to score eight goals in his first eight Premier League game for United.

To do that, he will need to up his game against Liverpool. The former Everton striker has scored just once in his last seven matches against the Reds, failing to muster a shot on target in five of those games.

11:10: It might seem all doom and gloom at Anfield at the moment, but there’s plenty of reasons to be cheerful because Jurgen Klopp boasts a brilliant record when they face fellow members of the Premier League’s ‘big six’.

OK, they lost 5-0 at City after being reduced to 10 men but that was only the second defeat they had suffered in 20 league meetings with those five sides since the German took charge in October 2015.

They have won nine of those games, which equates to a win percentage of 45 – considerably higher than the figure for each of the other five clubs over the same period.

11:05: I’m going to do the preview bit here. Not that Sky Sports haven’t rolled out every statistic since 109 BC in their 1432-day build-up…

Manchester United are second in the Premier League, level on 19 points with neighbours Manchester City, but so far Jose Mourinho’s side have yet to face any of last season’s top five.

Six wins from their opening seven games, with 21 goals scored and only two conceded, have raised expectations at Old Trafford, but the coming weeks should give a stronger indication of just how ready United are for a real push for the title.

Meanwhile Liverpool’s defence is the stick with which Jurgen Klopp gets beaten.

His side conceded 42 league goals last season, second-worst in the top seven, and have already shipped 12 this campaign. Only rock-bottom Crystal Palace and West Ham have conceded more.

11:00: Good morning folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Manchester United.

Is it safe to come out yet? I’ve felt like Tom Hanks in Cast Away during the international break. Saying that, I think I would rather talk to Wilson about the weather than watch those two dreadful England games again…

But salvation is here as the Premier League returns with a BANG. BANG. BANG.

Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp go head-to-head at Anfield in the most eagerly-anticipated match of the season.

Let’s get going!

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

Forward Sadio Mane will miss the visit of Manchester United after being ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring problem sustained on international duty.

Philippe Coutinho is likely to be pushed forward to replace him with Emre Can coming back into midfield.

Midfielder Adam Lallana continued his recovery from a thigh strain in Qatar this week as he edges closer a comeback.

MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS

Marouane Fellaini looks set to miss Manchester United’s crunch Premier League clash.

The Belgium midfielder suffered a knee injury on international duty and joins fellow midfielders Michael Carrick and Paul Pogba on the sidelines.

Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic continue to recover from serious knee ligament injuries, but Jose Mourinho indicated that Phil Jones and Romelu Lukaku are available.

PROVISIONAL SQUADS

Liverpool squad: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Coutinho, Karius, Gomez, Klavan, Grujic, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge, Solanke.

Manchester United squad: De Gea, Romero, Pereira, Valencia, Darmian, Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Bailly, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Young, Matic, Herrera, McTominay, Mata, Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku, Rashford, Martial.

HISTORY

Last season: Man Utd 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 0 Man Utd 0

Last five league matches: Liverpool W L D W D; Man Utd W D W W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 6; Romelu Lukaku (Man Utd) 11