Manchester United host Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend in a seismic showdown.
Erik ten Hag is under pressure to deliver a result against the club’s arch-rivals, after last weekend’s late loss at Brighton deflated the mood around Old Trafford.
United had opened the season with a 1-0 win over Fulham but familiar flaws were exposed at Brighton, as Joao Pedro’s 95th-minute winner snatched the Seagulls three points.
🗣️ “I know what it means to our fans.”
The United-Liverpool rivalry is not lost on Erik 😤#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 31, 2024
Ten Hag will hope his new signings can make an impact and could hand a first start to Matthijs de Ligt, following Harry Maguire’s mistake for Brighton’s opening goal last weekend. The Dutch defender has joined from Bayern Munich this summer, one of five first-team signings for the Red Devils.
Joshua Zirkzee, who scored a debut winner against Fulham in the club’s season-opener, could also make the XI for the first time, though deadline day recruit Manuel Ugarte was not registered in time.
Manchester United vs Liverpool – Predicted lineup and team news
Manchester United team news
Ten Hag has confirmed that Manchester United will be without Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount for the clash with Liverpool. Hojlund has failed to recover in time from a hamstring injury sustained in pre-season and will target a return after the international break.
“We have to see how it develops, how we can progress during the break, to get match fit,” Ten Hag said on Hojlund at his press conference on Friday.
“He returned on the [training] pitch but it will take a while before he is up. Everyone has seen, it [the injury] happens in the first game [of Tour 2024], so he needs also to build some fitness.”
Mount, who endured an injury-hit debut season with the club, took to social media this week to reveal he will miss several weeks with a hamstring problem.
United remain without summer signing Leny Yoro after the defender broke his foot in pre-season. Fellow defenders Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw are also sidelined.
Manchester United predicted lineup
Predicted Manchester United XI (4-2-31): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes; Amad, Garnacho, Rashford.
Manchester United vs Liverpool TV Channel and kick-off time
The clash will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. Global broadcast details can be found here. Kick-off time is 16:00pm BST.
