Liverpool v Manchester United: Live matchday blog
Goals from Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah earned Liverpool a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Anfield and extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points.
Next up...
Liverpool's next assignment is a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday night.
We will, of course, be bringing you full coverage from Molineux.
Jürgen Klopp's verdict
The manager delivered his full assessment of Liverpool's 2-0 win over Manchester United during a post-match press conference at Anfield this evening.
You can read what he had to say to the media in detail by clicking here.
'We have to keep calm'
Despite making sure of the three points this evening, Mohamed Salah is refusing to get carried away by Liverpool's lead at the summit of the standings.
The Egyptian told Sky Sports post-match: “We just need to keep focused on each game. We don’t have to think now we’ve won the Premier League. No, we need to take it game by game, that’s the only way we can win the Premier League.
“We struggled last season at the same time [of the campaign], so we have to keep calm and just focus on each game.”
Jordan Henderson reaction
Speaking to Sky Sports, the skipper says: "There are a lot of games left. We’ve taken it game-by-game for a long time now and it’s put us in good stead, so there’s no need to change.
"The crowd were unbelievable again today but for us as players, it’s the next game and the next challenge.
"The Premier League is tough, there are some tough teams, Man Utd played well at times today. But overall I felt we deserved the three points.
"1-0 is a dangerous scoreline, we know that from the Spurs game. I feel as though we should have killed the game off earlier with the chances that we had but we kept going, defended well and managed to get the second."
How the top of the Premier League looks after that victory...
The story of a big win in stats...
Full Time
Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United
It’s all over at Anfield and Virgil van Dijk’s early header and Mohamed Salah's stoppage-time sealer have sent the Reds 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Roberto Firmino and Gini Wijnaldum each had goals disallowed in the first half and Liverpool chances came and went during a superb start to the second period.
United came into the game thereafter, but Jürgen Klopp’s side kept them largely at arm’s length before Salah slotted in in stoppage time.
Liverpool have now recorded seven straight top-flight clean sheets and their Premier League record this season stands at a staggering 21 wins and a draw from 22 games.
Get in!
Goal
MO SALAH!!!
YES!!!
Alisson sends a brilliant pass into Salah's path deep in the United half, and the Egyptian king holds off his marker before calmly slotting past De Gea.
We're into three minutes of added time.
Salah bursts in down the left on the counter, but overhits his cross.
Liverpool make a double sub - Fabinho and Origi come on for Mane and Firmino.
A brilliant flick from Mane finds Firmino, but the No.9 can't work open an inviting angle and his shot is blocked.
Substitution
A double change for United.
Mata and Greenwood replace Williams and Pereira.
Shaw is booked for hauling back Salah and Alexander-Arnold sends the free-kick into the box, but United clear.
Martial shoots from distance but Alisson gathers comfortably, before the Reds' 'keeper palms a Fred effort wide.
Substitution
A first sub for Liverpool - Lallana comes on for Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Close!
Wijnaldum gets away from Maguire with a superb piece of skill and plays in Mane, but the forward scuffs his shot wide.
Big chance for United.
Martial plays a one-two with Pereira but can't keep his shot down from inside the area.
Fred intercepts Alexander-Arnold's throw-in and then shoots wide after striding up field.
Glorious skill by Firmino sees him turn Wan-Bissaka inside out before blasting a shot at goal, but his effort is blocked.
Oxlade-Chamberlain tries his luck from range but De Gea is equal to his powerful drive.
That came straight after Liverpool saw strong appeals for a penalty, after Alexander-Arnold's cross hit Shaw's hand, waved away.
Off the post!
Again, Liverpool get in down the left and Firmino cuts back to Mane, but the No.10's first-time shot goes over.
Then, Henderson blasts a left-footed shot goalwards that De Gea tips on to the post.
The Reds have flown out of the traps at the start of the second half.
Big chance!
A lovely move down the left ends with Robertson finding Salah free in the middle, but the forward scuffs wide from close range.
A strong start to the half from Liverpool and Henderson sees a shot from just outside the box blocked.
