How Manchester United should line up in Premier League fixture vs Liverpool

Manchester United will be hoping to put the brakes on a four-game losing run when they make the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

United, who last sampled the taste of victory at Anfield in 2016, suffered a third successive Premier League defeat last time out, losing 2-0 to Newcastle United at Old Trafford. That defeat also marked a third successive game without a goal.

Having ended 2024 in such disastrous fashion, United will be itching to start 2025 with a bang. However, they are going up against a Liverpool side that is sitting pretty at the Premier League summit having won 14 of their first 18 league matches this season.

Regarding the team news for the trip along the M62, United are set to be without Marcus Rashford because of illness. Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw will also be unavailable for selection.

Below, our United writers have had their say on how they would like to see head coach Ruben Amorim set his team up.

As grim as United's situation is, United could play their strongest XI (whatever that is) today. It has been nearly 11 months since Shaw started for the club, so he is disregarded.

Leny Yoro has to come in as the backline needs some pace. Matthijs de Ligt or Harry Maguire is a toss of a coin. Lisandro Martinez should have come out of the team weeks ago but his tenacity could be key at Anfield. The central midfield picks itself and Amad has got to go back to the wing. Noussair Mazraoui would balance it out on the other side.

Alejandro Garnacho has not turned up for a few weeks but is the only credible '10' to go with Bruno Fernandes. Of Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund and Rashford, Rashford is the best-equipped to be pitted against Virgil van Dijk but is out. So it is