Man U vs Liverpool:

It endures as one of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures of any Premier League season and, with both involved in the race for the Premier League top four, Manchester United vs Liverpool today has plenty riding on it.

IBRA VS LOVREN

With United entering the game off the back of nine consecutive victories in all competitions, with the goals flowing, Liverpool are facing their old rivals at just the wrong time.

United’s main renaissance man has been Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who took his season’s goal tally to 18 when he scored in the 2-0 win at West Ham on January 2.

Of late, he has been exceptional, scoring 12 times in his last 12 appearances. The 13 goals the Swede has scored in his first 19 Premier League games is an identical record to Dwight Yorke and Robin van Persie – but Zlatan is 35 years old.

Given Dejan Lovren’s susceptibility in the air and the possible effect his midweek blunder at Southampton has had on Ragnar Klavan, Ibrahimovic will fancy his chances. Jurgen Klopp may opt for Joel Matip alongside Lovren at the back, with the Cameroon international back in training this week after injury.

 

MANE MAN AWAY IN AFRICA

While their defence remains questionable, there’s no complaints about the effectiveness of Liverpool’s front line.

But with Sadio Mane on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal for the next few weeks, Klopp will have to move things around up front.

Mane has been involved in 13 of their 48 league goals this season, scoring nine and four assists, so is undoubtedly a big loss.

The Reds are devastating on the counter-attack and, even in the absence of Mane, United will need to be incredibly organised and disciplined, as they were at Anfield last time they met. Daniel Sturridge will fill in for the absent Mane at the heart of Liverpool attacking three.

 

MKHITARYAN  VS LALLANA

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, held back at the start by Mourinho, has developed into an outstanding creative force.

Liverpool have Henderson back and his influence on their midfield seems to grow week by week, the tireless work of Emre Can and the ever-growing confidence of Adam Lallana out wide.

Lallana has been involved in 14 of Liverpool’s Premier League goals this term, with seven goals and seven assists, and ranks as one of the best English performers in the top flight at the moment.

 

 MOURINHO VS KLOPP

Two of the most interesting managers in world football come face to face again. Mourinho has only ever recorded one win over Klopp from six meetings, losing three. Not that old meetings between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund count for a great deal here.

It may come as a surprise to many that Liverpool have lost on 11 of their last 14 visits to Old Trafford in the Premier League.

They have won the other three, admittedly, including that 4-1 win there in 2009 and the 3-0 in 2014, but overall United have reliably got the better of their rivals in the recent past.