Jamie Carragher has predicted a ‘really tough’ win for Liverpool against Manchester United on Monday - but added that the Reds could have a certain weakness exposed on the night.
Jurgen Klopp’s men travel to Old Trafford at the start of next week looking for their first win of the season, with draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace reflecting a lacklustre start amid a host of injuries. But while there is an expectation around Merseyside that things will pick up, the picture around Manchester is much more bleak with Erik Ten Hag’s side bottom of the table and on zero points after defeats against Brighton and Brentford.
Liverpool fans will need no reminding of last season’s trip to Old Trafford, when a Mohamed Salah hat-trick contributed to a 5-0 win - with all five goals scored within 50 minutes - while the 4-0 triumph at Anfield in April was equally as one-sided. But while the Red Devils remain in disarray coming into the new campaign, former Reds captain Carragher is expecting the home side to step up to the occasion.
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"I think those results are freak results. You don’t play your rivals and beat them 4-0 and 5-0, that’s just one of those things you look back on and think ‘wow’,” Carragher told the Sky Sports Essential Football podcast . “I think most people and Liverpool supporters, the squad will take anything for three points really. The record at Old Trafford for Jurgen Klopp hasn’t been great, last season’s a standout but it’s always been a difficult place to go.
“An evening game always makes the atmosphere better at any stadium although Man United fans are frustrated so it’ll be a really tough game for Liverpool. But I don’t think they’ll change or play differently even though it’s at Old Trafford, they’ll want to dominate the ball and dominate Manchester United and if they do that, they’ve got a great chance of winning but it will not be an easy game.”
A disappointing start to the new season for Liverpool has been typified by an uncharacteristically leaky defence, with injuries to Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip forcing Nat Phillips - who was expected to leave Anfield this summer - to start against Palace on Monday. Unfamiliar pairings in the middle have seen the Reds’ high-line uncoordinated and therefore exposed.
And it’s that early-season vulnerability that Manchester United could exploit, according to Carragher, with the pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, if fit, a potential danger for the Reds in behind.
"I think Liverpool will just win. I think it’ll be really tough but I think Liverpool will win 2-1," The Sky Sports pundit added. "I can see United getting a goal with the atmosphere, Liverpool’s high line, pace in behind with Rashford and maybe Martial’s fit as well, Liverpool haven’t been defending well this season especially in the three games they’ve had with the Community Shield as well.
“So there’s been opportunities for the opposition, I can see United scoring but I think Liverpool will have enough to get a couple of goals.”
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