Manchester United will arguably face their biggest test of the season when they travel to Anfield to face fierce rivals Liverpool as the Monday Night Football feature clash. There can be no question that the upcoming clash after the international break will produce fireworks, with both teams believing they have a real chance of challenging for the Premier League title after making good starts to their respective campaigns. Jose Mourinho will hope that his team can return to winning ways, and although he was delighted at the way in which Manchester United performed against Stoke at Old Trafford, the 1-1 draw resulted in ground being lost in the pursuit of the early pacesetters.

A point was unjust for the level of domination and control that Manchester United had on the game, but a lack of killer instinct and ruthlessness came back to haunt the team who will look to make amends against Liverpool. Coral have made Liverpool slight favourites to prevail in the latest Premier League odds, but the big game occasion often brings out the very best in Manchester United who will not only want to prove they are genuine title contenders, but also lay down a marker against an arch rival.

History would suggest that Manchester United should fancy their chances of returning to winning ways, having prevailed in the last two trips to Liverpool in the Premier League. However, it masks over the fact that not only did Jurgen Klopp’s side gain revenge in the Europa League last season by winning 2-0 at Anfield, but Manchester United have won just 26 and lost 40 of their previous 85 trips to the red half of Merseyside. Games against Liverpool are often packed with passion, fight and drama due to the mutual dislike of one another, but Mourinho will need his players to be focused on the task ahead and not get carried away in the emotions in what is likely to be a hostile atmosphere. It should enable Manchester United to try and win the key battles on the pitch, particularly in midfield where gaining control of the game could prove imperative towards the outcome of the match.

Sitting five points behind early leaders Manchester City after just seven games of the 2016/2017 Premier League season is a deficit that can be turned around, but while United have pride and the distinction of beating a fierce rival to fight for, a defeat would allow Liverpool to extend their own gap between themselves and Mourinho’s men to six points. Add into the equation the possibility of Manchester United being eight points behind if the worst was to happen, then Mourinho’s side are playing for much more than bragging rights at Anfield. The question is can Utd regain their composure after the setback against Stoke and return to winning ways, or allow the pressure of getting a result at Liverpool become too much to handle. Manchester United are only slight outsiders with Coral to come away with all three points, but Mourinho will need his team to be at their very best against a side who have really made an impact in the Premier League.

Some would argue that, aside from Manchester City, Liverpool have been one of the best teams going forward so far this season, with Klopp stamping his authority on the team. The front three of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will certainly have to be marked out of the game by Eric Bailly and company, and although Adam Lallana might have been ruled out through injury, Manchester United will have to be on their toes to combat the fast movement and change of speed that Liverpool possess upfront. Mourinho may also have to devise a way around Klopp’s infamous ‘gegenpress’ tactic which will see Liverpool try to put pressure on the ball high up the pitch, but Manchester United may fancy their chances of having a go at a defensive line that may be without Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne.

Unless the international break is unkind on the injury front, Mourinho may have close to a fully fit squad to choose from if Henrikh Mkhitaryan recovers from a thigh muscle strain in time. Phil Jones remains a long-term casualty as his injury nightmares continue, but with Liverpool slayers in recent years of Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney available for selection, fans can only hope that Manchester United make it three wins in a row at Anfield in the Premier League.