Prediction: Manchester United vs Liverpool

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 27/10

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Although neither Manchester United nor Liverpool are competing for Premier League honours this season, Sunday’s meeting at Old Trafford remains one of the most significant fixtures in English football.

The stakes for gameweek 35 are higher than usual too, as victory would mean very much for the hopes of Champions League qualification for either side under the right conditions.

Manchester United

A brief dip in form earlier this spring has done little to derail Manchester United’s progress under interim head coach Michael Carrick. Claiming only one win from four league matches between early March and mid‑April proved a temporary wobble rather than a deeper problem, and United now stand just one victory away from sealing a return to Europe’s elite.

After collecting only five points from a possible 12 during that difficult stretch, the Red Devils have responded in resilient fashion. Narrow 1–0 success against Chelsea was followed by a hard‑fought 2–1 win away at Brentford on Monday night, with Casemiro and Benjamin Šeško on the scoresheet.

With four matches left to play, United sit 11 points clear of sixth‑placed Brighton & Hove Albion. A win on Sunday would confirm Champions League qualification outright, while a draw would suffice if Brighton fail to beat Newcastle United. Even defeat could be enough should Brighton drop points and Bournemouth fail to win against Crystal Palace.

Regardless of the precise permutation, it now feels a question of when rather than if United secure a top‑five finish—a noteworthy achievement for Carrick as he builds a compelling case ahead of likely managerial opportunities this summer. Since his appointment, United have amassed 29 points, the highest tally of any Premier League team in that period, while their 36 home points in 2025–26 already exceed last season’s entire Old Trafford haul by 12.

Team News

Led by PFA Player of the Year contender Bruno Fernandes, United have scored in 23 consecutive matches across all competitions and found the net twice in six of their last seven home games. The Portuguese playmaker is just one Premier League assist away from equalling the single‑season record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

Matheus Cunha was back in training after missing the Brentford match with a minor hip issue, while Luke Shaw is also expected to be fit despite being withdrawn on Monday.

Defensively, Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined with a back problem and Lisandro Martinez is suspended.

Liverpool

While United can ensure their Champions League future with victory here, Liverpool’s route is more complex. The Reds start the weekend three points behind their rivals and must win on Sunday while also hoping Brighton and Bournemouth drop points in order to secure qualification immediately.

Form offers some hope. The reigning champions are enjoying a three‑match winning run in the Premier League, most recently beating Crystal Palace 3–1 in a match overshadowed by a mass supporter protest against ticket price increases. That result lifted Liverpool to fourth place, but they have struggled in elite head‑to‑head contests, winning just one of their last 12 league games against teams starting the day in the top three.

United also claimed a 2–1 victory at Anfield back in October, though after last season’s emphatic 3–0 win at Old Trafford, Arne Slot could achieve something historic. He could become the first Liverpool manager to win each of his first two away league matches against Manchester United in the top flight.

Team News

Mohamed Salah will miss what would have been his final clash with United after sustaining a hamstring injury last weekend. Liverpool have confirmed he is expected back before the end of the season, meaning his Anfield farewell may yet come, but he will not add to his remarkable 16 goals and eight assists against the Red Devils.

Salah joins Jayden Danns, Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Giorgi Mamardashvili on the injury list.

Alisson Becker remains a major doubt, while Slot has also revealed that Milos Kerkez is nursing a knock. Andrew Robertson, however, is expected to start on the left defensive flank in this fixture one final time and that would probably have been the case even if Kerkez was fully fit.

Conclusion

Neither side has been smashing opponents during their recent positive spells, and an encounter reflecting the narrow gap between them in the table appears inevitable. Liverpool’s growing injury list makes outright victory difficult to picture, but their resilience could still deny United maximum points.

Even so, one point may prove sufficient for Carrick’s men to reclaim their place in the Champions League, while maintaining momentum in what has become a quietly impressive turnaround at Old Trafford.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 27/10

Bookmaker: Olympusbet