It may not have the title implications of bygone seasons but upsetting their bitter rivals’ title ambitions will be enough to motivate Manchester United, who themselves still have faint Champions League hopes.
Jurgen Klopp’s men head to the Theatre of Dreams fighting the bitter taste of the 4-3 FA Cup defeat which left the German’s fairytale quadruple in tatters.
Liverpool have suffered defeats in their last two visits to Old Trafford, since a Mo Salah hat-trick led them to a famous 5-0 victory in 2021, and know they cannot slip up if they hope to clinch their second Premier League title under Klopp.
Memories of Amad Diallo’s last-gasp winner will haunt the travelling fans but that would be quickly forgotten if they can produce another victory on enemy territory.
Liverpool have easily one of the strongest squads in world football, but how many of Ten Hag’s stars would make a combined XI? Here, Mail Sport runs the rule over the two sides ahead of the game.
FORMATION – 4-3-3
Goalkeeper
With Alisson still on the sidelines, both Andre Onana and Caoimhin Kelleher have a reasonable case to wear the gloves.
Despite his Champions League woes, Onana has had a solid debut season, with only Arsenal’s David Raya and Jordan Pickford of Everton having kept more clean sheets in the Premier League.
While some of the criticism for his European performances against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray were deserved, with his side crashing out in the group stage for the first time since 2015-16, he has grown into one of the most pressured roles in football. Just remember how long it took David de Gea to earn that shirt.
Young Irishman Kelleher has admirably filled the sizeable boots of Alisson, who should return from a thigh injury in the next few weeks just in time for the run-in.
Kelleher has just two clean sheets in his eight Premier League starts this season, with his most notable performance coming in their EFL Cup final victory in February.
Although they are both growing into their roles, Onana’s greater experience and growing consistency means he has to start between the sticks.
Verdict: Andre Onana (Man United 1-0 Liverpool)
Right back
In the absence of Liverpool’s local lad it is another young Irishman who will come in for his first start at Old Trafford.
Conor Bradley has been a breath of fresh air for this Liverpool side, giving fans hope that Trent Alexander-Arnold can be pushed further forward to let his attacking talent flourish.
Bradley has three assists and a goal in his seven league appearances for the Reds, already one more involvement than Diogo Dalot has in his 27 games this season.
Whilst still only 25, Dalot has been at United for almost six years now, but has never cemented a spot in the starting line-up.
He does lead United’s tight defence in interceptions and tackles this season and his steady form has often been forgotten behind their shaky results.
Bradley’s talent is clear to see and the Kop End adore his energy and passion. If Trent were around this would be a no-brainer, but his back-up is certainly a star in the making.
Verdict: Conor Bradley (Man United 1-1 Liverpool)
Centre backs
A Rolls Royce? A Bentley? A Ferrari? There seems to be no end to the priceless cars that get compared to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
In his six seasons with the club, Van Dijk has been the talismanic figure that fans could only have dreamt of when they splashed a mammoth £75million on him in 2018.
A Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and two EFL Cups have followed, alongside a second-place Ballon d’Or finish. The question is really who partners the Dutch dynamo.
England head to the Euros in the summer with an array of attacking talent, but centre back still proves to be a position that troubles Gareth Southgate’s men.
Harry Maguire’s inability to cement a spot in the team leaves his England position under threat.
Raphael Varane may not have been the same force he once was at the Bernabeu, but the four-time Champions League winner and world champion has had a steady season.
He averages almost six clearances per game and has only been dribbled past four times all season.
Some may argue that playing alongside Van Dijk is the easiest job in football, Ibrahima Konate has gone up the gears this year, often striding out of defence to lead the Liverpool charge.
A far higher duel success rate than Varane is tempting, but a costly dismissal against Arsenal shows that Konate still has a lot to learn.
Verdict: Virgil van Dijk and Raphael Varane (Man United 2-2 Liverpool)
Left back
Another spot that would have been locked up by the Reds if they had a fully fit squad.
Yet the absence of Andy Robertson has given Joe Gomez the chance to step up while Anfield’s latest beloved-Scotsman works his way back to full fitness.
It is easy to forget that Gomez has been at the club for almost nine years, but has never really found a consistent role under Klopp.
The Englishman has featured in 25 league games this season, his second highest for Liverpool, and will likely feature again with Robertson being slowly integrated back into the team.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has also never truly fulfilled the hype that drew United to splash £45million on him in 2019.
