In- form Man Utd take on Liverpool

London, Oct. 13: Jose Mourinho takes high- flying Manchester United to Liverpool for a searching test of their title credentials this weekend as the Premier League returns with a bang after the international break.

United are level with Manchester City at the top of the table on 19 points, trailing their neighbours on goal difference, but have not yet faced any of their major rivals.

Pep Guardiola’s free- scoring City, who have already beaten seventh- place Liverpool and defending champions Chelsea, host Stoke City, looking to add to an impressive haul of 22 goals so far.

Mourinho and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp must both juggle their resources for Saturday’s early kick- off at Anfield following injuries to key players.

United are without midfielder Paul Pogba, who has been out of action for several weeks with a hamstring injury, and the muscular Marouane Fellaini is also missing.

It means a likely start for last year’s club player of the year Ander Herrera alongside Nemanja Matic.

For his part, Klopp, whose side trail United by seven points, has to do without forward Sadio Mane, who picked up a hamstring injury on international Senegal.

Despite uncertainty over the futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, Arsenal have knuckled down to win three of their past four league matches, with the exception being a hard- fought 0- 0 draw at champions Chelsea.

Champions Chelsea would not be Crystal Palace’s chosen opponents as Roy Hodgson’s beleaguered team attempt to break their embarrassing scoring duck at Selhurst Park.

The south London side are the only team in Europe’s top 20 leagues not to have notched a single goal, with seven defeats in seven matches.

Palace are rooted to the bottom of the table with a goal difference of - 17, already five points adrift.

The loss of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United has weighed on Everton and Ronald Koeman’s team find themselves just two points above the drop zone. Everton travel to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday. duty with