Kick-Off
Liverpool restart the game.
Check out the story of the first half in stats...
Half Time
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United
That was a largely impressive first-half display from the Reds, who could be more than one goal ahead.
Virgil van Dijk’s towering 14th-minute header gave Liverpool the lead, with Roberto Firmino and Gini Wijnaldum both then seeing goals disallowed.
United enjoyed their best period of the game in the half’s last five minutes but the Premier League leaders deserve their advantage at the break.
Two minutes have been added on at the end of the first half.
Big saves from both Alisson and De Gea!
First Pereira's long-ranger is handled brilliantly by Liverpool's No.1, before United's 'keeper diverts Mane's low strike wide with his foot at the other end.
Chance for United.
Wan-Bissaka gets in down the right and squares for Pereira, who slides wide at the back post.
A first attempt on goal from United, with Martial striking a shot wide from 20 yards.
Disallowed Goal
Another disallowed goal for the Reds, as Wijnaldum strays marginally offside before slotting in Oxlade-Chamberlain's superb through-ball.
Another chance!
Van Dijk sprays a magnificent pass into Salah, who cuts back towards Firmino, but the No.9 can't bring it under control and the opportunity is gone.
The Reds are utterly dominant at the moment.
Disallowed Goal
Firmino curls in a beautiful finish but VAR rules that Van Dijk fouled De Gea in the build-up and the goal is chalked off.
Chance!
The ball breaks to Mane in the area but the No.10 can't quite get his shot off before Lindelof clears.
Van Dijk goes close to connecting with another Trent delivery, this time with his foot, but the ball is diverted wide.
Liverpool are on the hunt for an immediate second.
Goal
VIRGIL VAN DIJK!!!
Get in there, big man!
Alexander-Arnold's outswinging corner is met by a thumping header from our No.4 and the Reds lead!
A superb tackle by Robertson thwarts James as the United man threatened to run in behind.
Yellow Card
Matic goes into the book for a high boot on Wijnaldum.
Alexander-Arnold drifts in a cross from the resulting free-kick, which Mane heads wide.
Robertson's cross is deflected wide for Liverpool's first corner of the game, but United clear the danger.
It's been an even opening to the game, with neither Alisson or De Gea having been pressed into action as yet.
United get us under way.
Liverpool are attacking the Kop end in the first half.
Up the Reds!
The teams emerge from the tunnel to a huge roar.
Kick-off is just a few minutes away.
The teams have been read out and the atmosphere is building nicely inside Anfield.
Opta's view
Here's how Opta expect the sides to line up...
Behind closed doors...
Anfield arrivals
In opposition
United's starting XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, Williams, Matic, Fred, Pereira, James, Martial.
Subs: Romero, Bailly, Dalot, Jones, Mata, Lingard, Greenwood.
TEAM NEWS
The teamsheet is in and shows an unchanged line-up for Liverpool as they deploy the same XI that started last weekend’s 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur.
Fabinho and Joel Matip are on the bench after recovering from their respective injuries.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Adrian, Fabinho, Minamino, Lallana, Origi, Matip, Jones.
Chambo chat
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on pre-match media duty today.
Whet the appetite...
Here are 20 great goals we've scored against Manchester United over the years.
Weather
***Liverpoolfc.com official matchday weather update klaxon***
The wait is over, it's finally here... it's your official weather update, courtesy of your friends at Liverpool FC dot com.
So, it's a foggy, crisp day on Merseyside. There's plenty of sunshine, but the temperature is lurking around the six degree mark.
Our sources tell us we can expect that to dip as low as three degrees once the game is under way; however, we're not anticipating any precipitation.
Our advice? Wrap up warm if you're coming to Anfield.
Stadium set...
Firmino: We have to continue our momentum
Roberto Firmino is interviewed in the matchday programme, and maintaining momentum is on the Brazilian's mind.
"Confidence is always important and of course we're more confident this season," he states.
"We've been winning a lot of our games and this increases our confidence game-by-game. But we have to continue with this momentum and our next chance to do so is against Manchester United."
