Liverpool v Man United Preview Anfield Tactics Stats

In this article…

📂 Liverpool v Man United Cheat Sheet
📈 Liverpool v Man United & Tactics
📔 Liverpool v Man United Formation & Team News
📊 Liverpool v Man United Key Stats

Manchester United head to Anfield with Rúben Amorim still seeking his first away win of the season. United haven’t claimed a Premier League victory at Anfield since 2016. Last season’s meeting at Anfield finished 2–2 in one of Amorim’s early outings, while Liverpool won 3–0 at Old Trafford.

Liverpool v Man United & Tactics

Liverpool’s form dipped before the international break with three straight away defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Galatasaray. A return to Anfield should help

Slot’s side have lost just once at home in the league across the last calendar year but defensive frailties remain:

• only two clean sheets in 10 matches in all competitions this term.
• early-season late winners papered over cracks the recent run exposed them.

There’s also been substantial change:

1. headline arrivals mean instant pressure,
2. key departures in a single window have disrupted chemistry.
3. coming off a quiet previous summer, this group is still seeking balance rather than instant cohesion.

United are winless away this season (Fulham, Grimsby, Man City, Brentford). The City loss is understandable; the broader trend is not. Questions linger over their resilience in big moments — the 3–1 defeat at Brentford again showed how game-state swings can rattle their structure.

There’s noise about United topping the xGF table after seven league matches (14.1). That headline flatters: they’ve underperformed to nine goals and banked 5.47 xG in two home games versus promoted sides. The bigger picture is more measured.

Liverpool v Man United — Formation & Team News

Liverpool’s issues trace back to the full-back axis. The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold is especially telling — not only for service to Mohamed Salah but for the team’s rest-defence when he steps into midfield zones. Andy Robertson remains influential, though not at peak levels, and different right-back profiles (e.g., Jeremie Frimpong/Conor Bradley) change the dynamics that used to come naturally with Trent. On the left, Milos Kerkez’s aggressive positioning can expose the centre-backs, asking a lot of Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk in transition.

In midfield, Liverpool miss a bit of steel. Florian Wirtz is still adapting to Premier League intensity, unsettling the unit, and a potential absence for Ryan Gravenberch would be significant given his connective value. Alisson is also expected to miss out — a major blow considering his shot-stopping and command.

United are set in an identifiable 3-4-3. The rigidity has downsides: fixed roles can limit players like Kobbie Mainoo and pull Bruno Fernandes deeper than ideal — he can operate there, but his best work is still in the final third. The attack looks marginally sharper than last season, though that improvement feels more about upgraded personnel than the system itself.

Liverpool v Man United — Key Stats

• United have not won a Premier League match at Anfield since 2016.
• Liverpool have kept just 2 clean sheets in 10 matches in all competitions this season.
• United are winless away from home in all competitions this season.
• Liverpool lost their last three matches before the break (Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Galatasaray), all away.

AI Analysis — Betting Angles

Cards & Fouls

• Liverpool Over 2.5 Team Cards — Medium risk
• Cards For 2.14 avg; Opp Cards vs United 3.14 avg. Derby pressure + ref baseline (≈3.0–3.4 yellows) supports a home-card spike.
• I. Konaté — 1+ Foul (L5: 100%) — Low/Med
• L5 hit 100%; flagged vs B. Šeško lane → isolation fouls likely in transition.
• C. Bradley — 1+ Foul (L5: 80%) — Medium
• ~3.45 fouls/90 on card; “potential opponent: P. Dorgu.”
• D. Szoboszlai — 1+ Foul (L5: 80%) — Medium
• Midfield traffic vs Bruno Fernandes increases tactical foul risk.
• Bruno Fernandes — To Be Shown a Card — High variance

Sheet shows 1+ foul L5 60% and recent cautions; derby volatility makes this a price play.

Shots / SOT

• M. Salah — 1+ SOT (L5: 60%) — Low/Med
• L5 on-target 60%; operates vs United’s left (L. Shaw lane) → repeat looks + set-piece/PK threat.
• C.Gakpo — 2+ Shots (L5: 60%) — Medium
• Volume angle: 2.59 shots/90, 2+ shots L5 60% (SOT only 40%).
• D. Szoboszlai — 2+ Shots (L5: 60%) — Medium
• Pulls from zone 14 when full-backs invert; steady volume.
• B. Šeško — 1+ SOT (L5: 60%) — Medium

Centre-back stretch from dual 10s opens a clean attempt.

• M. Cunha — 1+ SOT (L5: 80%) — Low/Med
• United side shows SOT/90 ≈ 1.79 and L5 80%; good single-leg or ladder starter.

Tackles / Defensive Counting

• L. Shaw — 2+ Tackles — Medium
• Baseline ~1.04 tackles/90, but Salah lane forces repeat 1v1s → add to SGPs with Salah shots.
• A. Mac Allister — 1+ Foul (L5: 20%) — High variance / price dependent

Low L5 hit; only at plus money when anchoring without Trent.

Totals / Corners

• Match Cards — Over 4.5 — Medium
• Liverpool 2.14 for / 1.71 against; United 1.0 for / 3.14 against; derby uplift pushes into 5+ territory often in your profile.
• Total Shots — Over 19.5 — Medium
• LFC L5 over 19.5 shots: 100%, UTD 80% on your sheet; Liverpool allow ~14 shots against avg.

Note: Both clubs show only 20% L5 for >9.5 SOT → avoid high SOT totals unless price is friendly.

Same-Game Parlay Menus

A) Right-Side Pressure (Safer)

• Salah 1+ SOT
• L. Shaw 2+ tackles (or 1+ if that’s the only line)
• Liverpool Over 1.5 team cards
  Logic: Salah volume → Shaw actions → nearby bookings.

B) Derby Heat (cards-centric)

• Match Cards Over 4.5
• C. Bradley 1+ foul
• Bruno Fernandes to be shown a card (or swap to 1+ foul for lower variance)

C) Striker Looks (on target)

• B. Šeško 1+ SOT
• M. Cunha 1+ SOT
• Total Shots Over 19.5 (or “Liverpool to concede 10+ shots” if your book offers team shots against)

D) Midfield Volume (price dependent)

• Szoboszlai 2+ shots
• Gakpo 2+ shots
• Liverpool Over 4.5 corners (use only if price is favorable; L5 corner over rate on your card is modest at 40%)

Staking & Notes

Risk tags: use singles for Low/Med; limit exposure on plus-money volatility (Bruno card).

Grading: props typically include stoppage but not extra time; confirm house rules.

Live angle: If Liverpool score first, United shots/SOT and Liverpool cards tend to rise in this profile.