Never before in Premier League history have Liverpool been so far ahead of Manchester United directly before the two sides meet. The Reds could have long been removed from top spot by the time they host their bitter rivals on Sunday afternoon, but they will go into the game 16 points ahead of United regardless. Somewhere, somehow, David Moyes is crowing that even he was only 11 points behind when both sides faced each other in March 2014.
Then, Moyes was sacked within a month, and United ended the season staring down the barrel of a 20-point gap to Liverpool. It would feel like something of an achievement if both manager and club avoid eclipsing such failure come May.
Make no mistake: these two clubs have been further apart in terms of ability, ambition and excellence, but never in Liverpool’s favour. The always-superior United are barely a speck in the rear-view mirror as a side that finished below them last season has not only overtaken but lapped them.
Liverpool have sacrificed much of their forward flair for defensive stability, yet have still scored six more goals than United. They will visit Anfield having conceded five Premier League goals in December; Liverpool have let in six all season. Liverpool have conceded one league goal at Anfield since the start of March; United have kept three away clean sheets in that time.
It should, by all sensible measures, be comfortable. Liverpool are better in both defence and attack, as well as imperious at home and still unbeaten. Their goalkeeper is in better form, and they have a wider, more impressive range of midfielders. Manchester City are the closest side to the current leaders in terms of quality, and they swatted United aside at Old Trafford in November.
Manchester United vs Liverpool em Anfield no domingo.
Mourinho: https://t.co/3NpYcrjPDX
— Curiosidades Premier League (@Curiosidades_PL) December 12, 2018
But this is precisely the sort of game that Jose Mourinho lives for. If any manager is capable of either spoiling a game through the use of parked automobiles, or upping it out of self-interest or sheer spite and contempt for his opponent, it is Mourinho. He has shown he can still nullify the best sides and frustrate the best coaches in a one-off game. Ask Manchester City, Juventus or even Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp is the perfect example. The German has faced 26 different teams in the Premier League since being appointed Liverpool manager in October 2015. He has beaten 25 of them, with United the last pin to fall.
Liverpool’s United hoodoo predates their current managers. The Reds have not beaten their bitter rivals in the Premier League since that aforementioned game towards the end of Moyes’ tenure in March 2014. They have lost five and drawn three of their subsequent eight meetings, scoring four goals and conceding 12.
But that was the old Liverpool, one that wore both its heart on its sleeve and a suit of armour with far too many chinks. This new Liverpool is a cold-blooded, steel-plated side ready for any sort of battle.
Injuries have afflicted both teams, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner struggling late on against Napoli. Joe Gomez and Joel Matip’s absence will force the return of Dejan Lovren, giving United a potential weak point to target. Although, in Mourinho’s words, they “have lots of” fitness concerns of their own to contend with.
It is, in effect, a game between first and sixth. Liverpool have not dropped points to a team outside the top five since April; United have not beaten a team inside the top five since April. Yet the result still feels far from certain…