Manchester United can do their city rival a huge favor this week. Liverpool and Manchester City are currently tied at the top of the Premier League with 65 points apiece, but the Reds have a game in hand on the Blues. A Liverpool loss would put them behind City due to goal differential and head-to-head record, and it would also give Manchester United a leg up on Chelsea and Arsenal in the race for England’s fourth Champions League spot. This game will have the highest stakes of the weekend.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Old Trafford in Manchester at 9:05 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Manchester United +197
Liverpool +130
Draw +247
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
A recent slump has narrowed what was once a big Liverpool lead over Manchester City. The Reds were up by as many as seven points on the Citizens, but 2019 has not been good to the club. They are just 3-2-1 with a loss to Manchester City and draws against Leicester City and West Ham, and dropping points in that fashion has left the door open for City to repeat. Liverpool are desperate to win their first Premier League title ever, and some have called for them to put their focus primarily on the league and put the Champions League on the backburner.
Sometimes all you need is a change at the top to change your fortunes. Manchester United didn’t fare too well under Jose Mourinho, but they have been unleashed under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They have gone from a middle of the table club to fourth place in the table, and they are 11-1-1 in all competitions since his appointment. The Red Devils have knocked off Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur, and their lone loss came at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
Key Injuries
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to be out for another month as he continues to recover from a knee injury, and Joe Gomez will likely return from surgery around that same time for Liverpool. Dejan Lovren is listed as doubtful, but Jurgen Klopp is on record that he is very unlikely to play.
Manchester United will be without Matteo Darmian, Jesse Lingard, and Anthony Martial for this match. Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia are unlikely to play, but they have not been completely ruled out yet.
Player to Watch
Paul Pogba has been one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League over the last two months, and Solskjaer has been given credit for unleashing United’s best weapon. Since Solskjaer was appointed, he has had a hand in 15 goals in 12 matches with nine goals and six assists. He will be out to keep it going against Liverpool after notching a goal and an assist against Chelsea in the FA Cup Round of 16 on Monday.
Previous Meeting
Speaking of Mourinho, the first meeting between these two teams proved to be his last match in charge of Manchester United. The two teams were level for much of the match, but Liverpool dominated the run of play and it was only a matter of time before they broke through. They fired an incredible 36 shots and secured a 3-1 victory after Xherdan Shaqiri earned a brace late.
Prop Bet – First Half Draw +121
Most of Liverpool’s goals seem to come in the second half, so I’m going to roll the dice and take the first half draw here. The Reds slowly wore Manchester United down last time, and although the venue and tactics have changed, I think these teams will play to a draw at the break.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
There is good value in the draw here considering United’s turn in form. The Red Devils won’t turtle and allow David De Gea to stand in front of a firing squad this time around, and I see both teams scoring once.
English Premier League Odds: Liverpool 1, Manchester United 1
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