Manchester United vs Liverpool: Preview, Team News, Possible Lineups and Score Prediction

While the Premier League title may be out of reach for both Manchester United and Liverpool this season, their clash at Old Trafford on Sunday remains one of the most anticipated fixtures in English football.

The stakes are particularly high in this gameweek 35 encounter, as a victory for the hosts would secure their place in the Champions League, while the visitors could also clinch a spot if other results go their way.

A brief dip in form, which saw them win just one of four league games between March and April, has proven to be a minor setback for Manchester United under interim manager Michael Carrick. Now, his side is just one victory away from a return to Europe's elite competition.

After collecting only five points from a possible 12 during that period, the Red Devils have bounced back with consecutive narrow wins. They edged out Chelsea 1-0 before securing a 2-1 victory against Brentford on Monday night, with goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko.

With a comfortable 11-point lead over sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion and four matches remaining, Manchester United will guarantee Champions League qualification with a win on Sunday. A draw would also be sufficient if Brighton fails to beat Newcastle United, and even a defeat could see them through if the Seagulls don't win and Bournemouth loses to Crystal Palace.

Regardless of this weekend's outcome, a top-five finish seems inevitable for Carrick's team, a significant achievement for the interim boss as he makes his case for a permanent managerial role. Since he took the helm, United has accumulated 29 points, more than any other team in the Premier League during that time. Their home form has been particularly impressive, with 36 points at the Theatre of Dreams this season—already 12 more than they managed in the entire 2024-25 campaign.

Led by PFA Player of the Year contender Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United are on a remarkable 23-game scoring streak across all competitions and have scored at least twice in six of their last seven home matches.

While a win is all United needs, the situation is more complex for their rivals. Liverpool enter the weekend three points behind their hosts. To confirm their Champions League spot with three games to spare, the Reds must win and hope both Brighton and Bournemouth drop points. A draw will not be enough, as Brighton could still close the gap.

However, Liverpool come into this match on a three-game winning streak in the league, most recently defeating Crystal Palace 3-1. That result was somewhat overshadowed by fan protests against rising ticket prices. Despite their recent form, the Reds have a poor record against top-three sides, winning just one of their last 12 such encounters and drawing seven.

Liverpool lost 2-1 to Manchester United at Anfield in October, but manager Arne Slot will be looking to build on last season's dominant 3-0 win at Old Trafford. A victory on Sunday would make him the first Liverpool manager ever to win his first two away league games against the Red Devils.

Manchester United are expected to have a full complement of attacking players available, as Matheus Cunha returned to training on Thursday after missing the Brentford match with a minor hip issue.

There is also optimism that Luke Shaw will be fit to play despite being substituted with an injury in the last game. However, defenders Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Lisandro Martinez (suspended) will be unavailable.

Bruno Fernandes, who assisted Sesko's goal on Monday, is now just one assist shy of matching the single-season Premier League record of 20, held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

In a significant blow for the visitors, Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian star was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained last weekend, denying him a final appearance against his long-time rivals.

The club has stated he is expected to return before the season ends, but he will not have the opportunity to add to his impressive record of 16 goals and eight assists against Manchester United.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is also a major doubt for the clash, as he has not yet returned to training following an unspecified issue. Manager Arne Slot added to the concerns during his pre-match press conference, revealing that Milos Kerkez is nursing a minor knock.

However, there is some positive news for the Reds. Andrew Robertson, who scored in last weekend's fixture, is expected to be fit and start in what will be his final appearance in a Manchester United vs Liverpool match.

The match will kick off at 5.30pm (East African time) on Sunday and will be live on SuperSport TV.

Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Liverpool: Woodman; Jones, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

With both Manchester United and Liverpool navigating recent matches without overwhelming their opponents, a closely contested battle is anticipated at Old Trafford. The two sides are neck-and-neck in the league table, adding further tension to the encounter.