Liverpool heads to Manchester United with widest gulf in years

LONDON (Reuters) – Premier League leader Liverpool heads to Old Trafford on Sunday to face Manchester United and rarely have the odds been so in favor of an away win.

Liverpool has won just five times at United in the Premier League era and the Red Devils have won the fixture 16 times, but the gulf in quality between the sides has widened significantly in recent years.

While Jurgen Klopp’s side has a 100% record in the Premier League, United has just two league wins this season and after its 1-0 defeat by Newcastle United before the international break, it is down in 12th place, 15 points behind its arch-rival.

To add to its problems, United looks set to be without goalkeeper David De Gea, who picked up a groin injury on international duty with Spain.

“David needs a scan. I think he’ll be out. It certainly looked like it anyway... so it’s just one of those things,” said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Argentine Sergio Romero is expected to stand in for De Gea and can expect a busy time against Klopp’s potent attack.

French midfielder Paul Pogba has not yet recovered fully from his ankle injury, but there is better news on the fitness of forward Anthony Martial and fullbacks Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

“I can’t tell you 100 percent who is going to be fit as something might happen,” said Solskjaer. “But hopefully Aaron and Anthony will last the training this week and be available.”

United’s Spanish midfielder Juan Mata believes the clash with its old rivals offers an opportunity to kick-start the season.

“We have a great chance to change the dynamic and we are all very motivated to take the win,” said Mata. “We are United, we are playing at home and we will give everything to be able to take the victory that our fans deserve in such a special game.”

Champion Manchester City, eight points adrift of Liverpool, faces a tricky trip to Selhurst Park to face a Crystal Palace team which it lost to at the Etihad in January. Palace sits just two points behind City in sixth after an impressive start to the season, but this fixture is the first of a straight run of five against sides directly above it.

Tottenham Hotspur, beaten 3-0 at Brighton & Hove last time out, will look to bounce back against winless bottom club Watford.

Fourth-place Leicester City hosts Burnley, which is seventh, and Frank Lampard’s improving Chelsea entertains Newcastle on Saturday.

Third-place Arsenal visits Sheffield United on Monday.