View from the opposition
We invited a special guest to give us the lowdown on Manchester United ahead of today's clash - rapper Avelino.
"I'm confident and I'm expecting an exciting game," he says.
"Maybe a bit more of a cagey affair than if it was at Old Trafford – I feel that is what happens at Anfield.
"Our best chance is to try to be dangerous on the counter and that suggests an exciting game because Liverpool are an attacking team."
Click here to read the Q&A in full.
'We know what this match means'
"For us as players, you can't not get drawn into the meaning of it to the fans because they're the people that support you all year round," Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain told us this week.
"So, we buy into that and as a player you sort of take on that rivalry and it becomes your own rivalry as well.
"It means a lot to us as players as well and how much it means to the fans, we take responsibility of that and making sure we can get the right result for them and for us as well."
Us and Them
Well worth a watch before kick-off.
Our special documentary exploring the history of the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United...
Stat attack
- The Reds have only lost once in the last nine meetings with United in all competitions
- Liverpool's next win will be their 150th under Klopp - this is his 244th match in charge
- Their last three goals against today's opponents have been scored by substitutes
- The Reds can claim a 13th successive league victory, which would be their second-longest such sequence - after the record 17 achieved last year
On this day
Liverpool have won on the past two occasions they played on January 19, with Crystal Palace beaten 4-3 at Anfield a year ago and Norwich City thrashed 5-0 back in 2013.
Today's officials
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Richard West, Gary Beswick
Fourth official: Jonathan Moss
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: Andy Halliday
Missing Men
Think you can crack our latest Missing Men challenge?
How many of the starting XI for the 3-1 home victory against United in March 2011 can you remember? Click the graphic to reveal the answers...
Eight days ago
Liverpool kept up their stunning pace at the summit with a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur last time out, with Roberto Firmino's clinical finish ultimately enough for three points...
Melwood gallery
Take a look at Liverpool's preparations for this game with our photos from their training session on Friday afternoon...
Respect from the boss
Klopp speaks of the need for his side to balance respect with confidence this afternoon, against the only team to have denied the Reds victory in the Premier League this season.
"I know how we have prepared and I know the respect we will show United," he writes in his match programme column.
"I'm sure people will point to their brilliant win away against Manchester City. But we analyse far more - we look much deeper - and we know we face the most challenging of opponents today. If anyone thinks that win at City is the only signpost of danger, then they are silly and underestimating.
"So far this season we have done well at getting the balance right in this regard. We respect the power of our opponent, but our main focus is always on us and our strengths and our qualities."
Cover star
Mohamed Salah is featured on the front of today's official match programme - pick up your copy at Anfield or online here.
The last meeting
There was late drama when the two teams met at Old Trafford in October as Adam Lallana's 85th-minute strike from close range rescued a 1-1 draw for the Reds...
Did you know?
The Reds will set a new club record if they score against United today.
A goal would mean Liverpool have netted in each of their opening 22 games of a league season for the first time ever.
Tale of the tape
Take a look at all the numbers behind the two sides' Premier League seasons...
The manager's view
Catch up with Klopp's thoughts on the visit of United with our full video from his pre-match press conference on Friday...
Team news
Liverpool expect to have both Fabinho and Joel Matip back in the squad for this one after respective ankle and knee injuries.
Naby Keita, Dejan Lovren and James Milner are ruled out, however.
Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw are doubts for United, who are missing Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Marcos Rojo, Axel Tuanzebe and Eric Bailly.
As it stands
The day begins with Liverpool 13 points ahead of Manchester City, who drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace on Saturday, at the top of the Premier League.
Third-placed Leicester City travel to Burnley before the game at Anfield.
Here we go
It's a Super Sunday indeed as Liverpool and Manchester United face off at Anfield this afternoon.
Jürgen Klopp's Premier League-leading Reds have the chance to stretch their advantage at the summit with a win over their fierce rivals.
Follow all of the build-up, action and reaction as it happens right here as we bring you team news, updates, pictures, videos, quotes and more.
