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“It’s not even 11:30 here,” writes Joe Pearson, “but I’ll have some of whatever AI Matt Dony is drinking.”
A drunk AI Dony will never be as entertaining as the real thing.
While it’s not exactly writes-your-scripts territory, Alexander Isak would love to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool this afternoon.
Arne Slot’s pre-match thoughts
I cannot criticise the players’ work-rate [in recent weeks] But there are one or two moments in games that have killed us; that’s where we need to do better.
[How can you win the game tactically?] It depends partly on how they set up. We’ve seen them play with Sesko multiple times and they go to Liverpool and change the line-up. Let’s wait to see what they do – it could mean Mason Mount plays as a 10 in a 5-3-2 rather than the normal 5-2-3. We’ll find out when the game starts.
[Ibrahima Konate] came back from the national team because he felt his back. He trained with the team Friday and it was clear he could play today.
An alternative formbook
Tim de Lisle of the excellent Substack United Writing points out that, while Liverpool have won all five games at Anfield, this season, United have won none out of four away from home. Two draws, two defeats – and one those draws was the Grimsby fiasco.
This email was signed by ‘Matt Dony’. Regular readers of our Liverpool liveblogs will know it has been written by an AI FRAUD.
Feeling pretty good. Three points in the bag. Salah is going to rediscover last year’s form. Wirtz will come on after an hour and tear the place up. Gakpo will bury a screamer from 25 yards. 4-0. Boom.
Ruben Amorim’s pre-match thoughts
In our club the next game is always the most important, the one that can change the mindset of everyone. But if we think one game is important than another [because it’s Liverpool], that is a big mistake.
[On his team selection] I don’t want to say a lot before the game. But Harry Maguire has a lot of experience, Liverpool [put in] a lot of crosses and he gives us more power at set-pieces, which is really important these days in the Premier League.
Cunha has one characteristic that can help us push the team forward. Van Dijk likes confrontations in the air so we will try to give them different things [to deal with].
[On Senne Lammens, who is playing his first away game for Man Utd] It’s a different game but I think he is ready. Everyone is ready We have to be focussed on the task.
‘Ten years, man’
Given Mo Salah’s recent form (poor) and record against Man Utd (peerless), we may well hear the phrase “Who else?” at some point this afternoon. Opta’s supercomputer reckons there’s a 74.19 per cent chance.
“And Michael Oliver has pointed to the spot…”
“I struggle to understand the contention that Manchester United are playing ‘slightly better than their results would suggest’,” says Eric Peterson. “Their three wins are against two promotees (Burnley and Sunderland) and a Chelsea reduced to 10 men for 85 minutes of the game. Rather, I would suggest it’s quite clear that Manchester United’s record flatters to deceive.”
Plenty of people, including disciples of data, think they have played slightly better than their results suggest. It’s fine to disagree – this is a blog, not a judicial review – but come on, phrases like ‘I struggle to understand’ and ‘It’s quite clear’ are unnecessarily reductive.
Read Jonathan Wilson on Mo Salah, Florian Wirtz and the dangers of foresight
Benjamin Sesko is on the bench today, but that won’t stop the moronic nonsense. If anything…
Video: Why are Liverpool playing worse despite breaking transfer records?
Why are Liverpool playing worse despite breaking transfer records? – videoFlorian Wirtz stays on the bench for Liverpool, with Arne Slot picking the same XI that started the defeat to Chelsea a fortnight ago. Liverpool began that game really well before losing their way.
Matheus Cunha replaces Benjamin Sesko up front for Manchester United, presumably because of his superior ball-carrying ability. Harry Maguire for Leny Yoro is the only other change from their 2-0 win over Sunderland.
Team news
Liverpool (4-2-3-1) Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Isak.
Subs: Woodman, Gomez, Wirtz, Chiesa, Jones, Ekitike, Robertson, Frimpong, Ngumoha.
Man Utd (3-4-2-1) Lammens; De Ligt, Maguire, Shaw; Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Mbeumo, Mount; Cunha.
Subs: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Dorgu, Yoro, Ugarte, Heaven, Sesko, Mainoo.
Referee Michael Oliver.
Preamble
Most of the time, rivalries peak when the two parties are fighting for the biggest prizes. Think Coe and Ovett, Benn and Eubank, Corrigan and Usborne. But their battles can be equally compelling when one or both are struggling and the stakes are not as high; ask anybody who watched, for example, the unforgettable 3-3 draw between a shambolic Liverpool and a rampant Manchester United at Anfield in January 1994.
The current, contrasting struggles of Liverpool and Manchester United have been the main source of fascination – and hype – ahead of today’s game. Liverpool are a) the defending champions and b) on a run of three straight defeats. United are a) in the bottom half of the table again and b) playing slightly better than their results would suggest.
This fixture could be the perfect palate cleanser for Liverpool and especially Mo Salah, who has a spectacular record against United. But United will take heart from last season’s 2-2 draw, when they produced their best performance under Ruben Amorim; today they’re hoping to win consecutive league games under him for the first time. A minor landmark, sure, but every developing side needs those.
One thing’s for sure: whatever the result, there will be narrative.
Kick off 4.30pm.
