Liverpool vs Man Utd news: Jubilant Reds can gun down brittle rivals to maintain title pressure
![Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.planetsport.com%2Fimage-library%2Fland%2F700%2Fj%2Fjurgen-klopp-23-jan-2022-manager-liverpool.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Fresh from booking their place in the FA Cup final, Jurgen Klopp’s side can move top of the Premier League table with victory over Tuesday's inconsistent visitors.
Liverpool's quest for a quadruple is alive and well after they came through their toughest week of the season with everything still up for grabs.
With Pep Guardiola's men not playing Brighton until Wednesday night, Liverpool can go top of the table - for 24 hours at least - with victory over City's neighbours United on Tuesday evening.
Jurgen Klopp and his men will certainly have happy memories of the first meeting with Manchester United this season.
When: Tuesday, April 19, 20:00 BST
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event
Who is the ref for Liverpool vs Man Utd
Martin Atkinson is the man in the middle at Anfield.
Season stats 2021/22: All matches (23), yellows (60), reds (3), penalties (7)
Recent form
It's that run of form that gives them hope of making this season the best in their illustrious history.
Technically, they've only won one of their last three but that rather masks the wider picture.
The first was a battling 2-2 at the Etihad and the second a 3-3 draw with a weakened team against Benfica when the tie was already wrapped up.
Liverpool played some superb stuff in the first half at Wembley so they've proved they're capable of raising their levels when it really counts.
Manchester United had just one win in seven games before beating Norwich 3-2 on Saturday.
United are still in the race for the top four but that's just as much down to the slip-ups of Arsenal and Spurs than it is their own performances.
Liverpool and Man Utd players in form
It's been quite a year for Sadio Mane after his winning penalty helped Senegal land the Africa Cup of Nations and he's hitting his best form again at a crucial time.
The Reds frontman scored away in Benfica, netted the equaliser at the Etihad and then scored two very contrasting goals in the 3-2 Wembley win on Saturday.
His tally for the season now sits at 18.
Ibrahima Konate has headed three goals in his last three games and is a huge danger from set-pieces, while midfielder Thiago Alcantara's undoubted class is really proving to be the difference in the heart of this Liverpool side.
That makes him the third highest scorer in the Premier League along with Jota.
Last three meetings
Man Utd 0-5 Liverpool (October 24, 2021)
Man Utd 2-4 Liverpool (May 13, 2021)
But needing to win to boost their hopes of pinching a Champions League spot, the Reds fought back to complete a deserved 4-2 win.
Jota levelled after half an hour before Roberto Firmino struck a double either side of the break (45' & 49') to give Liverpool breathing space.
Marcus Rashford cut the deficit halfway through the second half to set up a tense finish, but Mo Salah secured three huge points for the visitors with a breakaway strike in the final minute.
Man Utd 3-2 Liverpool (January 24, 2021)
A week after they'd played out a 0-0 stalemate in the league at Anfield, this FA Cup clash was a far more entertaining encounter.
Salah scored his first goal at Old Trafford to give Liverpool the lead inside 20 minutes before Mason Greenwood (26') and Rashford (48') swung the tie in United's favour.
Salah levelled just before the hour mark with his second of the game but the hosts struck the decisive blow when second-half substitute Fernandes blasted home an excellent 78th-minute free-kick to send United through.
Past 10 meetings
Managers' thoughts
Predicted Liverpool vs Man Utd teams
Klopp has to juggle his team selections with the matches coming thick and fast for Liverpool, but thankfully he has the squad to do it.
Firmino and Jota only had five minutes each at Wembley so will be fresh for this test, although Liverpool's next game isn't until Sunday's Merseyside derby, so Salah and Mane may get the nod again.
At the back, there could be a return of Joel Matip, with Klopp happy to rotate him with Konate as Virgil van Dijk's partner.
Skipper Henderson is also likely to return after coming off the bench in the FA Cup semi-final.
Possible Liverpool starting line-up: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Mane, Jota, Salah.
They surely won't risk that against Liverpool after their 5-0 embarassment last time, although Fred and Scott McTominay remain injured. Nemanja Matic is likely to step in.
Possible Man Utd starting line-up: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles, Matic, Pogba, Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho, Ronaldo.