MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 15: Jose Mourinho manager of Manchester United and Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool argue on the touchline the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on January 15, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Manchester United head to Anfield this weekend full of confidence and tied on points atop the Premier League table.
Manchester United versus Liverpool is one of the biggest rivalries in football. The two teams and their respective fans literally can’t stand each other.
The Red Devils head in to this weekend’s fixture high on confidence and in form. Mourinho’s side have won six out of seven league matches with one draw. They are atop the table alongside Manchester City (they are behind their crosstown rivals on goal differential).
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Liverpool’s’ recent form is worrisome. The 4-0 demolition of Arsenal seems a long time ago. Following that superb display, Jurgen Klopp’s side have been marginal at best. In all competitions since, the Reds are 1-4-2. This includes a humiliating 5-0 loss to Manchester City.
Liverpool will be up for this match. Whenever these two rivals get together, anything can happen.
Despite this, here are five reasons that Manchester United will defeat Liverpool this weekend.
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<p>Liverpool’s’ recent form is worrisome. The 4-0 demolition of Arsenal seems a long time ago. Following that superb display, Jurgen Klopp’s side have been marginal at best. In all competitions since, the Reds are 1-4-2. This includes a humiliating 5-0 loss to Manchester City.</p>
<p>Liverpool will be up for this match. Whenever these two rivals get together, anything can happen.</p>
<p>Despite this, here are five reasons that Manchester United will defeat Liverpool this weekend.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Confidence </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-442827" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F10%2F855919564-manchester-united-v-crystal-palace-premier-league.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Romelu Lukaku (top) of Manchester United joins the celebration as Marouane Fellaini (2nd L) of Manchester United scroing his side’s third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on September 30, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Manchester United are full of confidence</h3>
<p>This might be the perfect time for Manchester United to visit Liverpool.</p>
<p>The Red Devils come in to the match riding high on confidence. The same cannot be said for Klopp and his players.</p>
<p>It’s amazing how winning can instill an added belief in one’s ability. Take for example<a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"http://www.espnfc.com/player/84535/marouane-fellaini"> Marouane Fellaini<i>. </i></a>The midfielder moved to Manchester from Everton during David Moyes’ brief time as manager.</p>
<p>He struggled to live up to expectations and was often the whipping boy for frustrated United fans.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Still have no idea why Fellaini is still at ManU he is terrible!</p>
<p>— DiazRafa98 (@rafa9579) <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://twitter.com/rafa9579/status/895012219997626370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>August 8, 2017</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Under Mourinho this season Fellaini has been a revelation. He’s in the best form of his career.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I never thought i’d say it but Fellaini was very much the deserved man of the match today.</p>
<p>— United Hour (@United_Hour) <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://twitter.com/United_Hour/status/914238293390319616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>September 30, 2017</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>United will be without Fellaini this weekend due to an injury suffered during the international break. Despite this, however, the United squad is deep and full of self-assurance.</p>
<p>The belief among Liverpool players is currently low. Whether that will change depends on the outcome of this match.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Defense </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-442828" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F10%2F844899852-manchester-city-v-liverpool-premier-league.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Manchester United are stronger defensively</h3>
<p>A look at current statistics show that the United defense has been hard to breach. Through the first seven matches of the new season they have only given up two goals. At the same time, they have been scoring in bunches and have a healthy goal differential of 20.</p>
<p>Liverpool have been a bit easier to break down. Opponents have netted 12 times. Only last place Crystal Palace and West Ham United have given up more goals.</p>
<p>Liverpool were pursuing Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk throughout the summer. In the end, they were unable to sign the player and never addressed the team’s defensive needs in the transfer market.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/9063DFG-nMc?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>The Reds’ first-choice back four has been criticized for letting leads slip away. Left back Alberto Moreno has been used regularly this campaign despite only starting eight total league matches last season.</p>
<p>Youngsters Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez have been thrust in to action with little league experience.</p>
<p>Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip have been guilty of some questionable defending.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Pressure </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-441895" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F09%2F847892640-liverpool-v-burnley-premier-league.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Burnley at Anfield on September 16, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>The pressure is on Liverpool</h3>
<p>Liverpool are the home side and the pressure will be squarely on the shoulders of Klopp and his players.</p>
<p>The fans will be behind their team. However, should things go astray it could be an uncomfortable afternoon on Merseyside.</p>
<p>United come in as the favorites, but a loss wouldn’t be enough to create a crisis. The Red Devils are off to a flying start so it would be looked at as a blip rather than a major catastrophe.</p>
<p>Should Liverpool lose, the word “crisis” will be thrown around by pundits and more questions will be asked of Klopp.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain effect </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-441351" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F09%2F844919744-manchester-city-v-liverpool-premier-league.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool reacts after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Liverpool’s fortunes have gone downhill since the signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on transfer deadline day</h3>
<p>Of course Liverpool’s poor form is not Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fault. Unfortunately for him, it hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans that things started to go downhill for the Reds following his transfer from Arsenal on deadline day.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>In this era of social media it’s easy to spread conspiracy theories and memes. The Ox has become the sacrificial lamb for disgruntled Liverpool fans.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Since Liverpool signed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:</p>
<p>❌ L 5-0<br>
D 2-2<br>
D 1-1<br>
❌ L 2-0<br>
✅ W 3-2<br>
D 1-1<br>
D 1-1</p>
<p>What a signing! <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://t.co/WypbrdvpgE">pic.twitter.com/WypbrdvpgE
<p>— Footy Jokes (@Footy_Jokes) <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://twitter.com/Footy_Jokes/status/914558053189668864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>October 1, 2017</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Interestingly, the <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&q=%23KloppOut&src=typd%22>#KloppOut</a> hashtag has appeared more often recently on Twitter than <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&q=%23WengerOut&src=typd%22>#WengerOut.</a></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Manchester United have a more complete squad </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-442831" src=https://playingfor90.com/2017/10/10/five-reasons-manchester-united-will-defeat-liverpool/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F10%2F850254902-manchester-united-v-burton-albion-carabao-cup-third-round.jpg-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Anthony Martial of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Burton Albion at Old Trafford on September 20, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>The Manchester United team has more depth than Liverpool</h3>
<p>United have suffered injury blows recently to Paul Pogba and Fellaini. While both players will be missed, Mourinho has competent replacements at his disposal. Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera can easily slot in.</p>
<p>The summer signing of Nemanja Matić has proved a brilliant coup by Mourinho. The former Chelsea star has brought stability and confidence to United’s midfield.</p>
<p>Offensively they are loaded. Romelu Lukaku is scoring at will so far. Youngsters Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have been in good form as well. Then there’s the fact that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is working his way back from injury.</p>
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