Liverpool are hosting Manchester United in the Premier League this afternoon as the league leaders looking to extend their lead at the top of the table, with the fixture set to go ahead despite heavy snow overnight.
A second safety meeting was held just before midday to determine whether the clash could be staged at Anfield after an amber weather warning was issued for much of the north of England. And the go-ahead was given with the situation improving in the city after runways had earlier been closed at both Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport amid widespread travel disruption.
With the fixture on, Arne Slot’s side will be looking to further seize control of the title race. More dropped points for Arsenal yesterday only strengthens Liverpool’s position with a game still in hand on their rivals. Things are rather less buoyant at Old Trafford at the moment with the arrival of Ruben Amorim not transforming Manchester United’s fortunes. The visitors have won just two league matches since he took over in November, with recent losses to Wolves and Newcastle illustrating the scale of the job on the Portuguese’s hands.
Follow all the latest news from Anfield in our live blog below:
Liverpool vs Manchester United LIVE
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Liverpool host Manchester United in Premier League | Kick-off 4.30pm live on Sky Sports
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Fixture to go ahead despite heavy overnight snow in the north of England
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Hosts top the league and welcome struggling rivals to Anfield
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Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Diaz.
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Man Utd XI: Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martínez; Mazraoui, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes; Hojlund
Liverpool FC – Manchester United FC
Match facts
16:10 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool have won their last three Premier League matches, scoring 3+ goals in each victory with 14 goals in total. They last had a longer winning run while scoring three or more goals in each win in February/March 2014 (six in a row).
Manchester United have lost their last three Premier League games. They haven’t lost four league games in a row in the same season since between December and February 1979, while they last suffered four defeats in a row without scoring back in April 1909.
Manchester United can reverse damning decline with one missing quality: ‘We are starving’
16:05 , Chris Wilson
When Ruben Amorim got to convey good news, it still came with a demand. He informed Harry Maguire that Manchester United were triggering the extension to his contract, capping a personal renaissance after the defender lost his place and the captaincy under Erik ten Hag. But Amorim wants to see more as Maguire is tied down for another year at Old Trafford. “He has to improve as a leader,” said the head coach.
If Amorim was imported to bring his brand of leadership, a youthful manager feels he has too few authority figures on the field. “When you look at our team, we are starving for leaders on the pitch,” said Amorim. If it was damning, United have some of the symptoms of teams who often lack leaders.
They can struggle to respond to setbacks. They concede goals in quick succession; two in three minutes to Bournemouth, in seven to Nottingham Forest, in nine to Tottenham. They sometimes lose their way in games. Over the last two years, they have suffered heavy defeats or lost matches when they had the pressure of being favourites. There are times when they lack control: it could be attributed in the past to the sacked Ten Hag’s chaotic tactics and more recently to a struggle to adapt to Amorim’s very different system.
Man Utd can reverse damning decline with one missing quality
Recent meetings: Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool
16:00 , Chris Wilson
Rewind to the beginning of this season, and a hopeful Manchester United hosted Arne Slot’s new Liverpool side at Old Trafford.
Less was known about the Dutchman at this point in the season, but his side produced a brilliant performance to take a 3-0 away win in what was also one of the major steps towards United sacking Erik ten Hag.
Two mistakes from Casemiro helped Liverpool on the way, with Luis Diaz bagging a first-half brace before Mo Salah finished the game off in the 56th minute.
Liverpool have hardly looked back, losing just one game since.
Liverpool’s vision revealed by Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim’s key difference
15:55 , Chris Wilson
Jurgen Klopp dropped his bombshell, he later revealed, in November 2023. In January 2024, he went public. Liverpool’s search for a manager could begin; not publicly, given their preference for doing their business as quietly as possible, but at least with one layer of secrecy removed.
They were soon informed that Xabi Alonso was minded to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for another year. To many in the wider world, Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim assumed a status as the frontrunner after that. Not so, Liverpool would say; he was merely one of several they looked into. There was no preferred choice, they insist, until they alighted on Feyenoord’s Arne Slot. But he seemed to emerge from the shadows. The high-profile nature of the Portuguese’s candidacy contrasted with the low-key approach adopted by Slot. He got the job by stealth, almost without warning.
