Who: Manchester United vs Liverpool
What: Premier League
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester
When: Sunday, May 3 at 3:30pm (14:30 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 11:30 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.
Manchester United host old rivals Liverpool for a game that could prove crucial in the battle for Champions League qualification.
United have improved considerably under caretaker boss Michael Carrick, who took charge following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.
They sit third in the table, three points ahead of Liverpool, and need two more points to secure a top-five finish and a spot among Europe’s elite next season.
Liverpool come into the match on the back of three successive Premier League wins.
Carrick believes Manchester United against Liverpool is always a “standout” fixture even though neither of the clubs are challenging for the Premier League title this season.
“Certainly one of my favourite games, without doubt it’s a standout game,” the United boss said. “There’s big games and big rivalries that we have with other teams, but certainly this one is right up there.
“The history, the ups and downs the past has produced in these types of games and the excitement and entertainment, and the emotion, which is a huge part of it. It makes it a really special game.”
The former United midfielder said the club had made great strides since last season, when they finished a miserable 15th in the table, 42 points behind champions Liverpool.
“I just think this probably shows the improvements of the group, really, and getting stronger,” he said.
“And to be coming into this game in such a good position, on the back of good results, and trying to achieve and moving forward.
“So, fully aware of the situation in the league and how close it is between us. But that’s not something, really, we’ve focused on going into this game. I think it’s a one-off game.”
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is one assist away from the single-season record of 20 shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Carrick believes Fernandes should be rewarded with the league’s Player of the Year award for his performances this season.
“Hopefully he does [win it],” Carrick said after Monday’s 2-1 win over Brentford.
“He deserves it for the impact he has had and the moments he’s created, whether it’s creating or scoring or having other influence within the group. He’s had a big season.”
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah will miss Sunday’s game due to a muscle injury, but manager Arne Slot confirmed on Friday that he was expected to return before the end of the season.
Salah was forced off during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last week with a hamstring concern, prompting fears it could end his campaign and potentially his Anfield career, with the Egyptian set to leave at the end of the campaign.
Liverpool said on Wednesday the injury was not as serious as initially feared and that Salah should feature again before the campaign concludes.
“As we know from Mo [Salah], he is always working incredibly hard when he is fit but also when he is injured to be back as soon as possible,” Slot told reporters.
“We expect him to be back for the final part of the season but not for Sunday [against Man Utd].
“In all ways, it is a big relief that his injury is minor, so he is able to play for us and at the World Cup. If ever there was a player that deserves a big send-off, it is definitely Mo.”
Slot praised Carrick for improving United and stressed the importance of the game.
“We are aware of the fact that it is a very big game, not only because we play United but also to qualify for Champions League and to get the highest possible position in the league table,” Slot said.
“We always know that they are really good but now they are showing it in the league table. It might be a bit of an advantage that they only play once a week.
“When we have played them every time, I have seen how good they are and now they have, especially under Michael Carrick, become more consistent in their results.”
The two clubs have met on 243 occasions, with Manchester United winning 92 games to Liverpool’s 82, while 71 of the matches ended as draws.
Last five encounters:
Harry Maguire scored a late winner as United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in October to inflict a then fourth straight defeat on the champions.
Bryan Mbeumo put United in front after two minutes and although Cody Gakpo equalised in the 78th minute, Maguire grabbed his club’s first win at Anfield since 2016 with an 84th-minute header.
Carrick said forward Matheus Cunha had returned to training after a recent injury setback and should feature and he also said he was hopeful that Luke Shaw would be fit enough to play.
Matthijs de Ligt is still working his way back to full fitness and will not be involved against Liverpool.
Lammens (goalkeeper); Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is still out with an injury, but Slot said he is “very close” to being able to train with the squad again.
Deputy keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is also sidelined for several weeks after sustaining a knee wound in the Merseyside derby win over Everton in April, so third-choice stopper Freddie Woodman is set to continue in goal after impressing in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend.
Along with Salah, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike are also unavailable due to injury – with the latter set to miss the World Cup with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Left-back Milos Kerkez is a doubt as he has been nursing a knock.
Predicted starting XI:
Woodman (goalkeeper); Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
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