Premier League: Pride and places at stake as Manchester United host Liverpool

While the title race takes a back seat this weekend — with only Arsenal in action — the battle for Champions League places comes sharply into focus. Centre stage is Sunday afternoon’s meeting between third and fourth at Old Trafford, where Manchester United and Liverpool collide with league position, pride, and managerial futures all on the line.

Perception, as ever, is a curious thing. Michael Carrick has been widely praised for his work since stepping in as United’s interim manager, with sections of the media already making the case for him to be handed the job full-time. Across the divide, Liverpool and Arne Slot have endured a season of criticism and scrutiny. Yet only three points separate the sides – a gap that could be wiped out entirely by Sunday evening.

That disparity in narrative is rooted largely in expectation. Twelve months ago, United were flirting with relegation, while Liverpool were marching towards a historic 20th league title. Few would have predicted that, a year on, both clubs would be jostling for the same rung of the table.

Managerial stakes

But here we are. United have found a rich vein of form since Carrick took over in January, winning nine of his next 13 matches, drawing two, and losing two. A stark contrast to the final 13 games of Ruben Amorim’s tenure, where the Portuguese boss could only muster three victories.

It is understandable therefore, that there would be a push for Carrick to become the full-time manager at Old Trafford come next season. But Carrick fans should note that the favourable results have come while United have had zero distractions from any cup competitions, which they all exited under Amorim, allowing them significant recovery time in comparison to many of the sides they have met recently, who were bouncing off the hectic treadmill of midweek European games and/or battling in the Carabao and FA Cups domestically. Being fresh at this time of the year is a significant benefit.

The same can now be said for Liverpool, who have steadied their Premier League form and push for a Champions League place since they went out of that competition to PSG in the quarter finals. But fans and pundits have not been so forgiving of Slot, as Liverpool’s side this term is a shadow of last season, despite half a billion pound being spent on new players.

A combination of that new talent struggling to get up to speed, injuries to key players, and a downturn in performance of once seemingly invincible players, has seen Liverpool absent from title contention for three quarters of the season, much to everyone’s surprise.

Good run ends

Still, a favourable result on Sunday would see them return to third place on the table, a place they have not inhabited since last October and may also ease the pressure on calls for Slot’s removal. Against that, is that the likelihood of Liverpool winning on Sunday is rather slim. United have the chance of completing the home and away double against their hated neighbours for the first time since the 2007-2008 season. In between that time, Liverpool have inflicted some seriously embarrassing defeats across several United managers not least the 5-0, 4-0, and 7-0 hammerings between 2021 and 2023. But the form for United, in the second part of the season, would indicate that such results are extremely unlikely and the home side will go in favourites to win this northwest derby for the first time in many years.

The absence of Matheus Cunha (injury) and Lisandro Martinez (suspension) will be a setback for the Red Devils but that will be more than balanced by the absence of Mo Salah from the Liverpool ranks. The Egyptian has a great Old Trafford record, scoring 10 goals in nine appearances there. Seven straight in consecutive visits. Salah is the eight highest scorers of Premier League goals at Old Trafford in the 2020s. And that includes Man United players.

Without Salah and the inform Hugo Ekitke, Liverpool will struggle and if United break quickly and move the transition through Bruno Fernandes at midfield, or smartly use set-pieces, a Liverpool weakness, then they can knock the Merseysiders back on their heels.

Still, there should not be too much in this, as both sides will not want to lose this more than they will want to win it. Afterall, a win or defeat here could be the making or breaking of Carrick’s and Slot’s futures as managers at their respective clubs.