Five months after he might have done, Amorim will make it to Anfield on Sunday; but in charge of Manchester United. A meeting of managerial opposites has given them very different experiences in charge of England’s two biggest clubs. Slot has had the smoothest of starts at Liverpool, Amorim the rockiest of beginnings at United. Slot has taken his team to the top of the Premier League and Champions League tables. Amorim has warned his new employers are at risk of dropping into the Championship. “This club needs a shock,” he said on Monday.
Liverpool’s vision revealed by Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim’s key difference
Ruben Amorim admits Manchester United players are ‘anxious and afraid’ ahead of Liverpool clash
15:50 , Chris Wilson
Ruben Amorim admitted Manchester United’s struggles have taken their toll on him over the past seven weeks.
Any initial managerial bounce Amorim enjoyed after replacing Erik ten Hag in mid-November has quickly faded and United will head to Anfield on Sunday on a run of four straight defeats, six in their last eight, having slumped to 14th in the Premier League.
Amorim had warned after the 4-0 win over Everton at the start of December that the “storm will come” and so it has proven as United have lost their last three league games by conceding seven and scoring none.
Ruben Amorim admits Man Utd players are ‘anxious and afraid’ ahead of Liverpool clash
Match facts
15:45 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games against Manchester United (W7 D5), going down 2-1 at Old Trafford in August 2022.
United haven’t won any of their last eight league away games against Liverpool (D4 L4), their longest such run since a run of nine between 1970 and 1979. They have scored just one goal in their last eight Premier League away games against Liverpool, failing to score in each of the last five.
Slot addresses rumours
15:40 , Chris Wilson
Arne Slot had plenty of rumours to address in his press conference, and he started by saying that Alexander-Arnold “is playing on Sunday and hopefully he brings the same performance that he has done for the first half of the season.
“I see the way he is in training and he is fully committed to us,” he added.
On van Dijk, he said: “He is a complete player. He is the one that leads the team from start to finish. From the moment I blow my whistle on the training ground, he is the one player that you can always hear. He brings a lot of positive energy.”
On Salah: “I think it’s difficult to compare players. If I only look at my own team, Virgil also has an outstanding season but he doesn’t have the numbers because he is a defender. The numbers Mo has speak for themselves. If you simply look at the numbers and the way he’s playing, he’s definitely a great, great player.”
He added: “It is always important that you have players or staff players that know how to work things. But we are here at one of the best clubs in the world so it is normal that we have players that have won things in their career.”
Mohamed Salah provides update on Liverpool contract talks: ‘It’s my last year in the club’
15:35 , Chris Wilson
Mohamed Salah has said he refuses to be distracted by the uncertainty about his future, as he concentrates on having an “unbelievable season” to meet his target of winning the Premier League again with Liverpool.
The Egypt forward is in the last six months of his contract and said he is still “far away” from agreeing a new deal with the club.
But Salah leads the way in Premier League for both goals and assists, with 17 and 13, as he has helped Liverpool take a six-point lead.
Mohamed Salah provides update on Liverpool contract talks
Team news
15:32 , Richard Jolly at Anfield
“Unsurprisingly, Ruben Amorim does not stick with the double act of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen after their unfortunate outing against Newcastle.
“Instead, he makes three changes. As expected, Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte return from suspension and Kobbie Mainoo comes into the team after making a difference as a substitute against Newcastle.
“Joshua Zirkzee also drops out, which is no great shock after fans welcomed his first-half removal on Monday. For Liverpool, Ibrahima Konate is the surprise inclusion, returning earlier from injury than anticipated.”
Team news
15:28 , Chris Wilson
Ruben Amorim has made three changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Newcastle last time out.
In midfield, Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte return from suspension to take back their places from Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. In addition, Kobbie Mainoo replaces Joshua Zirkzee.
Team news
15:23 , Chris Wilson
A huge boost for Liverpool, who welcome back Ibrahima Konate – he is the only change made by Arne Slot, and he replaces Joe Gomez.
It’s probably as strong a team as Slot can name, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez the main attacking options from the bench.
Line-ups
15:17 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Jones, Gakpo; Diaz.
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Chiesa, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley.
Man Utd XI: Onana; de Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Fernandes, Ugarte, Dalot; Amad, Mainoo; Hojlund.
Subs: Bayindir, Malacia, Casemiro, Yoro, Collyer, Eriksen, Antony, Garnacho, Zirkzee.
