Liverpool - Man Utd (10:30 p.m., October 19): When Anfield turns dangerous

An unlikely scenario is emerging in the Premier League: Man Utd could close the gap with defending champions Liverpool to just two points on the night of October 19, if they continue to extend their Merseyside rivals' disappointing run in the big clash at Anfield.

While Arne Slot's Liverpool were on a three-game losing streak in all competitions before the international break, the Red Devils were looking for their fourth win in six Premier League games. Two more positive results for United and two more negative results for Liverpool would see Ruben Amorim's side leapfrog the reigning champions in the table, lifting the Portuguese's gloomy mood.

Liverpool - Man Utd (22h30, 19/10): Khi Anfield nhuộm màu nguy hiểm - 1 — Coach Amorim is under great pressure as Man Utd have not played as well as expected (Photo: Getty).

Man Utd have been on a positive run of form with two wins in their last three Premier League games, most recently a 2-0 home win over Sunderland on October 4. Mason Mount's early opener and Benjamin Sesko's second have lifted the Red Devils into the top half of the table, as they rebuild their Old Trafford fortress with three consecutive home wins.

However, Amorim have yet to win back-to-back games in the English top flight and the record suggests that is unlikely to happen this weekend, as the visitors have failed to win any of their last eight away games in the Premier League.

Only Brentford and Burnley have a worse away record than United this season. Although Amorim's side earned a deserved point at Anfield in a 2-2 draw last season, Liverpool have not lost at home to the Red Devils in league play since 2016.

Renowned for their last-minute heroics in the early stages of the season, injury time has now become a nightmare for Liverpool. The reigning champions have been left empty-handed against Chelsea and Crystal Palace after goals conceded after the 90th minute. A 2-1 loss to Chelsea two weeks ago saw Liverpool lose top spot to Arsenal, who increased the gap between the two sides to four points after a 1-0 win over Fulham on the night of 18 October.

Liverpool - Man Utd (22h30, 19/10): Khi Anfield nhuộm màu nguy hiểm - 2 — Liverpool lost their last two Premier League matches in injury time (Photo: Getty).

Sandwiched between Liverpool’s two Premier League defeats was a 1-0 Champions League defeat at Galatasaray, with the Turkish side well placed to win by a greater margin that night despite the key statistics favouring the visitors. The pessimists at Anfield may have feared such a defeat, as none of the team’s first five Premier League wins this season have been entirely convincing.

Only time will tell whether Liverpool’s plight is just the beginning of a summer of upheaval or the beginning of a longer-term downward spiral. However, the reigning champions are no longer the unstoppable force they were at this time last year, especially in defence. Since beating Burnley in mid-September, Liverpool have failed to keep a clean sheet in six Premier League games and have conceded nine goals, the most of any team in the top nine, level with Chelsea.

The last time Liverpool suffered three consecutive Premier League defeats was in February 2021, when teams were playing behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now the Reds are facing a similar run of poor results as Man Utd are likely to arrive at Anfield with a carefree attitude.

Competition force

Liverpool received good news on the squad when coach Slot confirmed Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch are both ready to play against Man Utd. This is positive news in the context of the Merseyside team lacking positive news recently.

However, first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, along with Giovanni Leoni (ACL injury). Wataru Endo's condition has not been updated, but the Japanese player is likely to be limited to a substitute role.

Liverpool - Man Utd (22h30, 19/10): Khi Anfield nhuộm màu nguy hiểm - 3 — Midfielder Gravenberch on Liverpool's training ground before the match against Man Utd (Photo: Getty).

As for Man Utd, their defense continues to have problems as Lisandro Martinez still needs a few more weeks to recover from a knee injury. Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven are also on the injury watch list.

However, coach Amorim reassured fans about the situation of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Amad Diallo and Matheus Cunha. The four players were absent from Thursday's training session simply to have more time to recover from international matches and will be ready for the weekend's match.

Mohamed Salah, who made history in World Cup qualifying, will be expected to continue his impressive form. The Egyptian has been involved in 19 Premier League goals against Man Utd, more than any other player in the history of the competition.

Meanwhile, Cunha could be benched if the trio of Mount, Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo are retained in the starting line-up. Coach Amorim is also said to be considering giving Manuel Ugarte a surprise starting opportunity, after the midfielder was left out of the Uruguay squad.