January 5th 2025.
Marcus Rashford might not be able to play in the upcoming game against Liverpool on Sunday due to his illness. Manchester United, who have been struggling this season, will begin the new year with a tough match against the Premier League leaders, Liverpool, at Anfield. Unfortunately, Ruben Amorim's team has recently suffered their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions, with their last game resulting in a 2-0 defeat at home against Newcastle. It has been a tough start for United under Amorim, with only two wins in their first eight league games. And things don't get any easier this weekend as they face an in-form Liverpool team managed by Arne Slot.
Liverpool ended their 2024 with an impressive 5-0 victory against West Ham and currently sit comfortably at the top of the table with an eight-point lead. However, there is some good news for United as they welcome back Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte from suspension. Fernandes is expected to return to the front three, possibly replacing Joshua Zirkzee, who was subbed off in the first half of their last game to a chorus of boos from the Old Trafford crowd. Ugarte could also make his way back into the midfield, potentially replacing either Christian Eriksen or Casemiro.
Amorim may also make some changes in the central midfield partnership, with Kobbie Mainoo likely to start after being on the bench for their last game. He will be looking for more dynamism from his team, especially after a concerning defensive performance in their previous match. While Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are expected to continue in their wing-back roles, there may be some changes in the three-man central defense. Leny Yoro could potentially start in place of Lisandro Martinez, who was replaced in the last game after struggling.
In terms of injuries, United will have Matthijs de Ligt back in the starting lineup after missing the last three games due to illness. Club captain Harry Maguire is also expected to continue in his central role, with his contract being extended for another year earlier this week. However, Victor Lindelof is unlikely to feature due to an injury he picked up in their last game against Tottenham. Luke Shaw and Mason Mount remain long-term absentees, with the latter not expected to return until at least January.
Speaking of injuries, Marcus Rashford is also a doubt for Sunday's game after missing training this week due to his illness. He did make a return to the bench in their last game against Newcastle, but it remains to be seen if he will be fully fit for this weekend's match. In his press conference on Friday, Amorim stated, "At the moment, he is ill and not training. I think he is going to be out this week. We will see." On the other hand, Liverpool will welcome back Dominik Szoboszlai from suspension, but they will be without Joe Gomez in central defense due to a hamstring injury. Jarell Quansah is expected to start in place of Gomez, as Ibrahima Konate has only recently returned to first-team training after recovering from a knee injury.
Based on these factors, the predicted starting lineup for Manchester United against Liverpool is: Onana, Yoro, De Ligt, Maguire, Mazraoui, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dalot, Fernandes, Amad, Hojlund. The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:30pm on Sunday, January 5, and can be watched live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Viewers in the UK can also stream the game on the Sky Go app or NOW TV.
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