Team news
15:10 , Chris Wilson
Team news is imminent at Anfield. Does Ruben Amorim have a curveball up his sleeve to try and disrupt Liverpool’s planning? All will be revealed…
Recent meetings: Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd
15:00 , Chris Wilson
In March 2023, United travelled to Anfield having recently won the Carabao Cup, with manager Erik ten Hag having received plenty of praise for his supposed ‘turnaround’ of the club. However, the Dutchman was soon to endure one of the worst matches in United’s history.
Towards the end of a first half that was surprisingly even, the hosts struck first through Cody Gakpo to bring the game to life. From there, it was all downhill for United as Gakpo and Darwin Nunez added two more goals before the 50-minute mark in the second half.
In a match of comical defending and ridiculous goals, Mo Salah struck twice either side of Nunez’s second, before Bobby Firmino put the icing on the cake for home fans in the 88th minute to cap off a historic day at Anfield.
Arne Slot reveals surprise Liverpool benefit from Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer saga
14:45 , Chris Wilson
Arne Slot has claimed that the saga about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is helpful to him as it prevents his Liverpool players from being overloaded with praise that could make them complacent.
Real Madrid made an initial approach for the right-back this week, which Liverpool rebuffed before the Champions League holders could even make a bid.
But Alexander-Arnold, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, is out of contract in the summer and could leave Anfield on a free transfer. The 26-year-old has been able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs since New Year’s Day and Real have made no secret of their interest in him.
Arne Slot reveals surprise Liverpool benefit from Trent Alexander-Arnold saga
Liverpool’s contract situations
14:30 , Chris Wilson
A reminder that Alexander-Arnold is now free to negotiate with other clubs as he has just six months left on his contract. Plenty of speculation surrounds the right-back, though another two key players are also in the middle of contract negotiations – Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
Like Alexander-Arnold, Salah’s situation is receiving plenty of attention due to his on-field exploits and the appearance that the contract is no closer to being agreed.
Van Dijk’s situation appears a lot more easy to resolve, with many reports circulating that it is only a matter of time before the Dutchman agrees a new deal.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot responds to Trent Alexander-Arnold concerns amid Real Madrid transfer interest
14:20 , Chris Wilson
Arne Slot acknowled he has had conversations with Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Liverpool right-back the subject of an initial enquiry from Real Madrid heading into the new year.
With the vice-captain out of contract in summer he’s now allowed to discuss terms with overseas clubs for a potential free transfer at the end of the season, though reports suggest the Spanish club could return with an offer to take him to Madrid this month.
That’s despite the Reds rejecting their initial conversations over a deal, amid an intention to continue negotiating over an extension for the England international.
Liverpool boss Slot responds to Alexander-Arnold concerns amid transfer interest
Manchester United make Harry Maguire contract decision and issue Amad Diallo update
14:05 , Chris Wilson
Manchester United have triggered their option to extend Harry Maguire’s contract to keep their former captain at Old Trafford until 2026.
Head coach Ruben Amorim, who said Amad Diallo is also close to agreeing an extended deal, said he was happy to tie Maguire down for another year but called on the centre back to be more of a leader.
Maguire joined United for £80m in 2019, a world-record fee for a defender, but was stripped of the captaincy by former manager Erik ten Hag in 2023. But he worked his way back into the team last season, and with Amorim preferring to play a back three, he has started each of their last three games.
Man Utd make Harry Maguire contract decision and issue Amad Diallo update
Recent meetings: Man Utd 4-3 Liverpool
13:55 , Chris Wilson
Last season, United managed to scrape some decent results against their old rivals as the Jurgen Klopp era came to an end. A 2-2 draw in the league at Old Trafford came as Liverpool’s title challenge faded, but it was in the FA Cup where the Theatre of Dreams lived up to its name for home fans.
Klopp’s side travelled to Manchester as obvious favourites ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final tie in March, but United were ahead within 10 minutes thanks to Scott McTominay bundling in from close range.
From there though, the visitors dominated, with Alexis Mac Allister equalising and then Mo Salah giving them the lead before half-time. It looked like petering out into a simple win for Liverpool, before Antony struck in the 87th minute to force extra-time.
However, the Reds once again grabbed the lead through Harvey Elliott, before Marcus Rashford rifled in another equaliser and penalties loomed.
Nevertheless, there was time for one more twist in the tale, as United countered from a Liverpool corner and Garnacho laid it off to Amad Diallo, who squeezed in a shot across goal and past Kelleher to spark bedlam at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford rejects Saudi Arabia move amid speculation over Manchester United exit
13:45 , Chris Wilson
Marcus Rashford has rejected three offers from the Saudi Pro Leagueworth up to £35m a year, as he insists on only going to a competitive club and league if he is to leave Manchester United.
