Liverpoolvs.Man Utd

The Red Devils are reeling from a fourth straight loss in all competitions, going down 2-0 to Newcastle United on December 30, where Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte watched on helplessly due to suspension.

However, the duo will be back in the visitors' ranks for the trip to Merseyside, meaning that Amorim should only be without three troops in Mason Mount (thigh), Victor Lindelof (unspecified) and Luke Shaw (calf).

Fernandes's return should spell the end of Joshua Zirkzee's time in the first XI after his humiliating early substitution in the Newcastle defeat, which was even celebrated by a portion of the Old Trafford faithful.

The Man United skipper should link arms with Rasmus Hojlund and the effervescent Amad Diallo in Amorim's attacking trident, while Ugarte has a case to come straight back into the engine room as well.

Casemiro and Christian Eriksen did not cut the mustard in the defeat to Newcastle, but Kobbie Mainoo did his best to inject a spark of life into the game after replacing Zirkzee, so expect the Englishman and Ugarte to link arms in midfield.

Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot's spots in the wing-back areas should be safe, although the same cannot be said for any of Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire or Lisandro Martinez after their poor displays on December 30.

However, Amorim has talked up Maguire's qualities in a three-man defence, and Martinez's passing range could come in handy too, so De Ligt might become the sacrifice as the Portuguese places his faith in Leny Yoro for the Anfield battle.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot; Diallo, Fernandes; Hojlund

Written by

Ben Knapton