This weekend, Manchester United will welcome Liverpool for an eagerly awaited Premier League fixture, highlighting a contest between two notable managers, Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot. This will be their fifth encounter, following their previous matchups in the Dutch Eredivisie. Their past meetings were fiercely contested: Slot’s Feyenoord triumphed over Ten Hag’s Ajax twice during the 2019-20 season, but Ajax retaliated with victories in the subsequent season.
With both managers now leading teams in the Premier League, their tactical duel is expected to be equally captivating. This game will also be historically significant as it will be the first instance since 2016 that two Dutch managers have faced each other in the Premier League, the last occurrence being Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea against Ronald Koeman’s Southampton.
Manchester United’s season so far has been inconsistent. After winning their first game against Fulham, they recently lost to Brighton. A win over Liverpool could potentially revitalize their season and boost their momentum. However, United has struggled against Liverpool in recent years, securing only one win in their last 12 Premier League matchups—a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford during the 2022-23 season. Liverpool, in contrast, has been strong, winning both of their opening fixtures against Ipswich and Brentford and showing resilience in their recent away games at Old Trafford.
Regarding team updates, Manchester United may be without Mason Mount, who was substituted against Brighton due to injury. Mount’s absence would be significant given his injury issues last season. Other players like Rasmus Hojlund, Luke Shaw, and Leny Yoro are also likely to be unavailable, while Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt might make their debut starts.
Liverpool’s lineup is also facing changes. Jarrell Quansah might be out due to a minor problem, likely leading to Ibrahima Konate partnering with Virgil van Dijk, who is set to make his 200th appearance for Liverpool. Despite these adjustments, Liverpool’s squad remains robust, with Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz expected to maintain their positions, and Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez ready to add attacking depth.
Notably, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has been particularly effective against Liverpool, scoring seven goals in ten appearances at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is the highest-scoring visiting player at Old Trafford in Premier League history, with six goals there. Salah has also been prolific in recent away games against Manchester United, scoring in each of his last six matches and totaling nine goals.
In other developments, Manchester United is nearing a deal for Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain. Ugarte has been recognized as a great fit for United and has been favorably compared to a Liverpool legend by South American football expert Tim Vickery. This potential transfer could further enhance United’s squad as they look to improve their league position.
