On this evening in the English Premier League, there will be extraordinary 17th round matches. "Anfield" stadium awaits the North West derby - "Liverpool" hosting "Manchester United" footballers.
In the tournament table, these teams are not competing this season - Jose Mourinho's wards are showing very poor results and are already behind the leading "Liverpool" by 16 points. However, J. Mourinho's team is not the most favorable for the "Reds", so once again, a fierce battle is expected.
The match will start at 18:00 Lithuanian time.
Both teams had a tough week in the UEFA Champions League. If "Manchester United" was calm in the last round to reach the quarter-finals, then "Liverpool" players played essentially final-like matches against "Napoli".
Jurgen Klopp's team managed to survive and advance to the quarter-finals even after experiencing three defeats. "Man Utd" lost the last group match to "Valencia", but still remained in second place.
Both "Liverpool" and "Man Utd" were able to enjoy themselves last weekend in the English Premier League. The "Reds", led by Mohamed Salah, crushed "Bournemouth" 4-0, while the Manchester team beat London's "Fulham" 4-1.
"Liverpool" has won four consecutive victories since losing to Paris Saint-Germain, keeping their goal dry three times in those four matches and scoring nine goals in total.
In the last five matches, "Man Utd" have two wins, two draws, and a loss against Valencia. J. Mourinho's troops have only conceded a goal in the Champions League match against "Young Boys".
The results of these clubs in the Premier League are incomparable - "Liverpool" has not experienced a defeat and has 13 wins. On the other hand, "Man Utd" has already suffered four losses, played five draws, and won seven times.
Both teams have recently faced defensive problems. J. Klopp will have to do without Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, and most likely Trent Alexander-Arnold. "Man Utd" missed Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Luke Shaw, and Chris Smalling in the match against Valencia, but J. Mourinho confirmed in a press conference that Lindelof, Dalot, and Shaw will be ready for the match against "Liverpool".
Interesting facts:
- "Liverpool" may fail to win for the ninth consecutive match against "Manchester United" in the English Premier League, which hasn't happened since 1987.
- Throughout their history, "Man Utd" has suffered 66 losses against "Liverpool" - more than against any other opponent.
- The last time the teams played three consecutive draws at "Anfield" was in 1921. If today's match ends in a draw, it would be almost a century-old achievement.
- "Liverpool" had a better start in the Premier League only in 1990 when they went undefeated for 23 matches. Now, "Liverpool" can extend their unbeaten streak to 17 matches.
- If "Liverpool" manages to keep a clean sheet against "Man Utd", they will become the team that has kept the most clean sheets in the first 17 matches in English football history.
- "Man Utd" victory against "Fulham" was the first after five failed attempts in the Premier League - three draws and one defeat.
- "The Red Devils" have already conceded 26 goals in 16 matches - two goals fewer than in the entire previous season.
- The 16-point deficit for "Man Utd" against "Liverpool" is the largest at this stage of the season since 1990.