Although still a strong defender, he has featured in only 13 games so far this season and there are rumours that he may seek a move away from Old Trafford this summer.
In a way, neither side are totally happy with their left back situation at the moment, but Gomez has covered for Robertson well and provides a little more attacking flair that might be needed in such a big game.
Verdict: Joe Gomez (Man United 2-3 Liverpool)
Midfield
There is so much precocious midfield talent throughout the Premier League that these players often get overlooked.
Although overlooked, their clubs know the importance of the work that they do.
In a similar vein to Varane, Casemiro’s move from Real Madrid may not have brought a similar level of silverware, but we can’t forget the talent that filled his trophy cabinet.
Playing with Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho may not be of the same ilk as footballing icons Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, but the Brazilian’s experience has solidified the Red Devils in the centre of the park.
Sadly for Garnacho, his jaw-dropping overhead masterpiece against Everton does not bring him into this combined team, and Mainoo’s recent form and deserved England call-up is not quite enough here.
Yes it can be said that Alexis Mac Allister’s World Cup triumph can be predicated around the talent of a certain Argentinian maestro, but his debut season at Anfield has given him the chance to show off some flair of his own.
He leads the Reds in tackles and has been the heartbeat of a new-look Liverpool midfield.
He may not be the irresistible Rodri, a workhorse like Declan Rice or the ethereal Kevin De Bruyne, but he is the life and soul of an efficient Liverpool midfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai has a tough name to pronounce and a tough shot to stop, just ask Emi Martinez.
His work, alongside that of Ryan Gravenberch, has consistently gone under the radar but his talent is reminiscent of countrymen of many decades ago.
Could it be argued that this midfield three may not have the attacking wizardry to consistently unlock defences? Potentially. But just wait until you see who they are playing behind.
Verdict: Casemiro sits behind Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai (Man United 3-5 Liverpool)
Right wing
It just has to be Mohamed Salah doesn’t it?
The Egyptian king is the only non-Englishman to have 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
He trails only the Norwegian robot on the other side of Manchester and Ollie Watkins in goals and is one off the league’s assist high.
Salah has this season moved into the Premier League’s all-time top 10 goal scorers and onto the podium for non-Englishmen. The question is now how high can he rise.
United’s Mr Consistent has had a quiet season by his high standards, but still leads the side in assists, even if he has fallen far short of his stellar debut season.
Fernandes deserves an honourable mention, but there is only one winner here.
Verdict: Mo Salah (Man United 3-6 Liverpool)
Centre forward
In terms of pure box-office entertainment this is perhaps the greatest duel on the pitch.
It’s the South American ponytail against the Scandinavian locks as the two rapid, uncompromising strikers battle to lead the line.
Both players have had great success outside of the league this season, yet Nunez’s numbers show the presence he has been domestically.
He leads Hojlund 11 to seven in league goals and seven to two in assists, but has also hit the post nine times, five more than any other player in the league.
One word you cannot use to describe the Uruguayan is clinical, as he has only an 11 per cent shot conversion rate, compared to 23 per cent for Hojlund.
This duo both have a high ceiling and could develop into bona fide Premier League strikers but for pure theatre, we all know who should lead the line.
Verdict: Darwin Nunez (Man United 3-7 Liverpool)
Left wing
It is quite difficult to justify putting a United attacker into the front three when they have scored fewer goals than relegation-threatened Luton, but Marcus Rashford and Cody Gakpo is certainly debatable.
Rashford has appeared in almost every game for United this season, scoring seven times in the league to Gakpo’s six.
However, he has played almost twice as many minutes, 2,100 to the Dutchman’s 1,177 and has fewer assists in that time, three to two.
With the absence of Diogo Jota from Liverpool’s attacking triumvirate, Gakpo will step in at Old Trafford and attempt to claim back some of the £44.3million that they spent on him.
For many this match-up could be considered a draw, but the potential would lead you towards the Dutchman.
Verdict: Cody Gakpo (Man United 3-8 Liverpool)
Manager
It’s Klopp. End of story
Honourable mention
Fernandes is unlucky to miss out but he was never going to get past Salah. Given their league positions, it could be argued that Manchester United’s XI would not touch a full-strength Liverpool line-up.