The Old Trafford hierarchy are willing to listen to offers for the 27-year-old in the January transfer window, with the forward himself publicly stating he is now open to a new challenge. That has come amid new manager Ruben Amorim leaving him out of the matchday squad for a series of games, as he begins plans to overhaul the team.
It is understood that Saudi Arabian clubs were the first to act on this, with three of them making offers that would involve wages in excess of Rashford’s £315,000-a-week contract at United. The player has already turned these down, and has made it known he is unwilling to move to Turkey, as he desires a move that would help to win back his England place in time for the 2026 World Cup.
Marcus Rashford rejects Saudi Arabia move amid speculation over Man Utd exit
Arne Slot reveals double fitness boost for Liverpool ahead of hosting Manchester United
13:30 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed centre-back Joe Gomez is set to miss “a few weeks” after suffering an injury last time out – but also highlighted good news for the Premier League leaders on the fitness front with two other defenders set to return to full training.
The Reds sit top of the table and host out-of-form Manchester United on Sunday, with Slot facing something of a defensive problem with only five senior players available in the back line, two of which are left-backs.
Gomez had been partnering Virgil van Dijk in the middle of late, but a hamstring issue picked up against West Ham means he’ll miss at least a handful of fixtures this month.
Slot reveals double fitness boost for Liverpool ahead of hosting Man United
Prediction
13:15 , Chris Wilson
As the odds suggest, it is difficult to see anything other than a convincing home win in this one. With Liverpool looking to extend their lead at the top and United looking incapable of keeping sides from scoring, it could get ugly for the visitors.
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester United.
Predicted line-ups
13:00 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz.
Man Utd XI: Onana; de Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Fernandes, Ugarte, Dalot; Diallo, Garnacho; Hojlund.
Early team news
12:52 , Chris Wilson
For United, there are no new injury concerns after the loss to Newcastle, with Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Mason Mount all remaining sidelined.
Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte will return from suspension, and they will likely move straight into midfield after the disaster at Old Trafford earlier in the week.
It remains to be seen whether Marcus Rashford will be in the squad or perhaps even in the starting eleven, though the poor performances of Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho in recent weeks do suggest that Ruben Amorim needs to try something different.
Liverpool vs Manchester United LIVE
12:20 , Chris Wilson
So Liverpool will indeed face Manchester United at Anfield in the Premier League this afternoon, with the Reds looking to extend their five-point lead at the top of the table.
Arne Slot’s side began the year six points ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand over the Gunners, though they will be aware that any slip up can be costly despite being overwhelming favourites for the title already.
But they will be supremely confident as they face a United side with just two league wins under new manager Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese having seen his side crumble to defeats against Newcastle, Wolves and Bournemouth in the last fortnight alone.
The 39-year-old admitted that United were potentially in a relegation battle as it stands, and it could well get worse before it gets better, with the Red Devils having started the weekend just seven points clear of the drop zone.
Liverpool vs Manchester United LIVE
12:15 , Karl Matchett in Liverpool
“Well that’s a new one: the train conductor just announced over the tannoy that the match is indeed on.
“A few from London were cancelled earlier but for the most part it has looked relatively smooth for those making their way towards Anfield from different parts of the country.
“On the ground in the city, we’re advised snow fell overnight but there has been rain since, and it’s not heavy right now.
“Doubtless the ground staff will be hard at work for a few hours but there’s little reason to think we can look forward to anything other than another interesting meeting between these two old rivals.”
Liverpool confirm clash with Manchester United will go ahead
12:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle
“Today’s fixture against Manchester United will go ahead as planned,” Liverpool have confirmed on X. “Two safety meetings were held earlier to assess the weather and travel conditions.
“We thank everyone involved in helping us to get this game on today. If you’re travelling to Anfield then please take extra care. We look forward to seeing you there.”
GAME ON! Liverpool vs Manchester United set to go ahead
12:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The news from Anfield is that Liverpool vs Manchester United is set to go ahead despite heavy snow this morning.
Snow hits Liverpool ahead of Manchester United clash
11:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Just 15 minutes until that safety meeting, then. At this stage, the match is still set to go ahead as scheduled – though you can see just how heavy the fall was last night. This chap is eyeing a spot in Manchester United’s midfield, where he might add some mobility.
