The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
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msudogs
Moderator
Registered: Nov 2005
Posts: 65535
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The timing of Manchester United’s midweek win over Burnley couldn’t have been more poignant, as they head into week 19 of the Premier League and a clash with defending champions and second placed Liverpool, three points clear at the top of the table. The last time United occupied top spot was September 2017, however Solskjaer will know that their stay could be short lived if their rivals secure all three points this weekend. Sunday’s clash will be the first of two encounters between the fierce rivals, with United set to host Liverpool next weekend in the FA Cup 4th round. Whatever the result on Sunday, both sides are expected to be involved in the title battle, in what is starting to take shape as one of the closest in history, with just seven points separating the top seven
This is the game that everyone has been looking forward to as Man United travel to Anfield three points clear at the top of the table from their rivals, though they’ll have to be at the very top of their game if they want to end Liverpool’s 67 games unbeaten home run in the league.
Amazingly, this is the first time since April 1997 that these two have gone head-to-head as a top of the table clash, and as a result, we’d expect this to be the fiercest Northwest derby in the post-Ferguson era. Man United ran out 3-1 winners at Anfield on that day on their way to lifting the title.
Derbies tend to be more ferocious affairs and with that comes an increase in bookings. Up until ‘Project Restart’, there has been an increase of 37.1% in the four big Premier League derbies (Merseyside, Manchester, North London and Northwest) since 2002/03.
This derby has seen an average of 48.97 booking points alone in the same time frame, though in truth that has tailed off massively in recent years as the rivalry has waned, which has largely coincided with the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson from Old Trafford.
That 48.97 has dropped to just 30 over the last eight fixtures as there’s not been a single sending-off since the 2014/15 season.
While that would indicate it’s worth selling on the spread this time around, with both seemingly in a title race this year we wouldn’t be too sure, especially with the official in charge.
Solskjaer’s men will be coming into this with a lot of confidence having gone 11 games unbeaten in the league, though in truth their run has had very few challenges and they are yet to beat one of the traditional ‘Big Six’ sides or Leicester, going D3-L2 over that time.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have certainly gone off the boil compared to last year, though in truth they seemed to come unstuck after defeat to Watford last season, winning just 15 of their 28 matches dating back to that result.
The Reds are a different animal at Anfield though as their unbeaten streak confirms, though if there’s any time to play them and end that run, it’s now for United.
The Merseyside club have failed to win their last three league games for the first time since May 2018, while they also were held to the hour mark by Aston Villa’s youth team in the FA Cup last time out, so there are certainly some creases for the manager to iron out.
The one this that does go in the hosts' favour other than the venue is the head-to-head record, with United winning just one of the last 10 meetings across all competitions, while Liverpool have won this fixture in each of the last two seasons.
With very little to separate them, it’s not hard to see this one ending all square, as it has done in six of the last nine meetings, and while three of five meetings with big clubs this season have ended in a stalemate for United, only Brighton have played out more draws than the Champions Liverpool.
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01-17-21 04:40 PM |
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